Walker Overstake always dreamed of adding his name to the long list of Olympians from Steamboat Springs.

Now, he is one step closer. 

Competing on the World Cup circuit was a future plan for the 18-year-old Alpine snowboarder from Steamboat Springs. He just never imagined it would happen so quickly.

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Overstake spent four weeks training in the mountains of Chile this summer, working with coach Patrik Gaudet as well as snowboarders Arnaud Gaudet and Steamboat’s Cody Winters. 

By the end of camp in mid-September, Overstake found himself catching and even beating Winters and Arnaud Gaudet with consistency. 

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That was when coach Patrik recognized Overstake’s potential to qualify for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy. 

“Pat explained that if I wanted to pursue this, I would have to compete in the World Cup circuit for the upcoming season,” Overstake said. “The plan was to gain experience and start earning an Olympic quota spot.” 

The greatest obstacle to that plan? 

Overstake would have six weeks to graduate high school in order to focus on the World Cup. His deadline was Nov. 8. 

With concerns of Overstake struggling to maintain a strong grade point average for his educational-future, his parents, Ryan and Heather, were hesitant regarding this rapid change in his life. 

But with the support of the Steamboat Springs School District and high school principal Jay Hamric, Overstake’s parents got on board.

“If by 18 years of age they can’t make most of their decisions — call it 90% — then they probably aren’t ready to make a decision like that,” Ryan explained. “Those who are given responsibility understand responsibility. You have to allow that freedom.” 

After receiving the go-ahead, Overstake knocked out his online classes in just six weeks; graduated high school six months early; got his Chinese visa and began preparing for his first-career World Cup event at Mylin Valley Ski Resort in China. 

A lot to accomplish on such short notice. 

“Sometimes in those stressful environments, you can do things unbelievably fast that normally wouldn’t be possible,” Overstake said. 

The growth of a champion

Overstake was just 2 when he strapped into a snowboard for the first time. 

Through the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, he competed in every discipline but gravitated toward his snowboard and was best at racing. 

“I had a good board feel when I was young and I really enjoyed it,” Overstake said. 

His progress at the youth level was quick and he began training with local North American Cup athletes before becoming of age to compete in FIS-level events — at 15 years old. 

Finally, in January 2022, Overstake earned his first NorAm start in Canada. He was competing in both boardercross and Alpine snowboard competitions. 

The following year, his age-16 season, Overstake earned his first NorAm podium, placing third at an Alpine event on Howelsen Hill. 

Overstake made massive strides in his first few FIS seasons, reaching several Junior World Championships and competing at a high level in NorAm Cup events. 

Struggling early at the 2024 Junior World Championships in Austria, Overstake found himself in the parallel slalom team event with his Minnesota teammate, Grace Domino. With nothing to lose, Overstake rode at his best and the duo took home a silver medal. 

“It showed me what I could be able to do,” Overstake explained. He collected enough points in the 2024 season to qualify for the 2024-25 World Cup circuit. 

Overstake built physical strength at a rapid rate in the offseason while training with SSWSC Senior Sports Performance Coach Jeff Thompson. Overstake tested as the strongest snowboarder in the country based on results from an end-of-season strength test. 

“Your lungs and legs are what we worked on the most,” Overstake said. “As strong as you can be for 30 seconds is what we’re trying to achieve.” 

Now stronger and more confident than ever, Overstake was off to China for his first-ever World Cup event. 

Pushing the limit

Overstake has had a lot of great mentorship in his snowboarding career, but two of his biggest mentors are Winters and Canadian Arnaud Gaudet, who are veterans on the Alpine snowboard World Cup circuit.

For Overstake, those two have been like yin and yang with Arnaud being more relaxed and teaching him how to carry a nonchalant attitude when facing obstacles both on the mountain and while traveling. Meanwhile, Winters shows Overstake how to keep a strong work ethic and pushes him to be constantly at his best. 

At Mylin Valley on Nov. 30, Overstake had little expectation of his results and wanted to focus on gaining experience. He placed 53rd in parallel giant slalom. 

The following week, in Yanqing, China, he came up just shy of a second run, narrowly missing the top-32. 

“I was over my board and rode a bit more upright with the pressure on top of it,” Overstake explained. “I had a really fast run and got 35th.” 

Despite a huge confidence boost from his second World Cup weekend, the challenges of being a World Cup athlete quickly became apparent. 

American athletes who compete in World Cup events often live out of their suitcases and travel from country to country on the circuit. Overstake explained how challenging it can be to travel to countries in completely different time zones week-to-week and feel ready to compete. 

Long travel days, sleeping on hard beds and going to new countries each week can be overwhelming. Overstake’s diet was also at constant war with itself, from eating a lot of rice in China, pasta in Italy and sausage in Austria. The lack of consistency was a struggle. 

“You have to be open to constant change,” he explained. “You can’t have a routine.” 

To throw an even bigger wrench into things, Overstake had to continuously return to North America for NorAm Cup events throughout the winter. 

“On top of gaining experience in the World Cup, I also wanted to secure my World Cup spot for next season,” Overstake said. “The best way to do that was to get a top-3 in the NorAm overall.” 

Overstake captured the first NorAm victory of his career in Canada at the start of the new year. He followed up with six more NorAm podiums this season, solidifying his title as Alpine snowboard North American Cup champion. The results would also secure his World Cup spot for 2025-26. 

Back in the Eastern Hemisphere, Overstake was displaying improvements in each passing World Cup race. In Rogla, Slovenia, at the end of January, Overstake placed 31st to earn a second run for the first time. 

He earned his first top-30, a 26th-place finish, in Quebec in mid-February. 

The highlight of his career, however, came March 15 while competing in Winterberg, Germany. 

Overstake qualified for a second run in parallel slalom, just making the cut at 32nd place. 

“On my second run, I knew I had to send it,” he said. “I was on the blue course and my mindset was perfect, my focus was strong and I was focusing on what I had to do in that moment. With no room for error, I was able to do it and got the ninth-fastest time in the world on that run. I went from 32nd to 19th because of it. That was my first top-20.” 

“If you can do it once, you can do it again and again and again,” Overstake’s father, Ryan, added. 

Overstake closed out the winter season claiming the national championship title in boardercross and parallel slalom at Copper Mountain this weekend. He also claimed bronze in parallel giant slalom. 

Summing up the season Overstake graduated high school six months early; captured his first NorAm Cup victory and overall title; completed his first World Cup season with two top-30s; qualified to compete in the 2025-26 World Cup season; and was crowned a two-time national champion. 

And as if that wasn’t enough, the job is not nearly finished. 

The road ahead

Overstake has his eyes set on the world’s biggest stage, and recognized the contributions and sacrifices of so many in the Steamboat and snowboarding community who helped him get there.

“This year, I have grown and learned more than ever — not just in snowboarding but in life,” Overstake said. “None of this would have been possible without the incredible support from my parents, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, Jay Hamric, Patrik Gaudet, Jeff Thompson, Thedo Remmelink, my teammates, friends and the entire Steamboat Springs community. For that, I am truly grateful.” 

Overstake said the outpouring of support has made him more determined than ever to train this offseason. 

“I’m still chasing my dream of competing in the 2026 Olympics,” he said. “My focus now is to get as physically strong as possible this summer with Jeff (Thompson) and push the limits …” 

Reaching the Olympics is more than obtainable for Overstake, but the process is not cheap. Alpine snowboarding is one of the snow sport disciplines in the U.S. without a funding source from a larger organization. 

Overstake’s website, WalkerOverstake.com, allows him to raise funds.

To qualify for the Olympics, he must check a number of boxes. 

Criteria from U.S. Ski and Snowboard has not yet been assigned, but Olympic criteria includes collecting a number of FIS points, finishing in the top-30 twice at World Cup races and making the “clean list.”

Overstake has already captured two top-30 World Cup finishes and admits that earning enough FIS points simply comes down to performing to his standard at events. Overstake’s Olympic qualification may come down to if he makes the clean list — a list of the world’s top-32 Alpine snowboarders, subtracting athletes from countries that already have four qualifiers. Only four racers can be sent from any given country. 

Overstake’s other goals include gaining more World Cup top-20s and making a finals run (top-16) this upcoming season. 

In the long term, Overstake hopes to begin competing in both Alpine and boardercross World Cup events, something that is currently unique to Steamboat’s Cody Winters. 

“I want to be the best in the world,” Overstake said. “I want to be world champion someday and be an Olympic champion.” 

He explained the four keys to achieving those goals:

• Physical fitness: “If you’re not strong enough to do it, you can’t do it,” Overstake said. 
• Time spent training: “The more you train, the better you get. You can’t train a lot without being fit, so the first two tie together,” he said.
• Mental preparation: Relates to sports psychology. At a more personal level of learning, Overstake uses mental visualization to get his muscles primed. 
• World Cup experience: This is what Overstake lacks the most. Most of the top World Cup athletes are in their mid-30s due to the amount of experience they have accrued. 

“You need to master those four elements to become the best,” Overstake said.