After taking greater than a 12 months off for being pregnant and having her firstborn, after which standing down from the 2024 X Video games in January, 33-year-old Jamie Anderson competed within the 2024 Pure Choice Tour (NST) — and podiumed.
On the backcountry snowboard competitors, athletes descend unmanicured terrain with sizable, gnarly options from cliffs to spines and pillows. Every athlete chooses their very own line within the zone — typically with a blind or restricted line of sight on the strategy.
Anderson received the primary NST DUEL competitors at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, besting Emma Crosby, in early February. Subsequent, Anderson took the crown in spherical two: a DUEL in opposition to Elena Hight, who carried the 2022 NST title.
In the end, Anderson competed in April’s NST finals — within the Selkirk Tangiers zone, in British Columbia’s Revelstoke mountain vary — in opposition to Mary Rand, touchdown in third place general. Each her husband, Tyler, and their daughter, Misty, had been there to cheer her on.
We sat down with Anderson to be taught extra about her journey as a mother and knowledgeable athlete and what’s on her horizon.
Jamie Anderson Q&A: 2024 Pure Choice Tour Podium
Morgan Tilton (GearJunkie): How has it been for you as a high-level athlete and a mother, and what are the best challenges you’ve skilled?
Jamie Anderson: The toughest half has been the huge way of life shift from being at that high elite athlete degree to being a full-on stay-at-home mother for the final 2 years. I made a decision once I grew to become pregnant that I actually wished to be probably the most concerned as the first caregiver, and I used to be going to place my profession secondary to being a mother. As a lot as I really like and wish to pursue my snowboarding, I felt like an important factor was to be as current as doable and actually be there for my daughter.
It’s onerous to vary your way of life and decelerate, however so essential and such a pure strategy to evolve in life. It’s such a present to be a stay-at-home mother. These days, girls don’t get lots of time to be a mom. It’s not a profession. However probably the most useful factor you are able to do in life is elevate your kids.
What was your bodily and coaching course of like post-pregnancy?
I actually took my time recovering and didn’t attempt to rush again into athleticism or health. I rested and nurtured myself and slowly acquired again into it. My first time snowboarding was 9 months after beginning as a result of my daughter was born in March [2023], and I didn’t actually get on snow till December.
You bought again on snow for the primary time in December 2023 and competed in Pure Choice a few months later — did you ever doubt that NST was a good suggestion?
I positively doubted doing Pure Choice. They requested me in October if I used to be . At that time, I used to be not feeling tremendous robust or understanding. I used to be strolling, however I nonetheless felt fairly in my mama mode. After a month, I made a decision, why not? What a chance and a privilege. I needed to do the qualifying sequence, so I felt I’d as properly do the DUEL, and I used to be already going to Colorado to assist the women on the X Video games.
I type of went from the sofa and it was actually, actually onerous for me to get again out and shred.
Throughout that transition, how a lot assist did you have got with caring for Misty?
At dwelling, I had the chance to get a nanny, however I didn’t really need one. I used to be loving being a mother, and he or she wasn’t even one 12 months previous. I had one good friend in Whistler assist take care of her for a pair hours each now and again, and I’d go snowboarding. And all through the season, Tyler would care for her, and I’d go shred for possibly a half day. So, we might commerce off, despite the fact that we like to do sports activities and actions collectively, as a result of we actually simply cherished having fun with that point with our toddler.
On the Crested Butte NST DUEL, certainly one of my girlfriends, Mary Beth, got here out to assist with Misty as a result of I actually wished Tyler to assist me and assist coach me by means of that DUEL, which was tremendous useful. Then, on the NST finals in Revelstoke, my older sister — I’m the fifth of eight children — got here out to assist, and I simply love and adore her a lot.
How did the Crested Butte Mountain Resort NST DUEL go as your first competitors after having Misty?
I used to be actually nervous to qualify and make the tour however targeted and grounded — it was a 50/50 probability. The terrain was fairly technical, and I had a complete of 30 days on snow final 12 months, which is considerably lower than when I’m at my prime aggressive degree.
I actually felt happy with myself. Emma Crosby, who I competed in opposition to, rode rather well, and we had enjoyable.
It jogged my memory how a lot I really like sports activities and competing as a result of I actually dive into myself and attempt to harness my very own finest power and mindset — whether or not that’s consuming rather well or caring for my physique. It helps me be accountable for all of my actions and put together [myself] in order that I can do my finest.
You had a difficult day at your third Winter Olympics in 2022, taking falls and lacking the rostrum. What derailed you, and the way did you get again on observe?
An enormous half was all of the chaos of COVID-19. I used to be actually struggling, and it was stressing me out — the way it was managed with well being departments and shutting mindfulness areas. I knew I used to be very able to profitable one other medal. However I used to be additionally just a little tapped out on ego-fueling achievements.
I used to be consuming and partying so much, versus coping with the issues that had been making me really feel overwhelmed, and I wasn’t caring for my physique. I wasn’t actually doing yoga, as a result of all of the studios in my hometown had shut down by means of COVID-19. There wasn’t as a lot of that sense of group.
Going into that Olympics, I knew I wasn’t in a very good house. A part of me didn’t even wish to go. I’ve been capable of carry out at my highest elite degree once I’m caring for my thoughts, physique, and spirit.
But in addition, I realized a lot from that, and I’m nonetheless very grateful for that have. I’m actually happy with the women who did do properly. It took me a short while to get there, as a result of I used to be so upset, however my unhappiness dissipated once I noticed Julia Marino completely kill it on the Olympics.
Possibly I wanted that ego verify and actuality verify of sharing the love and sharing the stoke, and understanding I’m solely human. Now, I’d select a distinct strategy to beat these obstacles than what I did once I was youthful. And for that, I’m grateful.
With a lot at the back of your thoughts, how did you course of and overcome that worry on the NST DUEL?
I made a decision to do what I realized a very very long time in the past, which is to faucet into my coronary heart, be aware and conscious of the stress and worry, and work by means of and overcome them. Bless or give the remainder to above.
I attempted to actually let go of expectations. In fact, I actually wished to win and do my finest, however on the finish of the day, I used to be simply happy with myself for being on the market.
Physiologically and mentally, how did being in an early post-pregnancy stage affect your athletic expertise?
I used to be nonetheless nursing, so I feel my worry issue was a bit heightened. I didn’t have as a lot adrenaline to ship it like I usually would.
Fortunately, it’s stunning and [those are] pure instincts to wish to defend your self and your offspring — you don’t wish to put your self at an excessive amount of danger. I felt I did a very good job at balancing getting out of my consolation zone however using a bit reserved.
In hindsight, I want I had despatched it more durable, however I wouldn’t change something. I wouldn’t have chosen to cease nursing my daughter earlier to be at a greater athletic efficiency. I’m nonetheless nursing her at 18 months.
Since I’ve had the privilege of competing and being on the high of my sporting profession for therefore lengthy, I’ve so much much less attachment to outcomes and awards. My fundamental focus and aim is to be the most effective mother I may be. Snowboarding and initiatives are nonetheless excessive up, however they’re positively secondary to that.
Have any followers thrown shade, or has there been 100% assist from sq. one?
I didn’t actually take note of no matter individuals had been saying, however a lot of the feedback I keep in mind shared appreciation for making Misty a precedence and bringing her in every single place with me. She type of lived on my chest and did every part I did, whether or not it was movie premieres or occasions and even going to the mountain at X Video games to observe the women.
Once I acquired again into competing at Pure Choice, I felt lots of love and assist, which was nice in Crested Butte.
Do you have got competitors staples that helped floor you throughout NST?
No meals. If I’ve lots of nerves and I’m going into focus mode, I’ve to make use of a lot power that I don’t have the power to digest meals. I’ve juice (the Dragon Herbs Tonic Alchemy Superfood Greens Powder), chia seeds in water, or bone broth for mind focus, however not an entire meal.
I take advantage of respiration methods, and I really like having important oils on me. Particularly if I’ve a crash or really feel actually nervous, I bust out the lavender or frankincense to shift my temper and vibe. After I ruptured my spleen as a young person and was within the ICU for just a few weeks, I realized about yoga, Chinese language medication, and holistic wellness, which is nice to combine with motion sports activities.
What initiatives are within the pipeline?
We’ve got a cool household movie venture popping out known as “Jamie and Ty’s Nice Alaskan Journey,” which was filmed within the spring.
From Revelstoke, we headed as much as Alaska to do a enjoyable journey. My accomplice and his buddies love flying bush planes, so that they flew. Aviation was a giant a part of the venture. We introduced our toddler, Misty, and flew to stunning glaciers and riverbeds. We heli-boarded, went fishing, loved large bonfires and barbecues, and shared the gorgeous mountains and surroundings.
It’s not core snowboarding and pertains to on a regular basis people who find themselves having households and wish to discover the motivation to get out and maintain doing the issues they love. Everybody who’s a brand new father or mother is aware of it may be just a little difficult, however when you do, it feels so good.
What do you hope your daughter would possibly take away from this story — of you going again to compete whereas she’s nonetheless in your hip?
She’s going to most likely assume her mother’s fairly badass, however most significantly, she is going to worth that I put her first and that my snowboarding wasn’t extra essential than being along with her.
And once I did select to have assist, it was principally actually shut mates or household — I actually valued their power round her.
I feel she’ll be stoked trying again on this Alaska venture. She’s a giant a part of it. Virtually every part we did, she was there for it, aside from the heli-boarding. However the snowmobiling and the flying to glaciers and making all of it the way in which as much as the bottom of Denali, she was with us for every of these experiences.
What are your objectives or competitions that you simply’d wish to deal with for the 2024-2025 winter season?
I’d like to journey some powder. I’m feeling so much much less impressed to do Slopestyle occasions.
I positively wish to give Pure Choice one other run. I acquired actually humbled at Finals when the woman I used to be competing in opposition to, Mary Rand, acquired a better rating … I’m positively motivated to hopefully win it at some point.
