Jamie Anderson has had no shortage of success as a snowboarder. Heading into the 2018 Olympics, Jamie has won four X-Games gold medals, six World Snowboard Tour championships and a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Away from the competition, Jamie stays grounded with her seven siblings, her boyfriend, Tyler Nicholson, and her parents.
Jamie Anderson-Childhood
Her unique upbringing in Tahoe, California prompted Jamie to be passionate about nature and preserve the environment. Her mother’s decision to home-school their family and give them a lot of time outside made a drastic difference in her life.
She always shows so much gratitude for how her mom and dad chose to raise their family.
Jamie Anderson-Siblings
Jamie grew up in South Lake Tahoe in a big family with five sisters and two brothers. One of the ways she fell in love with snowboarding was by watching her siblings have fun with the sport.
Given the size of the family, Jamie and her siblings had to be resourceful. While she loves snowboarding, she understands the expenses associated with the sport keep some kids from participating.
Jamie Anderson – Homeschooling
Jamie’s mother, Lauren, had an unorthodox approach to schooling her children, which drew criticism from other members of her family. Lauren wanted her children to experience more than just text books, and she allowed for a little less structure than a traditional school system. Her parents have always supported her, and they still come to her events and support her each day. Her mom homeschooled her so she could spend most days snowboarding at Sierra with her siblings. “
Lauren admits she was more concerned with her kids’ becoming well-rounded than simply learning school subjects.
She wanted her kids to be like children, playing outside, running and jumping and not sitting inside at a desk. She wanted them to learn how to get along and to let life be their teacher. She believed that character-building was more important than academics. “
Jamie & Her Sister Joanie Anderson-the First Siblings to Win Gold at the X-Games
Jamie and Joanie Anderson, the Olympic celebrities, won gold in the X Games in 2007. That started it all. Jamie is not the only member of the family to love snowboarding. She and her sister, Joanie Anderson, made history by becoming the first siblings to both win gold at the X-Games Aspen 2007.
Jamie’s mother owns an alpaca farm
With her kids out of the house, Lauren made a move across the country to Vermont, where she bought a farmhouse along with three alpacas. According to the Vermont Standard, she worked on a nearby farm to pay off the cost of the alpacas. Not only is it awesome to have pet alpacas, but Lauren has a business plan for her alpacas and small farm. She worked with New England Fiber Pool, who uses alpaca fibre to make clothing items including sweaters, gloves, and hats. Jamie spoke with the Vermont Standard about her mother’s surprising move.
Lauren made a good point about why people should have faith she can raise alpacas. “I raised eight kids. I think I can do alpacas,” Lauren told the Vermont Standard.
Jamie’s Dad-Plays the Harmonica
With a family of eight plus her parents, money was not always overflowing. The family lived on her father’s salary, who was a firefighter at the time. Jamie’s father now lives in a small cabin in Tahoe where he enjoys listening to country music and playing the harmonica. Jamie has also picked up playing the harmonica, but admits she is not as good as her father. She’s likely too busy winning gold medals to put a lot of time into her new hobby.
More success awaits Jamie Anderson
Very involved in her community, Jamie has created a foundation in her name to help young people without the means to practise snowboarding. She is also a member of the Protect Our Winters (POW) alliance, which fights against climate change. In addition, in April 2018, she participated in the programme “Dancing with the Stars,” partnering with professional dancer Artem Chigvinstev. But unlike in her snowboarding career, this experience quickly ended in elimination. “I was out of my comfort zone. But the universe was looking out for me, and I am extremely happy to return to the mountains. That is where my heart is,” she wrote. Her sporting adventure continues!
Quick Know About Jamie Anderson
Born: 13 September 1990 (age 32 years), South Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Movies: Full Moon
Height: 1.6 m
Medals: Snowboarding at the 2018 Winter Olympics – Women’s Slopestyle, MORE
Nationality: American
Siblings: Joanie Anderson
TV shows: Dancing with the Stars