Chloe Kim's Rekindled Passion for Snowboarding
Chloe Kim's Rekindled Passion for Snowboarding
To witness that radiant smile after nailing a flawless run, you'd never guess that Chloe Kim, now undeniably the greatest female halfpipe snowboarder ever, contemplated quitting the sport entirely.
Kim, who captured the hearts of America at 17 with her Olympic gold victory in 2018, followed by another title four years later, transcends the realm of action sports.
She adorned the cover of Sports Illustrated. She graced the red carpet. She's been transformed into a Barbie doll. She boasts 1 million Instagram followers, with most of them oblivious to the technicality of a cab double cork 1080. They simply adore Kim's charismatic personality, candid confessions on Stories, and impeccable fashion sense.
Somewhere along the line, however, the 24-year-old—whose natural talent garnered her father's resignation from his engineering job to become her coach at age four—lost sight of her purpose.
Two seasons ago, Kim's snowboarding path appeared stagnant, turning dread into her routine. The thought of quitting even crossed her mind.
Yet, over the past year, Kim started seeking therapy and confronting her inner demons. A revelation: "Much of it stemmed from overextending myself in terms of expectations and focusing almost exclusively on winning, as I thought success was the only thing that could add value to my life," she admitted.
When she shifted her focus away from winning and rediscovered the joy of the sport, her performance blossomed. "With this newfound enjoyment," she announced two days prior to dominating women's halfpipe at X Games Aspen, "the best snowboarding of my life ensued."
True to her words, Kim claimed her eighth X Games halfpipe gold medal, tied Shaun White's overall record, surpassing Kelly Clark to become the most decorated female halfpipe rider in X Games history. Her winning run earned a score of 93.33, marked by the first double cork in X Games women's halfpipe history.
It was only a few months earlier that Kim made history as the first woman to land a cab double cork 1080 at the Laax Open in Switzerland.
This transformation in Kim's perspective has been evident throughout the season.
At the U.S. Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, her first competition after an injury mid-season, Kim honored the competition with unparalleled determination, landing all of her runs in both qualifiers and finals. Although a fall in her first run docked her score, Kim's newfound optimism rendered the situation insignificant.
A few years ago, the gravity of such setbacks may have been overwhelming. Today, Kim navigates adversity with unfathomable ease.
"I've been experiencing significant mental transitions," she explained. "They've allowed me to maintain an optimistic outlook amidst the stress and enabled me to regard situations I once considered catastrophic as mere speedbumps on a much broader journey."
Kim's newfound resilience was on full display at the Laax Open, tackling an NBD, or never-been-done trick, with a calmness that belied the challenge. Few snowboarders can compare the exhilaration of winning gold and accomplishing an NBD in the same event, but Kim is no ordinary snowboarder.
"I think that landing an NBD holds more significance than the result for me," Kim revealed. "Succeeding in mastering a trick in training and replicating it under the pressure of competition signifies true achievement. Conquering something previously deemed impossible fills me with unparalleled satisfaction."
Halfpipe is currently undergoing a transformation, as athletes strive to add one if not two 1080s to their routines—an effort to keep up with Kim's pace. However, Kim herself is pushing herself in new ways, seeking to make her runs more stylish, which currently fuels her passion.
"I enjoy the challenge of switching things up, and different grabs create unique spins," Kim shared. "To me, this approach is far more rewarding than attempting additional rotations."
Next up for Kim is the U.S. Grand Prix later this week—another opportunity to excel and advance toward qualifying for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
At one point, Kim contemplated that the limited Beijing 2022 ceremonies, which prevented friends, family, or fans from witnessing her victory, would signal the end of her Olympics career.
"And then I thought, 'No, it cannot be this way,'" Kim recalled.
Kim took a 22-month hiatus from competitive snowboarding between 2019 and 2021. She also took a much-needed break during the 2022-23 season after securing gold in Beijing.
Despite these absences, sponsors such as Roxy and Monster Energy, which has supported her for 11 years, remained steadfast in their support.
"Monster saw my potential even when I didn't," Kim expressed. "They truly deserve the recognition and adoration."
Remarkably, despite her epic victories, Kim remains remarkably busy off the slopes. She's currently involved in various unnamed projects and is filming.
"Growing up in Southern California amidst a multitude of talented individuals in various fields," Kim mused, "taught me that there are numerous aspects of life worth exploring. And with only one life to live, why not pursue every possibility?"
Why is Chloe Kim famous for being an undeniably talented female halfpipe snowboarder who captured the hearts of America with her Olympic gold victories at 17 and 21? How old is Chloe Kim, who started competing in snowboarding at a young age with her father as her coach, and has now transitioned into a multifaceted public figure? Chloe Kim's sport is snowboarding, and she has dominated the X Games, holding the record for the most halfpipe gold medals (8) and surpassing other legendary snowboarders in the field. The X Games schedule and results showcase her consistent dominance in the sport. Chloe Kim's age was 24 years old during her transformation in perspective and technique, leading to increased performance and satellite achievements. Kim's journey in the Olympics has been highlighted by her innate talent, relentless drive, and mental resilience, despite facing challenges and setbacks along the way.