20 year old Brian Rice is one of the best big air athletes in the country who's currently trying to qualify for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics, and if he does, he'll be the first black snowboarder in Team USA history. Yes, so when it comes to my journey of being the first, and yes, I do have *** little bit of *** smirk on my face, I. I'm very, very proud of what I've accomplished so far and what I will be accomplishing soon. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Rice hit the field as soon as he hopped out of the crib. My parents putting me through every single sport, um, imaginable, um, from baseball, hockey, soccer, basketball, football, lacrosse, I tried it all. And I was amazing at it all, but one sport rose above the rest, snowboarding. As soon as the winter season came around. Um, that was all I wanted to do, nothing else. And once I think I was about 13, somewhere between 13 and 15, I knew this is what I wanted to do. He loves snowboarding so much. He even brought the slopes to the classroom. I did. Um, English projects on Shaun White as *** kid growing up in elementary school. And now Rice hopes to follow in the footsteps of his idol and one day be on equal footing with the legend known as the Flying Tomato. For people to think of snowboarding and the first thing that comes to mind is flying Brian, Brian Rice. Um, that would be an absolute dream if I'm being completely honest. Known as Italy's Little Tibet, Lavigno near the Swiss border will host Olympic snowboarding. On the road to Milan Cortina, I'm Fletcher Mackel.
Brian Rice aims to make history as Team USA's first Black snowboarder
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Updated: 12:01 PM CDT Aug 29, 2025
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Brian Rice, a 20-year-old snowboarder from Detroit, is working to qualify for the Milan Cortina Olympics, where he could become Team USA's first Black snowboarder."When it comes to my journey of being the first, yes, I do have a smirk on my face because I am very, very proud of what I've accomplished so far and what I'll be accomplishing soon," Rice said.Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Rice was introduced to a variety of sports by his parents."My parents put me through every single sport imaginable, from baseball, hockey, soccer, basketball, football, lacrosse. I tried it all and I was amazing at it all," Rice said.However, snowboarding stood out among the rest."As soon as the winter season came around, that was all that I wanted to do. Nothing else. And the time between when I was 13 and 15, I just knew that this is what I wanted to do," Rice said.His passion for snowboarding extended beyond the slopes, influencing his school projects."I did English projects on Shaun White as a kid growing up in elementary school," Rice said.Rice aspires to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Shaun White, and hopes to become a household name in snowboarding."For people to think of snowboarding and the first thing that comes to mind is 'Flyin Brian,' Brian Rice, that would be an absolute dream, if I'm being completely honest," Rice said.The Olympic snowboarding events will take place in Livigno, Italy, near the Swiss border, known as Italy's Little Tibet.
Brian Rice, a 20-year-old snowboarder from Detroit, is working to qualify for the Milan Cortina Olympics, where he could become Team USA's first Black snowboarder.
"When it comes to my journey of being the first, yes, I do have a smirk on my face because I am very, very proud of what I've accomplished so far and what I'll be accomplishing soon," Rice said.
Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Rice was introduced to a variety of sports by his parents.
"My parents put me through every single sport imaginable, from baseball, hockey, soccer, basketball, football, lacrosse. I tried it all and I was amazing at it all," Rice said.
However, snowboarding stood out among the rest.
"As soon as the winter season came around, that was all that I wanted to do. Nothing else. And the time between when I was 13 and 15, I just knew that this is what I wanted to do," Rice said.
His passion for snowboarding extended beyond the slopes, influencing his school projects.
"I did English projects on Shaun White as a kid growing up in elementary school," Rice said.
Rice aspires to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Shaun White, and hopes to become a household name in snowboarding.
"For people to think of snowboarding and the first thing that comes to mind is 'Flyin Brian,' Brian Rice, that would be an absolute dream, if I'm being completely honest," Rice said.
The Olympic snowboarding events will take place in Livigno, Italy, near the Swiss border, known as Italy's Little Tibet.
