Nick Goepper: Mental health journey, 4th Olympics & the magic of Mount Hood | FULL INTERVIEW

American freestyle skier Nick Goepper opens up in this interview about his mental health journey, his upcoming fourth Olympics, and what makes competing on the world's biggest stage so special. Nick doesn't hold back, discussing his personal struggles over the last decade with anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse—and his message about reaching out for help using whatever tools work for you, whether that's medicine, therapy, friends, religion, or anything else.

Nick explains the unique pressure of Olympic competition—"Grandma cares" at the Olympics in a way she doesn't for other events, creating a worldwide audience and opportunity to inspire across generations. He's learned to keep his expectations fluid rather than rigid, approaching his fourth Games with a mindset focused on enjoying the moment and hitting one out of the park.

The conversation covers the technical differences between slopestyle (a canvas of different features) and halfpipe (the most classic discipline in action sports, with roots in surfing and skateboarding). Nick discusses his evolving social media approach, showing more personality and behind-the-scenes content rather than just trick compilations. Mount Hood holds a special place in his heart—he spent three years of high school there at Windells Academy (now Woodward East Academy), and the energy of those Northwest woods keeps calling him back to train on the volcano 250 days a year.

In a lighthearted moment, Nick shares his phone background: a picture of his girlfriend and his cat, "my two favorite girls," both with a bit of attitude—perfectly framed thanks to his photography skills and the new iPhone.

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