After earning his first career World Cup podium at the Rosa Khutor Olympic test event (second) in 2013, Alex Deibold scored a bronze medal at his first Olympic appearance at Sochi in 2014. According to the man himself, you ride because "snowboarding is fun—and when you compete, you're pushed to improve whether you want to or not."

FIRST TRACKS
Alex has been hooked on snowboarding ever since his Mom gave him a purple and green Burton Air 128 for Christmas at the age of four. He said he loved hitting jumps so much that, at age eight, he had to enter a slopestyle contest. He won. 

OFF THE SNOW
When he’s not riding, Deibold enjoys anything outdoors–from mountain biking, backpacking and rock climbing to surfing. In the off-season he works at The Sports Garage--a bike shop in Boulder, Colo.