Lawrenceville native warms up for Olympics in blue jeans

Nick Goepper is preparing for his fourth Olympic Games with an unusual practice run

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Nick Goepper, a two-time silver medalist and one-time bronze medalist in Olympic slopestyle skiing, is headed to his fourth Olympic Games in Milan Cortina. Before his first 2026 Olympic run, Goepper went on a practice run on the halfpipe in Livigno, Italy - wearing a pair of blue jeans.

Why it matters

Goepper's decision to ski in jeans during his practice run was a statement about making the sport more accessible, alluding to his Midwest roots and the idea that 'anyone can do this sport'. As he prepares for his fourth Olympics, Goepper is looking to win his first gold medal, this time in the halfpipe event.

The details

In a video posted on Instagram, Goepper captioned it saying 'Nothing can stop you. Denim doesn't discriminate. EVERYONE skis in jeans, even Olympians.' Speaking on the 'My New Favorite Olympian' podcast, Goepper explained that his jean-clad practice run was a 'power to the people' move, showing that the sport is accessible to anyone.

  • Goepper is headed to his fourth Olympic Games next week.
  • His first 2026 Olympic run in the halfpipe competition will begin with qualifications on Thursday at 4:30 a.m. ET.
  • If he advances, Goepper will compete in the final, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on the same day.

The players

Nick Goepper

A two-time silver medalist and one-time bronze medalist in Olympic slopestyle skiing, Goepper is from Lawrenceburg, Indiana and is headed to his fourth Olympic Games.

Karin Kyla Woods

Goepper's fiancée, with whom he recently got engaged in Aspen, Colorado.

Adam Rippon

The host of the 'My New Favorite Olympian' podcast, where Goepper spoke about his decision to ski in jeans.

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What they’re saying

“Nothing can stop you. Denim doesn't discriminate. EVERYONE skis in jeans, even Olympians.”

— Nick Goepper (Instagram)

“It was a statement to allude to my Midwest roots of like, hey, anybody can do this sport. It really was a 'power to the people' move. Hey, I'm skiing in jeans and I'm skiing in the biggest events in the entire world, and you can do it, too.”

— Nick Goepper (My New Favorite Olympian podcast)

“Who woulda thought, the kid from Indiana. Lets go round #4.”

— Nick Goepper (Instagram)

What’s next

If Goepper advances from the qualifications, he will compete in the final of the halfpipe competition on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

Goepper's decision to ski in jeans during his Olympic practice run was a statement about making the sport more accessible and inclusive, reflecting his Midwest roots and the idea that anyone can participate in skiing at the highest levels, even Olympians.