The Rise of the Multi Sport Athlete: From Park Rats to Wingsuit Pilots
- mywickeddude
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Jordan Darcy
There was a time when you picked your sport and stuck to it. Snowboarder. Skier. Climber. Surfer. Maybe a little crossover if you were feeling bold.
Now? The lines are blurring. Today’s athletes don’t just shred—they fly, flip, fall, hike, and huck across seasons and disciplines.
We’re living in the age of the multi-sport mountain athlete—and they’re transforming the culture, gear, content, and even the spirit of action sports.
It’s Not Just Skill, It’s a Mindset
Multi-sport athletes aren’t just good at different things. They’re wired for curiosity, risk management, and creative movement.
Whether it’s:
Skaters turned snowboarders bringing edge control and street style to big mountain lines.
Free divers turned BASE jumpers who breathe calmly through 3,000-foot exits
Trail runners turned backcountry split boarders who climb to earn every turn
…it’s about translating feel from one world to another.
The result? Riders with range, flow, and fearless adaptability.
What’s Driving the Crossover Movement?
1. Climate Change = Season Stretching
Winters are shorter. Athletes need year-round outlets. So they’re adapting—surfing when it’s slushy, speed flying when the pow melts.
2. Access to Training
Trampolines. Airbags. Indoor surf machines. Wind tunnels. Today’s riders don’t just learn on the hill—they simulate, train, and rep moves in safe environments first.
3. Content Culture Rewards Versatility
Audiences want to see evolution. One-sport edits are out. Full-send, multi-season storytelling is in. The more skills you bring to the table, the more compelling your journey.
4. New Communities, Same Stoke
Multi-sport means more crews. More mentors. More shared energy. A skier who BASE jumps. A biker who snowboards. A surfer who slacklines. The overlap creates richer stories—and more diverse support.
🧗 Who’s Leading the Charge?
Travis Rice – From slopestyle to mountaineering to sailing and surf expeditions, Rice has long blurred the lines of rider and explorer.
Miles Daisher – Not just a BASE jumper. He’s also a dad, skier, storyteller, and innovator across sky, snow, and water.
Nina Arneson – Climber, backcountry skier, and mental health advocate. Navigates mountains and emotions with equal grace.
Kai Jones – Big mountain prodigy who’s not just skiing anymore—he’s mountain biking, diving, and BASE-curious.
You – Yeah, you reading this. Maybe you climb. Maybe you skate. Maybe you’re thinking about learning to skydive. This isn’t gatekept. It’s wide open.
It’s Not All Insta Glory
Being multi-sport is incredible—but it comes with challenges:
Injury risk multiplies
Gear costs go way up
Time management gets brutal
You’re always a beginner at something
But that’s the point. Multi-sport athletes are obsessed with growth. They choose discomfort, complexity, and the thrill of starting over.
What It Means for the Culture
This shift isn’t just about athleticism—it’s a philosophy:
No more boxes. Skier? Snowboarder? Flier? Doesn’t matter. You're a mover.
No more off-seasons. The mountain is alive year-round. So are you.
No more separation. Surf, climb, fly, hike—it’s all mountain culture now.
The rise of the multi-sport athlete represents a deeper truth: We’re not just here to consume stoke. We’re here to live inside it.
Final Thoughts: Your Playground Is Bigger Than You Think
Look at your gear closet. Think about your crew. Now think about what else is out there: new terrain, new disciplines, new fears, new flow states.
This season, try something different:
Learn to paraglide.
Sign up for an indoor skate lesson.
Hike with climbers.
Fly with wing suiters: Tandem Wingsuit like Tandem Skydive, its a real thing.
Paddle whitewater with your board strapped on the roof.
Because the future of snow culture isn’t just cold. It’s wide open, multi-layered, and on the move.
Comments