Who is Red Gerard?

Early Years: The Colorado Backyard that Started It All

Red Gerard was born on June 29, 2000, in Rocky River, Ohio, into a family that loved outdoor sport. By the age of two he was already on a snowboard. To support his growing passion, his family relocated to Silverthorne, Colorado, where access to mountains and community would play a crucial role in his development as an athlete.

In Silverthorne, the Gerard family didn’t just move to the mountains – they built a snowboarding playground. A backyard park complete with a rope tow became the training ground where Red and his siblings learned to ride, experiment, and grow their skills. This environment fostered not only technical ability but also a deep love for snowboarding’s playful and creative spirit.

Competing in local and regional events, Red quickly stood out. By his mid‑teens, his skills had earned him a spot on professional snowboarding teams and placed him on the radar of the global competitive circuit. His relaxed personality, distinctive style, and obvious talent set him apart even before he stepped onto the Olympic stage.

Olympic Breakthrough: Gold in PyeongChang 2018

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang marked the moment Red Gerard became a global sports figure. At just 17 years old, competing in men’s snowboard slopestyle – an event combining rail tricks and big aerial maneuvers – he delivered a performance filled with precision, creativity, and boldness.

Despite his youth and relative lack of hype compared to other competitors, Gerard handled the pressure with a calm demeanor and a grin that became emblematic of his approach to the sport. In a final run filled with dynamic rail work and confident jumps, he secured the highest score of the competition, earning Olympic gold and becoming the youngest American to win a Winter Games snowboarding title. That victory gave the United States its first gold medal at those Games and sent shockwaves through the snowboarding community.

Challenges and Growth: Between Beijing 2022 and Milano‑Cortina 2026

After his meteoric rise in 2018, Gerard faced the challenge that confronts many young champions: maintaining excellence as expectations grow.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Gerard entered both slopestyle and big air competitions with high hopes. While his raw talent was unquestioned, he finished just off the podium — fourth in slopestyle and fifth in big air. These results showed he was still among the top competitors in the world but also illustrated how competitive snowboarding had become, with margins between medal positions becoming razor‑thin.

Rather than discouraging him, this near‑miss seemed to fuel Gerard’s determination. Over the next years, he continued to refine his riding and expand his presence within the sport. On the professional circuit, Gerard remained a constant podium contender, showcasing creativity and progression in events such as the X Games and World Cups.

By 2024 and 2025, Gerard had further cemented his reputation, claiming major titles in high‑profile competitions and illustrating that his Olympic results were only part of a broader competitive story.

During this period, Gerard also made significant changes to his equipment and partnerships within the industry, including launching his first signature snowboard model. This was more than a commercial milestone: it was a sign of his maturation and lasting influence within the snowboarding world.

Positioning for Milano‑Cortina: Expectations and Preparation

As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano‑Cortina approached, expectations for Red Gerard were mixed with anticipation. Athletes from around the world had continued to push boundaries in both slopestyle and big air, and snowboarding was more competitive than ever.

Unlike his first Olympic appearance as an underdog, Gerard arrived at his third Winter Games as a seasoned competitor – experienced, confident, and still driven by a passion for snowboarding. His preparation balanced disciplined training with a focus on enjoying the sport’s creative freedom, an approach that had defined his personality ever since his early days on the snow.

The snowboarding events at the Olympics were held at Livigno Snow Park in Valtellina, Italy, a venue known for its technical courses and variable weather conditions. Throughout the Games, conditions ranged from heavy snow to clearer skies, affecting the schedule and performance outcomes across disciplines.

2026 Winter Olympics: Snowboarding Results and Gerard’s Performance

At the Milano‑Cortina Games, snowboarding featured multiple medal events, including slopestyle and big air for men and women. The slopestyle events, in particular, drew global attention as riders navigated a challenging course that combined rail features with substantial jumps.

Men’s Slopestyle – Medal Results and Gerard’s Run

In the men’s slopestyle final, competition was fierce. The gold medal went to Su Yiming of China, who secured the top spot with a score of 82.41 points – a remarkable achievement that also marked China’s first gold of the Games. Su delivered a poised and technically sound performance that edged out tough competition.

Silver was claimed by Taiga Hasegawa of Japan, who scored 82.13 points, showcasing exceptional control and stylistic variation throughout his run. The bronze medal went to Jake Canter of the United States with a score of 79.36 points. Canter’s podium finish underscored the strength of the American snowboarding team and highlighted the depth of talent in the field.

Red Gerard competed strongly but did not reach the podium. Despite entering the final with the confidence and experience of an Olympic champion, he faced stiff competition and difficult course conditions, finishing outside the top three. His performance in slopestyle showed his continued commitment and competitive drive, even as a new generation of riders pushed the sport’s technical limits.

The event itself saw intense qualification rounds and tactical strategizing, with athletes navigating weather‑affected elements that challenged even the most seasoned competitors. Gerard’s ability to make the finals demonstrated his resilience and relevance at the highest level of the sport, even if it fell short of medal placement.

Other Snowboarding Events at Milano‑Cortina 2026

While slopestyle garnered much attention, other snowboarding disciplines also delivered standout moments:

In men’s big air, the gold medal was won by Kira Kimura of Japan, with teammate Ryoma Kimata taking silver and Su Yiming earning bronze. This deepened the medal haul for Japanese snowboarders and showcased the strength of their competitive program.
The women’s big air final saw Kokomo Murase of Japan take gold, Zoi Sadowski‑Synnott of New Zealand win silver, and Yu Seung‑eun of South Korea claim bronze. Murase’s victory was a highlight for her country and added to a broader pattern of Japanese excellence in snowboarding at these Games.
In women’s slopestyle, Mari Fukada of Japan captured the gold medal with an impressive performance that combined aerial and rail elements with precision and style. Fellow Japanese snowboarder Kokomo Murase, who had excelled in big air, claimed bronze while New Zealand’s Sadowski‑Synnott took silver, adding to her growing legacy as one of snowboarding’s most decorated Olympians.