After landing his first backflip, snowboarder Kole Krier realized jump tricks were a matter of confidence as well as practice. Photos: Kole Krier
A local athlete shares his international aspirations.
In a sport that’s all about confidence and improving skills, Kole Krier has the perfect mantra: “Fake it until you make it.” It’s a phrase the Maple Grove-based snowboarder remembers his late father, Kevin Krier, repeating throughout his childhood. The maxim applies to both his snowboarding and personal lives, as Krier has had an additional challenge he navigates every day—he was born deaf.
Krier received a cochlear implant when he was a 1-year-old, however the 23-year-old still relies heavily on lip-reading when communicating. He embraces his identity as a member of the Deaf community and as an athlete determined to challenge expectations. He says being deaf has made him more observant and more attuned to the people around him. Both are traits he believes have helped him both on and off the slopes.
Krier didn’t start snowboarding until his senior year at Maple Grove Senior High School in 2021. Already an avid skateboarder and baseball player, he was searching for something else to help him stay active and outside during the cold Minnesota winters. That’s when he stumbled upon a snowboard for sale on Facebook Marketplace and decided to give the sport a try.
Kole Krier can often be found on the slopes of Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area and Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, but he’s also tested his skills at more mountainous locales including California and Colorado.
What began as a hobby quickly became something Krier learned to excel at through spending countless hours on local hills, including the Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area and Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington. When he hit his first backflip, he learned something else: Snowboarding was something he could compete in. It’s a moment in which his dad’s mantra came into play. “It opened up an avenue of jump tricks that I felt like I couldn’t do before,” Krier says. “It was the confidence. I faked that backflip confidence. Then when I landed it, I tried a double backflip, and I tried to do even more tricks from there.”
In January 2025, Krier was invited to Deaf Winterfest, a meet-up of deaf skiers and snowboarders hosted by the US Deaf Ski and Snowboard Association. The experience broadened his connections within the Deaf community, introduced him to American Sign Language and opened even more doors. One of those opportunities was an invitation to compete in the 2027 Winter Deaflympics in Innsbruck, Austria, January 15–24, where he hopes to compete in slope style and big air. He’s grateful for the opportunity and is excited to challenge his snowboarding skills in a competitive space.
During the season, Krier is on the rope tows seven days a week. Some days, he admits to not even strapping on his snowboard. Being in the environment, around the community and within the camaraderie of the sport allows relationships and support to flourish. Ultimately, Krier hopes his story encourages other deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes to pursue goals that may feel out of reach. His advice echoes the lesson his father taught him, because to Krier, confidence isn’t about knowing that you’ll succeed—it’s believing in yourself enough to try.
Kole Krier
Instagram: @kolekrier
US Deaf Ski and Snowboard Association
Instagram: @usdeafskiandsnowboard
