David Wise is an American freestyle skier specializing in the halfpipe. He is a two-time gold medalist in freestyle skiing for the United States. Wise won the inaugural halfpipe competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics and repeated the feat in 2018.
David Wise at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
Early Life and Introduction to Skiing
Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Wise, following the family sport, started skiing at the age of three at Sky Tavern, a local ski area. Wise began skating at three years old and transitioned to freestyle skiing at the age of 11. Initially a ski racer at Mt. Rose, Wise found himself drawn to the terrain park, leading to a transition to freestyle skiing at age 11.
Growing up in a family of winter sports enthusiasts in the Nevada town of Reno, not far from California’s popular ski resorts, David developed a love of jumping, be it on the trampoline in his back garden or on the Sierra Nevada slopes. After joining a local freestyle skiing team at the age of 11, the youngster discovered the halfpipe event, in which he began to compete at junior level.
Education
- Truckee Meadows Community College
Family
- Son of Tom and Kathy Wise
- He has two twin sisters, Jessica and Christy
Early Influences and Family Support
David, Christy, and their sister Jessica Wise, grew up in Reno, Nev., with parents who enjoyed skiing. The three started skiing at a young age, and with twins Christy and Jessica Wise being three years older than their brother, David Wise was always trying to keep up with his older sisters.
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“Looking back, I am always grateful that I grew up in a skiing family,” said David Wise. “At the time I didn't realize how amazing it was, but skiing was just something we would do together. .... I remember always being cold and snowy because I was trying jumps. And I remember always chasing my sisters on the race course because they were always faster than me."
"My sisters were always better than me at sports growing up, so I always had something to chase,” he added. “Whether it was on the soccer and baseball field, or on the slopes, I always had my sisters there to improve my skills. My sisters also taught me not to be lazy. Not only were they good athletes, they were good students and good people too. If it weren't for my sisters, I probably would have put all of my focus into skiing, and let my grades and studies falter, but they convinced me to put as much effort into the other aspects of my life as I did into skiing."
The Last Run is all David Wise needed to defend Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe gold | PyeongChang 2018
Another thing Christy Wise said may have contributed to her brother's career as a professional skier was their love of adventurous and adrenaline-fueled activities from a young age.
"Well, my brother and I have always kind of been daredevils," said Christy Wise. "We were always doing crazy things. We watched Mary Poppins, and then we were jumping out of trees with umbrellas trying to fly, bouncing on the trampoline. That was just when we were little, and now, he's far surpassed me. He's much more of a daredevil than me, but I still try to keep up with him, you know, cliff jumping or whatever when we're at home."
Professional Career
Wise's competitive career is highlighted by significant achievements. He won his first national title at age 15. He made his FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup debut in 2008 and quickly established himself as a leading athlete in the sport.
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Excelling at his chosen discipline, Wise was crowned US champion at the age of 15 and made his FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup debut three years later. In 2009, he became the first skier to land the double cork 1260, a trick that would become his signature move.
Having captured the halfpipe titles in the 2012 World Cup and at the 2013 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Voss (NOR), the American athlete also claimed a record three successive Winter X Games crowns in Aspen (USA) between 2012 and 2014.
David Wise at the X Games
Notably, he became the first Olympic gold medalist in the Men's Freeski Halfpipe at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, a discipline that debuted that year. On 18 February 2014, in difficult, snowy conditions at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, Wise dug deep to prevail in the Olympic halfpipe final, producing a resilient first run that featured two double corks, including one of his trademark 1260s, and earning a score of 92.00 that his rivals were incapable of trumping. Canada’s Mike Riddle (90.60) and France’s Kevin Rolland (88.60) took silver and bronze.
He successfully defended his title at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, securing a second gold medal. When the time came to defend his Olympic crown, Wise had a scare when he lost a ski on both his opening runs, leaving him in ninth place. With his compatriot Alex Ferreira in the lead, the defending champion showed his coolness under pressure on his final run, landing a switch double cork 1080 and a double cork 1260 and then repeating the same two tricks to score 97.20 points and maintain his status as the only man to win Olympic ski halfpipe gold.
Beyond his Olympic successes, Wise has earned multiple X Games medals, earning his first gold in 2012. Wise has won four gold medals in SuperPipe at the Winter X Games. He also captured a halfpipe gold medal at the 2013 World Championships.
Overall, Wise has been a participant at Worlds on four occasions. He has finished first in the World Cup standings for halfpipe twice and has six top-ten finishes overall.
Olympic Dream
In 2011, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that ski halfpipe would be included in the freestyle programme at Sochi 2014, thereby bringing Wise’s dreams of Olympic glory one step closer. Upon arriving in Russia three years later, he could not hide his delight. “It’s crazy!” he said. “You look forward to something for so long…and it’s so far in the future and then, ‘Oh, we’re in Russia. Oh, here’s our first practice day. Oh, wow, we’re competing.’ And then all of a sudden, it’s over.”
Grand Plans
Turning his thoughts to his next Olympic adventure, Wise said: “I’m a huge strategist. I like to make plans. I’m excited to play the game again. Where is the sport going to go and who is going to be leading the charge? I’m looking forward to it.”
Starting Over
Wise did not enjoy the best of runs after his Sochi triumph, as he contended with a dip in form and then a string of injuries. The US rider got back to his best, however, as he prepared for PyeongChang 2018, winning a fourth X Games superpipe title in Aspen, his first victory in the event since 2014.
Personal Life and Interests
Enjoys biking, cliff jumping, fishing, backpacking, playing volleyball and softball.
Commitment to Community
Off the slopes, Wise is committed to his community, actively participating in youth skiing programs to inspire and mentor aspiring athletes. He has also donated portions of prize money to various charities through the “Podium Challenge,” as well as his sisters’ charity “One Leg Up on Life,” which was founded after his sister Christy lost her leg in a boating accident.
Support from Sister Christy Wise
Up on a cold, wet mountain top in Sochi, Russia, with rain pouring down, one Airman and her family stood among a sea of spectators as they cheered on their loved one, an American freestyle skier, as he dropped into the slushy halfpipe when qualifying runs started. They had improvised black trash bags into ponchos to protect themselves from the rain and on top of that wore red, white and blue vests, resembling an American flag.
Air Force Capt. Christy Wise watched as her brother David Wise became the first skier in history to win an Olympic gold medal in men's freestyle halfpipe skiing Feb. When the event ended around midnight Christy Wise, her twin sister Jessica, David's wife Alexandra Wise and his parents rushed to congratulate him. For the next two hours the family spoke to media and celebrated his medal. on her way to Arkansas to train on the new HC-130J Combat King II.
"Well the Olympics was just an amazing experience," said Christy Wise. "It was so cool to be there with my family. It was pretty stressful, too, trying to get us all at the right place, and we got lost on the train. Then trying to meet with all the media and work with David's agent. There was just a lot going on at once, and I was only really there for a day and a half before I had to come back. So it was all just a whirlwind. But it was awesome to be there with my family and experience it with them."
"The Olympics are unique because they tie in national pride along with competition," he said. "For one contest I get to go out and represent my country as well as myself. I also get to go out and represent everyone that believed in me along the way.
Balancing Act
Just making it to Sochi for a day and a half to see her brother compete took a little luck for Christy Wise. She was originally scheduled to be a part of a training exercise in Nevada during her brother's event, but ended up being scheduled for training on the Combat King II instead. As it worked out, she didn't have to report to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., for training until Feb. 19, a day after her brother's scheduled event.
Then there was even talk about postponing the halfpipe event due to bad weather. In another stroke of luck, the event went on despite the poor conditions, and Christy got to see her brother perform his signature trick, the right-side double cork 360. However, Christy Wise hasn't usually been lucky enough to see her brother compete, something she has had difficulty with since attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
As a cadet, competitive ski racer in college and a pilot, she found her races, life at the academy, pilot training and later a deployment made it difficult for her to find time to see her brother.
"One of the hard things when I was in college in Colorado at the Air Force Academy, was that my brother was competing in events all around Colorado as well," said Christy Wise. "But the thing that sucked was that I didn't actually get to see him because every weekend when I was in college we had ski races. So I would go to our ski races, and he would have an event in the halfpipe or something. So then I would just go with my ski team after it was over and meet him for dinner.
Although Christy Wise took a different path than her brother, she said growing up skiing with her family and competing in ski races has also helped her later in life. every weekend," she said. "Plus always pushing yourself in the gym. All of that was not easy. So I think it kind of taught me discipline, and it taught me endurance and perseverance, which I've had to use a lot in the Air Force. ...
Now, the two live two very different lives, but they both take time to see how each other lives. Christy Wise said they try to arrange a ski trip together once a year, and this year she watched him compete in the X-Games in Aspen, Colo. David Wise also has visited his sister to see how she lives, visiting her at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., twice.
"I often joke with people that I am the slacker child of the Wise family," said David Wise. "One of my sisters is a rescue pilot, and the other is studying to be a doctor. They certainly set a high bar, but I could not be more proud of them. We have each chosen different paths, and yet each of us has excelled in our field. I have always enjoyed going to visit my sister at her various bases. Something about the pilot life appeals to me.
Despite their busy schedules and different lives, the two still find time to enjoy adrenaline-fueled activities together like when they were younger.