Alaskan native Ryan Stassel has had a board strapped to his feet since kindergarten. The talented slopestyle and big air rider worked his way up through USASA and the Revolution Tour, soon finding success at the U.S. Grand Prix and eventually earning himself a spot on the U.S. Olympic slopestyle team in 2014. 

2014 was Stassel’s breakout year. He earned his first major win at the U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain and backed it up two days later with a third place, effectively securing his spot on the first U.S. Olympic slopestyle snowboarding team. In Sochi, Stassel finished 14th in the high-octane slopestyle debut. 

In the 2015 season, Stassel took home the World Championship title at the FIS World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria. 

FIRST TRACKS
Stassel remembers, “I first started snowboarding when I was in kindergarten. I would hop on the shuttle every other day and head up to our little resort that was in town. It was more a hill with a lift and a towrope, but it was definitely a lot of fun. I can’t quite remember who the first person was that taught me to ride, but the two that really got me going and pushing the limits were Dylan Omlin and Jeremy Puckett…thanks guys!”

OFF THE SNOW
Stassel enjoys hanging out with his friends, rock climbing, camping, writing, playing guitar, longboarding around town and “frolfing or just getting down on some video games.” He says, “I like to try and keep myself entertained.”