JAMIE ANDERSON | DEFYING GRAVITY

One of the most decorated women’s snowboarders is none other than 3X Team USA Snowboarding Olympic Medalist and 21X X Games Medalist, Jamie Anderson. With a number of accolades under her board, she owns the most X Games hardware of any female athlete and the second most Winter medals of any athlete! She’s a 5X ESPY Female Action Sports Award Winner, is an 11 career World Cup winner, has 8 career U.S. Open wins, and wins across every other major action sports series in the last 2 decades! She has even joined X Games League Winter Founder Athletes ahead of the Winter League debut in 2027.

We wanted to know more about this phenomenal athlete, her passion for the sport, how she approaches snowboarding, and competing at Rockstar Energy Open last year, as well as the X Games which took place this month.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Do you remember your first moment on a snowboard and when did you fall in love with it?

JAMIE ANDERSON: I fell in love with snowboarding when I was 9 years old. My two sisters had started the season or two before, and as soon as I fit into their hand me downs, my mom took me to Sierra Tahoe and I had a ski school lesson. I remember it being super difficult at first, but later that day or the following day, I remember it clicking and being able to kind of ride and do my turns and that’s the moment I really fell in love with snowboarding and just having that freedom being on the mountain, exploring, riding trails through the woods. It brought me so much joy and presentess - just being in the moment. And literally almost 30 years later, I still just absolutely love snowboarding.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to go pro?

JA: I would say relatively early, I think by 12 years old, I had a few years under my belt and I was starting to compete in amateur events right away. I really loved it and loved the whole industry. When I was 13, is when I qualified for my first X Games and I was definitely still an amateur at that point, and competing at Boardercross at the X Games, but I knew I really wanted to go Pro, travel, and have sponsorships. It was about two years later when I was 15, when I got to compete in freestyle and slopestyle, and I won my first medal. That really was the start of my professional snowboarding career.

AM: You are focused on Slopestyle and Big Air. What is it that you enjoy about competing in these 2 areas?

JA: I love Freestyle because it’s creative, it’s fun, it’s ever changing. I like going to different parks around the world and riding and figuring out my flow. It’s just fun. It’s playful. I kind of imagine it like a playground on the mountain for adults. 


AM: In order to perform at the most optimized level, what does an average week of training in terms of fitness routines/methods?

JA: Well, I’m a lot different than most athletes. I now am a busy mother of two, so my training program is a little bit all over the place. I like to do yoga. I try to snowboard as much as I can, but sometimes that is two or three days a week. And yeah, when I can, I like to do some weight training -- but I haven’t, to be honest in quite some time. For me, my kind of overall fitness and health routine is trying to get good sleep eating, nourishing, whole foods, exercising and staying as active and fit as I can without a gym -- the walking, the yoga, the carrying little babies around.

AM: How does nutrition play into that and what are 3 foods that you eat to assist you in your training goals?

JA: Nutrition is everything. I really believe we are what we eat and I love whole foods. I don’t have any necessary diets, but I try to eat as much grass-fed or wild meat.
My fiancée hunts, so we eat a lot of venison. I do a lot of pasture eggs, I like milk and apples and I also love my carbs. I eat a lot of pasta. I like making lasagna. I like Mexican food. I like anything as long as it’s fresh and good ingredients. 


AM: How important is recovery in this sport?

JA: For instance, at the Rockstar Energy Open event, we had a nanny come in and help me with the kids during practice. But when I got home, I would hang with the girls, maybe take them for a walk or go swimming, do a little stretching and a recovery, and then try to look at footage and make a game plan for my run. Then have dinner, maybe take a bath and go to bed. It’s very busy with the two kids because I really love momming and it’s my number one priority. We’re trying to kind of balance a lot, but it’s fun.

Recovering in this sport is huge. I think you have to feel good to perform good, so I think being strong and flexible is really key, and nutrition plays such a huge role in recovery as far as breaking up lactic acid, having your body and muscles hydrated. I often travel with a Bemer mat, which is like a PEMF, that really helps flush lactic acid and helps me recover. I’ve been using the Bemer mat for many years and I think it really, really helps me. It’s key. Taking care of my skin and letting it recover is also super important while spending so much time in the mountains. I love using First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.


AM: You recently competed in the Rockstar Energy Open in Breckenridge and it seems different than other competitions, why did you want to participate in this event?

JA: Now we’re a little bit past the Rockstar event, I chose to support and compete in this event because it felt like a real core snowboard event. I like that it had a different format with the final round being head to head. I loved that the course was unique and creative and it had rails. It had a butter pad type of jump. It had a hip, a quarterpipe, which really showcased all over skill and talent, and I just thought it was so fun. I’m really stoked I landed a good run. I ended up in the finals. I ended up in the last final round and took second place, and I am so grateful and proud of that.

AM: This month, we have the X Games and you are one of the most decorated snowboarders to have competed! Why do you love being at this event and what’s that like?

JA: Oh, I love the X Games because honestly, it’s like the mecca of action sports. I feel the X Games has done so much for snowboarding and all action sports, and it’s just fun. They have a sick course and take good care of the riders. My sponsor Monster is a huge part of it. It’s just a really fun event that I look forward to every year. My career started there when I was just 13 years old. Here I am, 35, still doing it and still loving it more than ever.

AM: Of course, all eyes will be on Italy for the Olympics. As a hopeful, what is it like for you to compete on this global stage and are you excited to be going back?

JA: I am so excited to be hopefully going back to the Olympics. I’ve yet to lock in my spot, but I am doing my best to ensure I make the US Team. I feel nervous about the big world stage, but I feel honored and that it’s truly such a privilege to compete at an Olympic level event. And not even an Olympic level, just at the Olympics itself is really an honor and a privilege. I feel so stoked to represent the U.S and ride with our team. I think it’s going to be a really beautiful experience. And I’m so excited to soak up the Italian culture. Eat a lot of pasta and just embrace the whole experience.

AM: You also love pushing boundaries in the Backcountry - why is this part of snowboarding so important to you?

JA: Backcountry snowboarding is kind of like it’s riding for your soul, you know? Backcountry snowboarding is just so fun. I feel like it really fills my spirit with joy and there’s nothing like riding the powder, riding Alaska, riding big lines or even just writing the resort with all your friends after it’s blanketed with beautiful, fresh snow. Yeah, backcountry snowboarding is a gift from God.

AM: As someone who has been in this career for awhile, who has had many success and is a mom of 2, how do you feel you’re approaching the sport now?

JA: Now I feel I have a way different approach to the sport. I’m kind of doing it for fun. I know the younger generation has progressed the sport so much, and I know I’m not going out there trying to do the most technical runs, but I just feel stoked to be getting out there at all and linking fun runs and just doing my best. My approach is way more relaxed in shell and I feel at peace with it.

AM: Tell us about the Jamie Anderson Foundation and what it does?

JA: So I started my foundation in 2013 to essentially give back to kids in the community. Growing up in a big family, I’m aware of how expensive it can be getting into snow sports ao I wanted to give back to kids in our community. We sponsor young athletes, peers and snowboarders, and give grants to help them with their careers, with travel expenses, accommodation, even snowboards and outerwear and things like that. It’s still pretty grassroots, but I want to see it grow more as time goes on, and hopefully help as many kids as possible.

AM: You have amassed a number of accolades and have competed at the highest levels! What do you want your legacy to be known as when people think about Jamie Anderson?

JA: I mean, I hope when people think back of me, I would like my legacy to be like spreading the love, having fun, embracing the journey, having a lot of gratitude and a full heart, and giving back to those around me.

IG @jamieanderson

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | X Games

Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see Jamie Anderson | DEFYING GRAVITY in mag.

PUSHING THE LIMITS | MARK MCMORRIS

This month, we end the year with a cover star that we are very excited about who is the most decorated snowboarder in X Games history, with 24 medals (G11, S10, B3) as well as being a 3X Bronze Olympic Team Canada Snowboarding medalist - Mark McMorris! He is known for taking to the snow in Slopestyle, Big Air and Backcountry as he truly has a passion for his sport! His love for it has taken him all over the world, whether he’s competing or doing stunning films such as his latest PAVED in collaboration with Red Bull and Burton, that are both sponsors of his! He has additional coveted list of sponsors as well as including Oakley, Dove Men + Care, KLM Airlines, and Toyota to name a few.

We caught up with him ahead of some phenomenal competitions including Rockstar Energy Open that took place this month, X Games next month, and the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milano Cortina, Italy - for his 4th appearance - just for starters. We wanted to know more about how skateboarding led to snowboarding, the styles of snowboarding that he enjoys doing, the importance of competitions, how he approaches training, the upcoming season, and how he gives back through the McMorris Foundation!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We know that you enjoy skateboarding. What took you from that sport and drew you to snowboarding?

MARK MCMORRIS: Honestly, we went on a family trip and my brother and I are 2 years a part and my mom was about to have us go on a ski lesson and we saw snowboards for the first time! They were on the wall in the rental zone where you would sign up and get your gear for your lesson. I had skateboarded the entire Summer before and I thought, “I want to stand sideways, I want to be able to skateboard on the snow.”

Thank God our neighbors on our street were skateboarders and kind of got me into that and hooked on that! If not, I might have went into ski lessons! I’m very thankful that I became a boarder and it is a huge kudos and thank you to skateboarding!

AM: At what point did you think that you wanted to go pro and really do this as a career?

MM: I think when I was 12 or 13. I knew that I had potential and that I loved nothing more than being able to snowboard and to be up in the mountains with my friends. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I was definitely plotting that I would be able to stay in the mountains and to enjoy this and to do it for the rest of my life! I didn’t know what avenue I was going to go, but I did have my mind made up that I wanted to snowboard for the rest of my life.

To do so professionally was the dream. I mean, when you’re super passionate about something, it’s crazy how hard the human can work towards it!

AM: 100%!

You’re known for Slopestyle and also Big Air, can you tell us about these disciplines and why you are drawn to them?

MM: Slopestyle is a combination of rails and jumps – kind of what you would see around every single snow park. Most resorts will have a couple of jumps and a couple of rails. That’s what a lot of kids grow up doing in that freestyle of things of riding. There’s less and less half pipes nowadays. Where we grew up in Western Canada, there wasn’t many half pipes if any! So, that’s kind of what I was drawn to and obviously, I liked catching big jumps.

So, catching Big Air, is just one single jump. Slopestyle is a combination of jumps and rails which we really love and are drawn to. That’s kind of what you would see in the movies and things like that. So, I have always had a big love for it, and still do!

AM: Clearly, snowboarding is a full body sport, but do you find yourself doing other fitness methods or workouts that help to optimize you when you are doing this?

MM: For sure! Having mobility and strength in those deep ranges will keep you less injury prone, will make you be able to stay on the mountain longer – so strength and mobility are kind of the 2 bigaboos and I work on those daily. Especially as I get older, it’s always been very important to me and I came up during a time where my elders were like, “you have to stretch and you have to do gym work.” If you want to be a pro, you have to be a pro athlete and you have to have fitness and that kind of strength to be able to do it at the level that we are doing it and to of course have that kind of longevity! You want to try to stay out of that rehab zone!

AM: From what you can tell as we’re talking to you as you’re preparing for the Rockstar Energy Open in Breckenridge – how is it different than other competitions that you have been in as I know this is their first debut in snow.

MM: Yeah. I think it is really exciting that there is a different kind of contest that is happening in an Olympic year where it’s usually very regimented. It’s nice to be able to switch it up and kudos to them to get a unique group of riders together and to have a very unorthodox, fun, creative course that we would normally not see and to have a fun twist on things! I’m really stoked to be here and it’s nice to have this break in the season. You’re still competing and you still want do well and you’re making a plan and trying to do a run. At the same time, it feels a little more laid back and you’re not chasing points to qualify for the Olympics or going for broke on some 80’ jump – it’s all fun sized and extremely creative.

AM: You have the X Games coming up as well as the Winter Olympics. What’s a week of training look like when you are focused on competitions like that. Are you doing anything different?

MM: A week of training during a major competition like the X Games or the Olympics, is a lot of planning around when the practice sessions are. You’re trying to peak at the right times, trying to get the rest you need – when you have a day off, maybe you’re going to do a lift then. Most of the time, it’s a lot of recovery and mobility, breathwork, thoracic spine, and things like that – trying to just keep the chassis in tip top shape. Trying to eat clean and prioritizing a good 8 hour rest, things like that.

I would say that on non-competition weeks, you’re lifting more weights and doing harder gym sessions. But the practice sessions are a ton of impact and a ton of mental stress. So when you get off the hill, you’re in the gym, but it’s more about spinning, recovery, mobility, eating clean, and sleeping.

AM: Wow!

You’re one of the most decorated snowboarders and with the X Games being a few weeks away, what do you love about competing there and what are you looking forward to?

MM: The X Games has been so amazing for my career! I have had great success in Aspen and I love the town – it’s a special place. I can’t say enough good things about X Games and Aspen – it has truly built my career to what it is. I’m just thankful that I am still doing it and my first X Games was in 2011 in Aspen –

AM: Which is crazy because that’s veteran status there!

MM: Yeah, 15 years now! I’m thankful to still be going out there, I’m thankful to still be able to have a shot at winning. I’m feeling healthy and happy and I’m really excited to be able to get back there!

AM: This will be your 4th Olympic appearance. What does it mean to you to represent your country, participate in the opening and closing ceremonies, and to compete on that kind of global stage?

MM: It’s an honor to represent your country! Like you said, it will be my 4th time around which I am extremely proud of. There’s not a single male that I competed with in 2014 at the Sochi Olympics that will be at the Olympics in Italy. I am proud of that longevity and I am proud of the hard work that I have put in. I am really looking forward to going out there and doing my best and riding to the best of my ability. I really feel like that if I do that, I have a good shot at some hardware. I’m excited for family and friends to be around because the last one in 2022, it was quite COVID’d out. It wasn’t a ton of spectators.

When I go to an Olympics, it’s always been pretty focused mode – horse blinders on. Not really like taking in a ton – you’re just kind of focused on what you’re doing. I actually went to Paris for the last Summer Games and it was a lot of fun to be able to take in an Olympics and not to compete! I could just be a fan and I really enjoyed that! So I’m excited for friends and family to come to get that experience and obviously, as I get older and mature more, I know that there is a lot more to life than that, but I will definitely be locked in and focused and I will try to enjoy it as well as the pizza and pasta as well!

AM: Pizza and pasta – that’s our language right there!

MM: Yup! If we’re going to get a big work in, you get to have a carb load!

AM: As someone who has competed all over the world, you have filmed all over the world, are there 3 places that are your top destinations to snowboard in that you can share?

MM: It’s really hard for me and I guess I’m biased, but I will say that Western Canada has got to be in my top 2 if not 1! I think Japan is a place that if you love to ski or snowboard, it’s a must! Anytime after the New Year to late Feb, it’s really hard not to score there. It’s a really special place and it’s neat to go there and to experience that culture. I spend a lot of time on the glaciers in Europe during the Fall for training and I like spending time in Switzerland, Austria – places like that! I really like Italy – their mountains are amazing and the people and the culture are also amazing there. I think that the Alps, Japan and Canada are my 3 favorite places to go.

AM: Because you do travel so much, are there 3 items that you like to take with you that make you feel like you’re at home?

MM: Yeah! You know I return to the same spots a lot over the last 15 years. Something that always comes with me is this little portable blender and then I have juicers all around the world at the places that I stay! Then, there’s my roller! Like I bring that in my carry-on because sometimes I get off the plane and when I am waiting for the next flight, I can just roll my back out and it’s such a good feeling – I love it! I would say that those are obviously my essentials – I mean clearly there’s my passport and things like that.

But the things that I bring that I like, my portable smoothie, I have juicers everywhere and my roller!

AM: What do you think has allowed you to have such longevity in this sport?

MM: I think what has helped me to have such longevity in this sport is keeping a good circle of people around me. Keeping friends, family, agents, and managers that keep it fun for me. That’s really important and people that want to work hard and succeed, you need to surround yourself with people that have like minded goals for sure! Then there’s my overall passion for snowboarding, my love for snowboarding has been something that has definitely pushed me and helped me to elevate my career. My love for the community of snowboarding, and how thankful that I am that it has given me the life that I couldn’t have even dreamed of. It has literally been something that I couldn’t have even dreamed of. It’s really important for me to try and to give back. We do that with the McMorris Foundation and things like that. We just try to break down the barriers of entry. I think that giving back to a community that has given you everything is really important with longevity. Also not just competing my whole career – it’s also breaking off and doing some films and just not doing the same thing constantly – it has kept it fun for me!

AM: You mentioned the McMorris Foundation that you started with your brother, Craig, did you think that it would be where it is at today?

MM: No! Honestly, I’m so thankful that we did it as far back as we did. It kind of seemed like we weren’t big enough to have a foundation when we started it, but that’s not true. We got to meet some incredible people and some generous people and have had quite a big outreach. We’ve had connections to other athletes, we’ve got to do some amazing things and to raise tons of money and I feel like we’re so lucky and have been able to play hockey, to play baseball, to snowboard and to do this and to do that. It taught us a lot in life. You can learn a lot through sport and I want every kid to have that experience and it is something that is near and dear to my heart.

AM: When you’re not competing, how do you take time for yourself?

MM: Um, I am a huge sports person so even when I have time off, I’m engaging in sports whether it’s surfing, playing hockey, skateboarding, going to sporting events! Obviously, spending time with my family – we all like to golf. I like to chill with my friends really and just doing normal stuff. I definitely like to try and experience some of the places that I have been lucky enough to go to, but it is so work focused. So I prioritize that more by going on trips to see places and really immersing myself in the culture which I quite enjoy. It can be like I said, like horse blinders sometimes when you are going to these places and you have such a goal and it’s like work – well it is work because you’re grinding. So, I want to experience these places and more things and those places that I love. I’m a huge food guy, I love food from different places around the world. So I really indulge in that when I can!

AM: You’re also known for snowboarding in the backcountry and last night, we watched PAVED.

MM: Nice!

AM: Yeah, it was the best 42 mins of our time last night watching this in prep for this interview!

MM: Sick! That’s really cool to hear – thank you!

AM: We’ve snowboarded and we are nowhere near your level, but we do like doing it to go out a bit and then to have drinks after.

But watching you and the other athletes in the backcountry at locales around the world was really great to see as we are fans of theirs as well. Tell us about this movie as we know it was done in partnership with Red Bull and Burton and why did you want to participate in this?

MM: I mean, it was a little tricky timing in terms of being in such a big year coming up. It was something that is so important to me in being able to have such a presence in the backcountry and the film world. It was really cool to hear that you watched it because you see how cinematic it is in the backcountry and how it looks. Of course it can look a little scary sometimes.

AM: Oh it was terrifying to see the ones in Alaska – couldn’t imagine it!

MM: Yeah it’s like wow! Snowboarding on these untouched slopes it’s just so majextic and picturesque and honestly, it’s a ton of fun to be out there for me. I love pushing myself like that as well and it’s such a team effort filming. You’re all helping each other and you have each other’s backs! That’s a nice change sometimes – I mean we all have each other’s backs, but we’re also competing. So being in the backcountry with Zeb Powell (X Games G1 + S1) for the first time and long time friends with Danny Davis (X Games G2), Brock Crouch, and Ben Ferguson (X Games S1 + B1) – to have that crew together and just making an awesome film! Thank you to Red Bull and Burton for giving us that rad opportunity! It was something that I definitely couldn’t pass up and I think that they did an awesome job on the movie!

AM: It was beautiful and what came to mind was in watching surfing for years and specifically things like the big waves in thinking about HBO’s 100 Foot Wave, you know about the tow in for surfers. The film illustrated this with drops ins from the helicopter as well as the Ski-Doos - not sure if that is correct...

MM: Oh yeah the Ski-Doo, you’re right – you nailed it! It’s crazy what you can access on those things and that’s a big part of it. Of course, as you saw, the triangle has the Helli on top which is the top mode of transportation! But Ski-Doo, they’re amazing what you can get to. I loved being back there and being able to enjoy that with friends, it’s freaking special and you don’t have that kind of instant gratification. Like if you’re doing a competition and you do well, you’re on that podium. But when you do this and you get clips and you see it all come together, and it’s such a team effort – that’s comparable, if not more gratifying at times.

AM: The film was awesome and the music – everything was just produced and came so well together. It was very cool!

MM: Thank you! I’m happy that you enjoyed it.

AM: You have 24 medals from the X Games, 3 from the Olympics, you’ve won US Opens, you have coveted brands that are sponsoring you, you’ve been in a number of films, and you have left your fingerprint on the sport. What do you want your legacy to be known as when they are looking at Mark McMorris and this incredible career?

MM: Ooo. Someone that pushed the limits. Someone that had a love for the sport and really focused on all sides of the sport and wasn’t just kind of like a one lane kind of guy. Someone who gave back to the community. That would be something that I would be truly proud of!

AM: We appreciate you taking the time, we didn’t realize that you will be training tomorrow in prep for the competition that is taking place this weekend!

MM: No problem! I’m so excited for this cover and it’s so neat that I will be on the cover as there have been some very impressive people that have been in it!

IG @markmcmorris

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | FRONT COVER/BACK COVER Chris Singer/Red Bull Content Pool | PG 16, 27 Frederik Kalbermatten | PG 19, 20, 28, 30, 34, BACK COVER Aaron Blatt | PG 23, 24 Emily Tidwell/Red Bull Content Pool | PG 33, 40, 44 - 51 X Games | PG 36 Christian Pondella | PG 38 Cole Giordano/Red Bull Content Pool | PG 42 Rock Star Energy Open |

Read the DEC ISSUE #120 of Athleisure Mag and see PUSHING THE LIMITS | Mark McMorris in mag.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY OPEN 2025

We’re looking forward to the Rockstar Energy Open at the Breckenridge Ski Resort that takes place from Dec 19-21st in Breckenridge, Colorado. This 3 day festival is free and open to the public and showcases world-class snowboarding competitions, live music, art, installations and an interactive fan village with Breck’s 5 iconic peaks in the background. You’ll enjoy elite pros as well as rising stars!

The inaugural snowboarding edition of the Rockstar Energy Open will include both men’s and women’s divisions and spotlight a star-studded roster of Rockstar Energy athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard, Colorado native Nik Baden, and fan-favorite Iris Pham.

The Rockstar Energy Open will also debut a new world-class rider-designed course created in partnership with Snow Park Technologies and the Breck Terrain Park Crew. The competition venue will feature a unique muli-terrain setup unlike traditional slopestyle, halfpipe or big air formats. 

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.