After moving from Hawaii to Oregon, Jake Mageau took up skiing when he was 7. His first time in a halfpipe came a few years later when he decided to try entering a local contest.

In 2015, Mageau showed his potential when he won a silver medal in halfpipe at the junior world championships. His junior career has also included a couple Revolution Tour podiums. Mageau finished 16th in his lone Dew Tour appearance in 2015.