IRON RIVER, MICHIGAN — Iron River, Michigan Native Nick Baumgartner always wanted to be a snowboarder.
“I actually did a report in high school on what you wanted to do as your career and I picked snowboarding and my teacher actually took me out in the hallway and was like, that’s cool but don’t you think we should pick something a little more realistic?” he said.
Over 20 years later, at the age of 40 he has become the oldest snowboarder to ever make the Winter Olympics.
“It’s definitely an honor for sure," said Baumgartner. "It’s very cool that I’ve been able to keep my body healthy and strong enough to be able to keep myself relevant in a sport that’s dominated by youth. It’s just wild. At my two podiums this season you see these young kids, a 20 year old kid coming to me, ‘how are you still fast?’ To me that means a lot as a competitor.”
This will be Baumgartner's fourth time making it to the Winter Games and his first Olympic appearance in 2010 located in Vancouver forever changed his life.
“When you walk out into opening ceremonies, it will change your life forever," he said. "It completely changed me. I’m more emotional. If there’s a movie where you’re trying to hold in a tear, it doesn’t happen. I cry. If I go to kids sporting events I cry when they make a basket or they shoot a goal. I’m a lot more sensitive to stuff like that because of that opening ceremonies. It’s hard to put into words, it’s one of the most powerful things I’ve ever done."
Baumgartner has won a gold medal in the X Games and received medals in the World Championships, but one thing that has eluded him is taking home hardware at the Olympics.
“I don’t need it," the Olympian said. "My career has been amazing, it’s been fun, I’ve had a blast, but it sure would be nice to have one of those and share it with everyone in the UP.”’
Even if he does medal, it will be the second coolest thing the Olympian has ever done. The first, being a father to his 17-year-old son Landon. The highlight of his career was in 2011 when he took home gold in the X Games and shared the feat with his son.
“(I) was able to hold my six year old son up on national television and send him back to school a rock star because of something I did and to me, that’s the highlight," said Baumgartner. "When I tell people winning the X-Games was the best day of my life they question, 'well you’re a dad aren’t you' and I said, 'it’s because of him being there and the whole experience of sharing it with him.'”
Baumgartner is going to keep racing for as long as he can. Especially if he’s getting paid and still competitive.
“I’m 40 years old, I’ve been around for a long time, I’m having fun, I’m relaxed — life is good," he said. "We’re just going to keep rolling with that and keep everything going. ”
He appreciates all the support he receives on social media and hopes to bring home a medal to share it with all of the UP.
“It means the world to me to have this kind of support. You guys rock and I’m going to represent everyone the best I can. We’re going to leave it all out there. Watch out world, the UP is coming to China,” he said.
Baumgartner starts racing on Feb. 14.
