Jake Pates

Jake Pates is an American professional snowboarder known for his achievements in halfpipe and slopestyle competitions, as well as his advocacy for athlete mental health and brain safety. Training with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, Pates earned a spot on the U.S. Snowboarding national rookie team and progressed through the competitive ranks. He gained international attention at the Youth Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer, where he won gold medals in both slopestyle and halfpipe alongside fellow American Chloe Kim.

Pates continued to build his reputation with significant accomplishments on the world stage. At the Dew Tour Olympic qualifier, he landed the first double McTwist 1260 with a tail grab in competition, securing his place on the U.S. Olympic team. He reached the final at the Winter Olympics, finishing eighth, and went on to win bronze at the Laax Open and silver at X Games Aspen.

Pates' career faced a setback after sustaining a serious concussion at the Mammoth World Cup. Returning to competition while still experiencing symptoms, he exacerbated existing mental health challenges related to repeated head injuries, which led him to step away from competition. After leaving the U.S. national team and losing sponsorships, Pates shifted his focus to advocacy. He founded the Happy Healthy Brain Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about concussion protocols and advancing brain health for athletes, particularly through baseline brain scanning. He also launched a YouTube series called "The Flip Side," which addresses mental wellness in sports.

Pates returned to competition with a NorAm Cup victory in Aspen-Snowmass and earned invitations to Olympic qualifying events at Copper Mountain and Aspen, making finals at both and being selected to his second U.S. Olympic Snowboard halfpipe team. At the Milano Cortina Olympics, he was the first to compete in the 12-man final, delivering a run that earned a score of 77.50 and secured eighth place, matching his previous Olympic result. He later returned to the podium at the Snow League's Aspen stop.

Beyond his athletic career, Pates is recognized for his work in athlete mental health and brain safety advocacy. His openness about his experiences with concussion, depression, and the pressures of competitive snowboarding has contributed to broader conversations about mental health and concussion management in high-risk sports.