SnowboarderAmericanOlympic MedalistSportswoman

Jamie Anderson (snowboarder)

Jamie Anderson is an American professional slopestyle snowboarder, notable as the first female to win multiple Olympic gold medals and the most decorated female athlete at the Winter X Games.

1. Early Life and Background

Jamie Anderson was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, California, a region known for its winter sports environment. She is the fifth of eight children, growing up in a large family. Her early life was deeply intertwined with the mountains, where she cultivated a passion for snowboarding from a young age.

1.1. Childhood and Early Exposure to Snowboarding

Anderson's journey into snowboarding began in 2000, at the age of nine, when she received a hand-me-down snowboard. This initial encounter sparked an immediate and profound love for the sport, quickly becoming a central part of her life. She dedicated significant time to training and developing her skills, including at the High Cascade Snowboard Camp.

1.2. Education

To accommodate her intense training schedule and allow her to spend extensive time on the mountains, Anderson was homeschooled through Visions in Education. This flexible educational approach enabled her to pursue her burgeoning snowboarding career while continuing her studies.

2. Personal Life

Anderson currently resides in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. She shares her home with her fiancé, Tyler Nicholson, a Canadian snowboarder whom she met at a bar in Whistler. The couple has been together since 2015. In addition to her residence in Whistler, Anderson owns The Dream Inn, a private residence suite offering views of the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, as well as other private properties in Lake Tahoe and Colorado.

Beyond her athletic pursuits, Anderson maintains a holistic lifestyle that includes regular practices of yoga and meditation. These practices are integral to her routine, helping her maintain physical and mental well-being for the demands of competitive snowboarding. She is also deeply committed to environmental advocacy, serving as a member of the Protect Our Winters (POW) Athlete Alliance and an ambassador for the organization, which focuses on climate change awareness.

3. Snowboarding Career

Anderson has established herself as one of the most formidable and successful slopestyle riders in the history of snowboarding. Her career is marked by a consistent string of victories and groundbreaking achievements across various major competitions.

3.1. Early Professional Career

Anderson's professional career began to take shape quickly after she started snowboarding. Just four years after her initial exposure to the sport, she qualified for the 2004 Winter X Games at the remarkably young age of 13. In 2005 (or 2006, according to some records), at age 15, she secured a bronze medal at the Winter X Games, making her the youngest female medalist in the competition's history at that time, a record later surpassed by Chloe Kim, who was 14 at the time. Her early success cemented her reputation as a rising star in the snowboarding world. During her formative years, she also participated in and hosted Signature Session™ camps at High Cascade Snowboard Camp from 2009 to 2012, with another session scheduled for 2014, demonstrating her early engagement with the snowboarding community.

3.2. Major Achievements

Anderson's career is highlighted by numerous significant accomplishments across the most prestigious events in snowboarding.

3.2.1. Olympic Games

Anderson holds a distinguished record at the Winter Olympics, particularly in slopestyle. She made history by winning the gold medal in the inaugural Women's Slopestyle event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Four years later, she successfully defended her title, earning another gold medal in slopestyle at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. At the Pyeongchang Games, she also secured a silver medal in the big air event. Her two gold medals in slopestyle make her the first female snowboarder to win more than one Olympic gold medal, solidifying her legacy as an Olympic pioneer.

3.2.2. Winter X Games

Anderson's dominance extends to the Winter X Games, where she has accumulated an impressive collection of medals. She is one of the most decorated athletes in X Games history, with a total of 21 medals. In 2020, she became the most-medaled female competitor in the history of the Winter X Games.

Her X Games medal count includes:

  • Gold medals:
    • Slopestyle: 2007 (Aspen), 2008 (Aspen), 2012 (Aspen), 2013 (Aspen), 2018 (Aspen), 2020 (Aspen), 2021 (Aspen)
    • Dual Slalom: 2017 (Aspen)
  • Silver medals:
    • Slopestyle: 2010 (Aspen), 2014 (Aspen), 2015 (Aspen), 2016 (Aspen), 2017 (Aspen)
  • Bronze medals:
    • Slopestyle: 2006 (Aspen), 2011 (Aspen)
    • Big Air: 2019 (Aspen)

3.2.3. Other Major Competitions

Beyond the Winter Olympics and Winter X Games, Anderson has achieved significant success on various other international circuits and championships.

  • 2006-2007 Season: Anderson showcased her emerging talent by winning the TTR 6Star Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships in slopestyle. She also secured victories at the Roxy Chicken Jam Europe in Kaprun, Austria, the quarterpipe event at the O'Neill Evolution in Davos, the Billabong Slopestyle Jam, and the Abominable Snowman competition.
  • 2007-2008 Season: She earned the Women's Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion title, a testament to her impressive results across major events on the tour, including victories at the Burton European Open slopestyle and the Roxy Chicken Jam US slopestyle.
  • 2008-2009 Season: This season marked her first half-pipe victory with wins in both the slopestyle and halfpipe events at the 5-Star Burton New Zealand Open. Despite leading the rankings for over 40 weeks, she finished the season in third place on the Swatch TTR Tour due to an injury. She also won the Billabong Snowstock in Big Air and the Burton Australian Open in Slopestyle, while taking third in Halfpipe at the same event. Her success continued with a victory at the Burton European Open Slopestyle and a second-place finish at the Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open Slopestyle.
  • 2009-2010 Season: Anderson started strong again on the TTR World Tour, winning the 5-Star Burton New Zealand Open slopestyle and the 3-Star Billabong Bro Down in Australia. She performed well on the Winter Dew Tour, finishing in the lead of the Winter Dew Tour Cup Standings. She also secured the Roxy Chicken Jam US slopestyle title and a podium finish at the Burton US Open slopestyle, ending her season at world no. 5 on the Swatch TTR World Tour, and later climbing to the no. 1 spot.
  • 2010-2011 Season: She continued her winning streak with victories at the New Zealand Open Slopestyle, US Open Slopestyle, and X Games Europe Slopestyle. She also secured a bronze medal at the X Games Slopestyle.
  • 2011-2012 Season: This season saw her claim more titles, including the New Zealand Open Slopestyle, X Games Slopestyle, US Open Slopestyle, and X Games Europe Slopestyle. She also earned a second-place finish at the World Championships Slopestyle.
  • 2012-2013 Season: Anderson won the X Games Aspen Slopestyle and placed second at both the US Open Slopestyle and X Games Tignes Slopestyle.
  • 2014-2015 Season: She earned a silver medal at the X Games Slopestyle and won the US Open Slopestyle.
  • 2015-2016 Season: Anderson secured a second-place finish at the X Games Slopestyle and another victory at the US Open Slopestyle. During this season, she also notably won both the big air and slopestyle events at the World Snowboard Federation and TTR World Snowboard Tour World Championships in Yabuli, China.
  • 2019 FIS Snowboard World Championships: She won a bronze medal in the slopestyle event.
  • 2020 Burton US Open: Anderson claimed a gold medal in the slopestyle event.
  • 2021 FIS Snowboard World Championships: She earned a silver medal in the slopestyle event held in Aspen.

In summary, Anderson has achieved numerous podium finishes and victories in various formats at events including:

YearEventFormatPosition
2007US OpenSlopestyle3rd
2008US OpenSlopestyle2nd
2008New Zealand OpenSlopestyle1st
2008New Zealand OpenHalfpipe1st
2008Australian OpenSlopestyle1st
2008Australian OpenHalfpipe3rd
2009New Zealand OpenSlopestyle1st
2010New Zealand OpenSlopestyle1st
2010US OpenSlopestyle3rd
2011New Zealand OpenSlopestyle1st
2011US OpenSlopestyle1st
2011X Games EuropeSlopestyle1st
2011World ChampionshipsSlopestyle2nd
2012New Zealand OpenSlopestyle1st
2012US OpenSlopestyle1st
2012X Games EuropeSlopestyle1st
2013US OpenSlopestyle2nd
2014US OpenSlopestyle1st
2015US OpenSlopestyle1st
2016US OpenSlopestyle1st
Anderson in 2013
Anderson in 2013

4. Advocacy and Social Involvement

Beyond her achievements in competitive snowboarding, Jamie Anderson is a dedicated advocate for various social and environmental causes, particularly climate change awareness. She uses her platform as a prominent athlete to raise public consciousness and inspire action.

4.1. Protect Our Winters (POW)

Anderson is an active member of the Protect Our Winters (POW) Athlete Alliance and serves as an ambassador for the organization. POW is a non-profit dedicated to engaging the winter sports community in the fight against climate change. Her involvement with POW highlights her commitment to protecting the natural environments crucial for winter sports and advocating for sustainable practices.

4.2. Jamie Anderson Foundation

In 2013, Anderson established the Jamie Anderson Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to supporting young winter sports athletes, providing them with essential resources such as equipment, clothing, season passes, and financial assistance for travel to national competitions, including the USASA national competitions. To date, her foundation has supported over 30 aspiring athletes.

4.3. Denouncement of FIS President

Anderson publicly denounced the former FIS President Gian-Franco Kasper in 2019, following a controversial article in Deadspin. Kasper had reportedly "denied the existence of climate change and spoke disparagingly about immigrants and lauded the ease of working with dictators to organize Olympic Games." In a powerful act of protest, Anderson donated her prize money from the 2019 FIS Snowboard World Championships to Protect Our Winters and used her Instagram platform to urge fellow competitors to follow suit. Her actions underscored her strong stance against climate change denial and social injustices, and her commitment to ethical leadership within sports organizations.

5. Television Appearances

Anderson has made several appearances on popular television shows, expanding her public profile beyond the snowboarding world.

In 2015, she was a contestant on the seventh season of The Celebrity Apprentice, where she competed to raise money for her chosen charity, Protect Our Winters. She was ultimately fired in the fourth episode of the season.

In April 2018, Anderson was announced as one of the celebrity competitors for season 26 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev. Despite her athletic background, she was eliminated in the first episode, finishing in ninth place.

6. Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Jamie Anderson has received several prestigious awards and honors recognizing her accomplishments in snowboarding and her broader influence.

  • In 2016, she was awarded an ESPY Award, a testament to her athletic excellence and contributions to sports.

7. Legacy and Influence

Jamie Anderson's legacy in snowboarding is profound, marked by her groundbreaking achievements and her role as a leader and advocate. She has not only redefined what is possible in women's slopestyle, becoming the first female snowboarder to win multiple Olympic gold medals, but has also inspired countless aspiring athletes. Her consistent success at the Winter X Games and other major competitions has significantly contributed to the popularization and development of snowboarding, particularly for female athletes. Beyond her athletic prowess, Anderson's vocal advocacy for environmental protection and social justice has made her a role model, demonstrating that athletes can use their platforms to drive meaningful change. Her efforts to support young winter sports athletes through her foundation further solidify her long-term positive impact on the sport and its community.

8. See also

  • Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics
  • List of Winter X Games medalists in snowboarding
  • Slopestyle
  • Big air
  • Protect Our Winters