All photos by Jack Benzinger
Nick Goepper has had a pretty successful career as a slopestyle skier.
Six X Games medals, three Olympic ones and a couple of World Championship bronzes.
He announced his retirement at the start of 2023.
Well, it was extremely confusing and kind of exhausting at first.
I didnt feel retired, I felt burnt out on skiing for sure.
I knew that I didnt want to hit jumps and rails for a job anymore though.
Youve been pretty busy on socials, some stuff wasnt super serious.
Is this switch to halfpipe something serious?
Im going to compete in halfpipe and go to the next Olympics.
So, have you skied much pipe before?
I skied a little bit of pipe back in 2016.
Ive always loved it.
Now though, I have time, I have the energy and its a new challenge.
Does this mean that youre doing a full comp schedule, in pipe, this winter?
Is it too late/early for the next X Games?
It is not too late.
Im doing the Copper World Cup, next month.
Theres a chance, if I get a good placement there, that I could get an invite.
Its a bit confusing.
Ive kind of been delaying announcing that Im doing it.
Ive been filling the time with all this random stuff.
Now it should all make a lot more sense.
I havent necessarily had to do that in the last ten years because Ive been skiing.
Which is understandable and thats business.
Now that Im kind of back in the game, I need to get some Cheddar!
Thats why Im marketing myself the way that I am.
So, what areyour plans for this winter?
Just compete, compete, compete?
My plans this winter, are to compete but not go super hard.
More just get experience.
Also, I just want to make content.
I hired a filmer this year, his names Jack and hes from Colorado.
Basically, in terms of content that we make, we have core and we have cringe.
Well be focusing on both kinds and thats the plan!
It sounds like youre pretty busy, but will you ever film a video project or part?
Thats something Ive always wanted to do.
Its not in the cards this year.
If I ever did that, it would be for fun.
Well, good luck with the switch!
Yeah, its a little bit backwards.
Maybe go to the backcountry, a little less gnarly.
Im doing the opposite and pushing myself.
Not really though, because I love it.
Is the training/preparation any different for halfpipe as opposed to slope?
No, thats all the same.
Its very simple in pipe you have to do five tricks and every pipe is the same.
Its not complicated, which I love right now.
Because all of the other sh*t just doesnt happen if its not.
