Snowboarding is not as easy as it may seem, at least not Olympic snowboarding. Snowboarding was first implemented in the Winter Olympics in 1998, with 11 events. One of the most interesting snowboarding events is the halfpipe. The Olympic halfpipe is a winter sport where snowboarders ride a snowboard on a U-shaped ramp with 22 feet tall walls. The halfpipe is virtually skateboarding, but with the added factor of snow. 

The sport requires a complete mastery of snowboarding, as snowboarders must complete various tricks to win a medal. The judging for Olympic halfpipe is extremely strict. Judges might deduct points from a snowboarder’s score for minuscule mistakes, like using a hand to touch the halfpipe for balance. A snowboarder’s total score consists of their ability to achieve height, execute tricks, and use the entire 600 foot length of the halfpipe in their run, making it very difficult to achieve a high score. 

One of the most notable snowboarders today who has proven her ability to receive high scores is the 21-year-old Chloe Kim. Chloe Kim first made her Olympic debut representing the United States in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics for Women’s Halfpipe. As a 17-year-old high schooler, she won a gold medal in the Olympic halfpipe, making her the youngest female gold medalist in the event. After winning her first gold medal in 2018, Kim returned for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing to win her second. 

Although Chloe Kim has gone on to become arguably the greatest snowboarder of the current generation, she was born in sunny Southern California, where the lack of snow created just a minor inconvenience for her signature winter sport! Born in 2000 in Long Beach, California, Chloe Kim started snowboarding at just 4 years old, but had to drive multiple hours to Mammoth in order to find snow. Soon after, Kim began competing and eventually moved to Switzerland at the age of 8 so she could practice more regularly. She moved back to California at 10 years old and continued to practice in Mammoth. Her father even quit his job so he could better support Chloe in her career and travel with her to train. 

7 years later, she qualified for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, with her ability to make 3 complete rotations in the air, called a 1080 in halfpipe terms, making her an astounding contribution to team USA. In the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, she won a gold medal and, in the most recent Beijing Winter Olympics, claimed it once again. Kim even wanted to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics, but being only 13 years old, under the age minimum for the event, she was prevented from doing so. 

In addition to her success in the halfpipe, Kim also found success academically. She attended Princeton University for one year before taking a break to focus on snowboarding in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. 

Chloe Kim has also been open about mental health challenges and the pressures that come along with being an athlete, particularly an Olympic athlete. She has openly discussed her choice to compete in the halfpipe as a means of enjoyment, rather than solely to win a medal. Chloe Kim is a role model for people of all ages, but particularly for young athletes, as her amazing accomplishments at age 21 prove that persistence and hard work pays off. Her goal of pursuing a sport or passion because it brings joy reminds those who look up to her to follow their dreams, but not put too much pressure on themselves to be successful. Not everyone can become an Olympic gold medalist at 17 years old, but Chloe Kim has proven that it is possible!