Relatively unknown before the 2016/17 season, Ryan Wachendorfer has since managed to insert himself into the conversation around Olympic qualifying as a potential dark horse. Having previously found success at the junior level through the U.S. Revolution Tour, he took the next step by earning a second-place finish at last year’s Mammoth Grand Prix. After putting himself on the radar with that result, Wachendorfer was later seen at the U.S. Open attempting a cab double cork 1260, a trick that could take his riding up yet another notch.

Outside of the halfpipe, Wachendorfer has shown himself to be a well-rounded snowboarder. During the 2016/17 season, he supplemented his contest riding with backcountry and urban filming.

Wachendorfer is making his Dew Tour debut this year.