Jake Vedder never let the lack of mountains in his hometown stop him from pursuing snowboarding greatness.
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Michigan snowboarder chases Olympic dreams ahead of crucial qualifiers
The 27-year-old from Pinckney, Michigan, is a professional snowboarder who made his Olympic debut in 2022. Now he’s preparing for qualifiers in China this month that could secure his spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
“I’ve been so committed at this dream since I was 13 that it’s been every single day, eat, sleep, breathe, waiting for the moment to become an Olympian,” Vedder said.
Vedder’s journey began at age 5 when he received a snowboard for Christmas. Growing up in a state without major ski resorts, his path to professional snowboarding was far from conventional…