Snowboarder Jessika Jenson may not have returned to Idaho on Saturday wearing a gold medal. But she still earned the right to be called an Olympian — something most people don’t even dare to dream about — and made history by competing in the first-ever slopestyle event in the Winter Games. Not bad for a someone who grew up in the small East Idaho town of Rigby.

Jenson, who was ranked 13th at the end of her Olympic event, received a champion’s welcome home for what she was able to accomplish in Sochi. A celebration took place at the Kelly Canyon Ski Resort at Ririe, where she learned snowboarding.

“I got chauffeured in a new Broadway Ford Expedition, escorted by police — one of them was my D.A.R.E. Officer from middle school — with lights and sirens, (and) got welcomed by hundreds of Idaho fans and the mayors of Rigby and Ririe,” Jenson said. “I was speechless by the welcoming home party my ski resort put on for me! I couldn’t have asked for a better crowd to celebrate with!”

During the event, one of the most visible runs at the resort was renamed JJ’s run in Jenson’s honor, and the competitions taking place at the resort right now have also been dubbed the Jessika Jenson Games.

“It means a lot to me to get recognized by the ski resort I grew up learning how to snowboard at,” Jenson said. “It’s so good to see all the love and support I have in my area and to know that they are there supporting me all the way!”

Cherie Stoddard, co-owner of the resort, said it is easy to admire and support Jenson for many reasons — not just her snowboarding skills.

“She is such an easy person to like and to want to have around,” Stoddard said, adding that Jenson spent time signing autographs and taking pictures with her fans during the welcome home celebration. “She’s a genuinely sweet girl.”

Stoddard said they still have a photo of an 11-year-old Jenson, hair in pigtails, that they took after she won an event at the resort years ago.

She often had to compete against the boys back then.

“There were not many girls competing,” Stoddard said.

Though Jenson, now in her early 20s, was able to compete against other young women in Sochi, they were the most elite athletes in the world, and she was thrilled to be among their ranks.

“I am so honored to be a part of Team USA,” she said. “It was such a privilege to have the opportunity to represent my country, my state of Idaho, and my little town of Rigby!”

Jenson said she will cherish many of the memories she made during the Olympics, including meeting and trading pins with athletes from other nations, cheering on Team USA, and walking in the Opening Ceremony.

“The moment when I was walking up the enclosed stairs and hearing the roaring of the crowd and having it opening up to this huge stadium — it will be a moment I will never forget,” she said.  

Jenson said the hardest part of competing in the Olympics for her was the mental game.

“It’s hard to block out my surroundings and to just focus on my riding,” she said. “I have to remind myself to ignore the cameras, spectators and any doubts or fears that may enter my head.”

Still, Jenson said she strives to live in the moment, and she did have some exciting moments in Sochi.

“The best part is landing your run that you planned to do,” she said, adding that there is nothing more rewarding than knowing she tried her best and gave everything she had.

Jenson said it was disappointing to miss the finals by one spot after she washed out on the last jump of her second run. But if anything, the setback has only made her hungry for another chance.

“I am even more motivated for these next four years to make the next Olympics in South Korea and have another opportunity to grab one of those medals,” Jenson said, adding that she knew what her next goal would be as she watched her teammates, Jamie Anderson and Sage Kotsenburg, receive their gold medals.

Jenson said it wasn’t easy to make it to the Olympics this year, and she plans to train even harder to earn a spot in the 2018 games.

“I feel that this is just the beginning of my career,” she said.

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