For Jason Wolle, there is nothing better than strapping into his snowboard for a fresh run. 

Whether he is making turns with a large group of friends or flying high above the halfpipe walls  at Copper Mountain Resort, Wolle loves the feeling of being out on the mountain snowboarding. 

Wolle developed a passion for the sport from an early age. Growing up in the nearby mountain town of Winter Park, Wolle learned to snowboard when he was 2 years old, steadily gaining skills the more he visited the slopes.

Wolle soon discovered that he not only loved the sport, but also that he was good at it. Inspired by the riders he watched on TV for the X Games, Wolle turned the dial up on his training. 

After hitting the slopes one day a week alongside his family, Wolle began snowboarding two to three days a week so he could further improve his skills. 

The additional days on the mountain opened up the door for Wolle to begin training at the Winter Park Competition Center, paving the way for the young rider to enter snowboard slopestyle and halfpipe competitions. 

By the age of 14, Wolle was competing at a very high level, trading junior-level USA Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) events for starts in the U.S. Grand Prix. It was Wolle’s first-ever Grand Prix that he realized that he one day wanted to stand proudly at the top of the halfpipe as part of Team USA. 

“I want to say my first Grand Prix was right after the Sochi Olympics (2014) season,” Wolle said. “It was kind of always in the back of my mind that I was in the big leagues now and the Olympics could be in the cards. It has always been a dream of mine.”

Over the last couple of seasons, Wolle has grown closer and closer to actualizing his dream of representing the U.S. at the Olympics, having arguably his best season as a professional snowboarder during the 2024-25 season. 

It was last season that Wolle was able to check-off one of his other childhood dreams — competing at the Winter X Games. 

After spending hours sprawled out in front of the TV watching the winter X Games in awe, Wolle was able to join some of the best snowboarders in the world for the 2025 event. With lights helping to cut through the dark winter night, Wolle was able to put down a solid run, recording a score of 65.33 to take seventh in the eight-person field. 

“I ended up getting that dream accomplished this past season,” Wolle said. “I have been an alternate for the last three years, and I got the call up this year to compete this past winter. It was a dream come true. The next logical step has always been the Olympics.”

Wolle finished last winter ranked 17th in the world and as the fourth American, allowing the 26-year-old to enter the Olympic year in a prime position to be named to the U.S. Olympic team. 

Wolle was dangerously close to being named to the U.S. snowboard halfpipe Olympic team in 2022 for the Beijing Games, but U.S. Ski and Snowboard did not choose him for the team. 

Wolle will look to use the momentum he built up last season to hopefully carry him to an Olympic berth this winter.

Unlike many of his compatriots, Wolle is not a member of the U.S. pro snowboard halfpipe team, meaning the Whitespace-sponsored rider has to oftentimes pay for his own travel, training and other expenses. 

“On the pro team they do help you out quite significantly, paying for camps, travel, entry fees,” Wolle said.

Wolle was ranked as the fourth American going into the 2025-26 winter season and was left off the national team because he failed to meet criteria outlined by U.S. Ski and Snowboard.

Due to not being a part of the U.S. pro halfpipe team, Wolle essentially pays for everything when it comes to his snowboarding. 

“I have a couple sponsors that help me out, but I am an independent contractor so it comes out of my wallet first,” Wolle said. “It is definitely tough to pay for snowboarding, and it is a pretty large investment.”

In an effort to raise the funds necessary to travel to and from competitions throughout the winter, Wolle was busy throughout the summer season working at the Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks in Silverthorne. For weeks, Wolle would make the over 40-minute, one-way drive from Leadville to the golf course to be an assistant golf professional.

Wolle reportedly logged 60-hour weeks at the Raven Golf Club teaching lessons, running leagues and being a welcoming face for guests. Before or after each 10-hour shift, Wolle would stop by Copper to utilize its Athletic Club for off-season training. 

In between work and training, Wolle was able to work through the emotions of being passed up by the  U.S. snowboard team. While it was initially a tough pill to swallow, Wolle soon came to realize he had to prove that he deserves a spot on the U.S. snowboard pro team.

“It definitely puts a chip on your shoulder for sure,” Wolle said. “I know I can do it, so I am going to prove them wrong. That is kind of where a lot of the motivation comes from. ” 

Just because Wolle is not a part of the U.S. snowboard halfpipe team, does not mean he cannot make the team going to Italy in February. So far this season, Wolle has competed in two halfpipe competitions including the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper last month. 

In that competition, Wolle was able to take 22nd in heat 1, finishing in 40th place overall. Wolle most recently competed in the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix event in Aspen on Wednesday, Jan. 7 where he took 21st in his heat. 

With the rosters for the U.S. Olympic team set to be announced at the completion of the event in Aspen on Saturday night, Wolle will soon know whether he has done enough to actualize his dream of being dressed in a Team USA kit at the 2026 Olympics. 

Regardless of whether Wolle is on the team or not, the rider will continue to ride with passion, creativity and love for the sport. 

“I also find that just getting out there and having fun with my friends is like the best part of snowboarding,” Wolle said. “I love competing and riding halfpipe, but I don’t like doing it by myself. Riding with those friends who I also compete against all season long makes it that much better.”

Original reporting from Summit Daily News