What a year 2016 was for Kyle Mack. Though the kid from West Bloomfield, MI has been climbing the ranks for several years, he absolutely stormed to the front of the class in 2016 with a win at the Burton US Open, one of the most prestigious wins in all of snowboarding. Mack also hit the podium at one of snowboarding's other top-tier events, placing second at the Air+Style big air event in Los Angeles. With major podium finishes in both big air and slopestyle in 2016, the 18 year old proved he's ready to play with the big boys.

Mack's win at the US Open was an historic one--it was the first time an American man topped the podium in slopestyle there since 2011 (Eric Willett), it was the first time back-to-back triple corks had been landed there and it was the first time anyone ever landed a triple cork Japan in competition. Following in the footsteps of the sport's most elite slopestyle riders, Mack said after the competition, "To win here in Vail is amazing--I couldn't be more hyped. It's pretty much a dream come true to win this."

The first sign of greatness from Mack came at just 15 when he landed the first-ever frontside triple rodeo 1440 at the O'Neill Evolution in 2013. He began snowboarding at just three years old and was competing at USASA nationals by the age of seven. By nine he was competing in the US Open and in 2010, at 13 years old, he won the US Open Junior Jam.

The 2012 season saw Mack boost to the finals at the Dew Tour as well as the Burton Canadian Open, where he sealed an eighth-place finish in halfpipe against an ultra-talented crew of riders. He won the Burton European Junior Open halfpipe event and placed third in slopestyle, demonstrating all-around skill.

2013 was Mack's breakout year at the pro level, when he won big air at the U.S. Grand Prix Paul Mitchell Progression Session and took second in both big air and halfpipe at the O’Neill Evolution in Switzerland (where he landed the triple rodeo). He finished third overall in 2013 in the World Snowboard Tour rankings.

In 2014 Mack had a double-podium event at the Shred Show, where he won slopestyle and took second in big air. Mack started the 2015 season off by winning Stylewars in Australia then claimed back-to-back bronze medals at the FIS World Championships in both slopestyle and Big Air. Expect great things from this Midwest boy in the years to come, especially as big air's Olympic debut draws near in 2018. 

FIRST TRACKS
His father first put Mack on skis at the age of three. When he crashed hard and didn't want to put the skis back on, his dad put him on a snowboard instead and he never looked back. 

OFF THE SNOW
In the summer Mack enjoys some rest and relaxation from his busy snowboarding schedule. He also likes to hit the links and skateboard when he’s not at a Detroit Tigers game.