January 31, 2022 – West Bend, WI – Courtney Rummel, 18, of West Bend, WI will be representing the United States in Beijing as an official member of the US Olympic Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air Team.
What drew you to the sport of snowboarding? Was athletic ambition or the desire to take something you found to the next level? I took up snowboarding because my brother Cole started competing through the Midwest Best Series in USASA – it wasn’t long before I wanted to start. Everything my brother did I wanted to do, so I started snowboarding.
I was actually pretty good and progressed quickly. I also love being outside in the mountains; I love traveling and seeing the world while competing in different places. Most importantly, I love the energy I get when I’m snowboarding.
The idea that I would take snowboarding to the next level was always an idea that was in my mind and supported by my family. It’s been a goal that I was working toward, but when it actually happened, it was surreal– a lot of happy tears!
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What kind of preparation do you go through to get your body and mind ready for an event/competition? Music is also really important to me, and it definitely helps put me in the right mindset. At the end of the day, I just try to focus on what I can do, instead of what others are doing
What does it mean to you to represent the USA in the Olympics? How do you feel about it (ie is it a childhood dream come true)? I can’t fully explain it because I don’t think that it’s completely hit me yet! What started as a hobby when I was 8 years old transformed into a huge passion with big goals. I was definitely interested in seeing how far I could go with the sport. Having the opportunity to represent my country is a huge honor and milestone that I hoped to reach someday. When I was put on the US Rookie Team as a 14-year-old 8th grader, they said I was hopeful for the 2026 Olympics, so this is completely surreal to me – I’m so excited!
Is there anyone from your sport or another that you admire whom you look forward to meeting/competing against at the Olympics? At the end of the day, I admire everyone on my team– both women and men. They all push me to become a better rider. I’ve also had the privilege of getting to know a lot of women from around the world at all of the World Cups and Grand Prixs, and I can’t wait to see some of them in Beijing. I also look up to Marcus Kleveland, a two-time X-Games winner who has been my idol growing up for a while now– I love his style and how dedicated he is to the sport.
Do you have any advice or words of encouragement for other snowboarders or even just student-athletes in general who may want to follow in your footsteps (ex. How do you balance your academics and your athletic success)?
It takes a lot of discipline and prioritization to stay on top of my studies, especially while traveling. I try my best to plan out my days – I designate a time for training and a time for schoolwork. I also try to use the actual travel time to catch up on my studies. As a student-athlete, being a student comes first– so prioritizing your studies and your passion for your sport will carry you through. Don’t give up and just keep pushing forward. It doesn’t matter how big or small your dream is, you can accomplish what you put your mind to.
Photos courtesy U.S. Ski & Snowboard team and HomeLight Revolution Tour.
