Red Gerard's journey to Olympic glory began at an age when most teenagers are focused on high school proms and driver's licenses. At just 17, he captured gold in slopestyle snowboarding at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, becoming the youngest American male ever to stand atop an Olympic podium in his sport. Now 25 and preparing for his third Olympic appearance, Gerard has evolved from teenage phenom to seasoned veteran, yet his approach to competition remains refreshingly unconventional.
What distinguishes Gerard isn't merely his aerial mastery or his uncanny ability to stick landings under immense pressure—it's his revolutionary perspective on the very nature of competition. While Olympic sports often celebrate fierce rivalries and psychological intimidation, snowboarding operates under a different ethos. "In every other sport there's a lot of head-to-head confrontation," Gerard observes. "In snowboarding, my competitors are some of my best friends." This isn't mere sportsmanship; it's a foundational principle that has shaped his entire career trajectory.
This camaraderie among competitors creates an environment where athletes elevate each other through encouragement rather than antagonism. As Gerard prepares for both slopestyle and big air events in 2026, he draws motivation from this unique dynamic. "We feed off each other," he explains. "I think it's way more unique than any other sport in that sense." Sports psychology research validates this approach, demonstrating that for certain personality types, a supportive and relaxed atmosphere actually enhances performance rather than diminishing it.
Despite his laid-back competitive philosophy, Gerard approaches physical preparation with serious intent—though not in the conventional sense. He openly admits he's no gym enthusiast. "I didn't get into snowboarding to work out!" he states emphatically. Rather than traditional weightlifting protocols, he concentrates on functional training that directly translates to on-snow performance. His regimen emphasizes bodyweight exercises and targeted core work that builds the stability essential for complex rotations and precise landings.
Among Gerard's preferred training methods are medicine ball exercises that challenge both physical power and mental processing. These drills develop proprioception—the body's ability to perceive its position and movement in space—which proves critical for maintaining control during intricate snowboarding sequences. "If you're standing on one leg and someone's throwing a med ball at you, it's kind of fun to work the brain as well," he notes. This dual demand of physical coordination and cognitive engagement mirrors the split-second decisions required during competition runs.
For athletes seeking to integrate Gerard's training principles, he recommends a dynamic partner exercise that simultaneously builds core strength and coordination. The drill begins with two participants positioned side by side. One athlete performs an oblique medicine ball slam, pivoting to drive the ball from overhead down to their opposite side. After catching the rebound, they immediately execute another slam to the alternate side before passing to their partner. The second athlete then repeats the sequence, maintaining the alternating pattern. The objective is completing five repetitions on each side per person while sustaining intensity throughout. This high-paced superset not only fortifies the core but also sharpens reaction time and spatial awareness—skills that directly transfer to snowboarding performance.
Beyond structured training, Gerard discovers cross-training benefits in an unexpected venue: the golf course. When not on his board, he frequently perfects his swing, another pursuit demanding precision, body control, and mental concentration. This preference for skill-based activities over conventional workouts reflects his broader athletic philosophy: training should be engaging, functional, and mentally stimulating rather than merely repetitive or exhausting.
The psychological component of Gerard's preparation proves equally important. The same relaxed mindset that allows him to view competitors as friends also helps him manage Olympic-level pressure. While some athletes thrive on stress and confrontation, Gerard's methodology demonstrates that peak performance can be achieved through alternative psychological pathways. His capacity to remain calm and genuinely enjoy the process—both in training and competition—has become his competitive edge.
As the 2026 Winter Games approach, Gerard's training continues evolving. While specific exercises may change, core principles remain constant: build functional strength, develop body awareness, and preserve the joy that initially drew him to snowboarding. His narrative challenges the conventional wisdom that elite performance demands cutthroat mentality and grueling gym sessions. Instead, it illustrates how authentic passion and intelligent training can produce extraordinary outcomes.
The snowboarding community's supportive culture has undoubtedly contributed to Gerard's longevity and success. By fostering an environment where athletes celebrate each other's breakthroughs while pursuing personal excellence, the sport has cultivated a generation of riders who view peers as collaborators in progression rather than obstacles to overcome. This philosophy extends beyond competition, influencing how they train, innovate, and represent their discipline globally.
For aspiring athletes, Gerard's methodology offers valuable insights. First, training specificity matters more than simply lifting maximal weight. Exercises that replicate sport-specific demands yield superior results compared to generic gym routines. Second, mental preparation holds equal importance to physical conditioning. Discovering a psychological approach that aligns with your personality—whether high-intensity motivation or relaxed enjoyment—can unlock true potential. Finally, never underestimate community power. Supportive peers who understand your journey can mean the difference between burnout and sustained excellence.
As Gerard anticipates his third Olympic appearance, he carries not just veteran experience but the same enthusiasm that propelled him to gold as a teenager. His training methods may seem unconventional by traditional standards, but they perfectly suit modern snowboarding demands. By emphasizing core strength, body control, and performance psychology—while maintaining the friendships that make the sport meaningful—Gerard has created a sustainable model for elite athletic success.
The medicine ball drills, proprioception emphasis, and preference for functional movement over brute strength combine to form a training philosophy both highly effective and deeply personal. It reminds us that the optimal training program isn't necessarily the most intense or complex, but rather the one aligning with an athlete's natural tendencies and sport-specific demands. For Red Gerard, that means staying loose, staying connected with fellow competitors, and always remembering why he started snowboarding: because it's fun.
In a sports landscape increasingly dominated by analytics, hyper-specialization, and psychological gamesmanship, Gerard's approach stands out as refreshingly human. He proves you can be both a fierce competitor and supportive friend, take training seriously without taking yourself too seriously, and that sometimes the path to Olympic glory involves medicine ball slams, golf rounds, and genuine camaraderie. As the 2026 Games approach, the world will watch to see if this distinctive methodology can once again elevate him to podium heights.