Cody Winters is making waves in snowboarding with his fearless approach to slalom racing. He hails from Steamboat Springs and is known for his daring straight-lines down the course. This season, he kicked off the World Cup with high hopes but faced a few challenges that held him back.
“I often have a great first run but stumble in my second,” Winters shared, reflecting on his early-season struggles, which led to disappointing results in several events in China and Davos, Switzerland.
After these setbacks, Winters focused on consistency rather than speed. “That Davos race was particularly tough for me,” he admitted. Determined to improve, he dedicated himself to training and even came up with an interesting way to motivate himself — any time he made a mistake during practice, he treated his coaches to meals.
This dedication paid off. After the holiday break, Winters returned to Europe ready to compete. On one particular Tuesday, he achieved something he had been chasing throughout his career — he stood on the podium at a World Cup event for the first time, finishing third in the parallel slalom in Bad Gastein, Austria.
Last season, Winters had a lot of close calls, finishing fourth in three different World Cup races. His season ended abruptly in March when he injured his knee while training, but lucky for him, it wasn’t severe and healed well with time.
During his recovery in Park City, Utah, Winters worked hard to regain his strength and mobility. He balanced training with running his window washing business, a crucial source of income to support his snowboarding career. “I wouldn’t be able to fund my travels without that,” he thought as he prepared for the race in Austria.
Winters had a strategic plan for the World Cup qualifier. Starting off with the fastest run put him in a strong position for the finals, even though he finished the second run slower. He was excited to be the eighth seed. “That gave me the confidence to really go for it,” he recalled. Competing under the lights added a special buzz to the atmosphere.
In the finals, he carefully chose his lane and executed his strategy — racing hard in the beginning to gain an early lead before switching to a more tactical approach. This worked well until the semifinals when he struggled in a lane he was less familiar with, ending just shy of advancing to the finals.
Yet, he didn’t give up. Armed with the knowledge gained during the semifinals, he aimed for a strong finish in the Small Final. “I went all out, taking risks right from the start,” he recounted. His competitor faltered, allowing him to cruise to his first podium finish. The joy was overwhelming for him, a moment he had long awaited. “I felt an incredible sense of relief and excitement,” he shared.
With this significant win under his belt, Winters is setting his sights on the future. He has a busy schedule ahead. Competing in both parallel and snowboard cross events makes his training complex, but he’s determined to balance his commitments and aim for the World Championships later in the season. “I want to be at my best in every event I can,” he said, as he prepares for upcoming races in Bulgaria and Slovenia.
Winters is aiming for a record number of days on the snow this season, with the goal of participating in every event possible before heading to the World Championships. His journey is just beginning, and he’s excited for what lies ahead!
