Nick Goepper is eager to clarify a point: he identifies as a skier, not a snowboarder. "People should be aware that skiers also perform freestyle maneuvers, including flips and tricks, along with halfpipes and rails," he explains. "This has been the case since the '90s! I often get playfully labeled as a snowboarder."
Goepper has earned his accolades, competing in three Winter Olympic Games and securing medals in each event--two silvers and one bronze, all in slopestyle. As he prepares for his fourth appearance with Team USA, Goepper is shifting his focus to the halfpipe, where he has established himself as one of the top competitors globally since 2023.
To master the acrobatic rotations and flips required in the halfpipe, Goepper's training prioritizes movement over traditional gym routines. "My sport is highly acrobatic and heavily relies on core strength, so I've dedicated the last four to five years to enhancing that aspect," he shares. "I focus on hanging exercises, such as pull-ups and leg raises."
Goepper's preferred training method aligns with his dislike for stationary exercises. "I dislike being in one place without moving my whole body," he admits. Instead, he embraces the challenge of utilizing his body weight to strengthen his core and back muscles. "As long as there's a bar to hang onto, I'm usually in my element."
While Goepper can handle advanced exercises like toes-to-bar hanging leg raises, standard leg lifts can be daunting for many. For those looking to improve, he suggests hanging from a bar, bracing the core, bending the knees, and curling the legs up--aiming for three sets of ten.
