Simon Dumont
An American freeskiing innovator whose daredevil halfpipe prowess and entrepreneurial spirit helped push the sport to dizzying new heights.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American freestyle skier·Birthday: July 9·Millennials
Biography
Simon Dumont was a foundational force in the explosive growth of freestyle skiing in the 2000s. With a blend of raw amplitude and technical innovation, he dominated the halfpipe, becoming a regular on X Games podiums. His riding was characterized by massive airs and a competitive fire that pushed his rivals to go bigger. But Dumont's impact extended beyond tricks; he was an athlete-entrepreneur who understood the sport's cultural momentum. He co-founded the Dumont Cup, an amateur contest that became a crucial pipeline for new talent, and his pursuit of world records, like his attempt on the quarterpipe height record, captured mainstream attention. While an Olympic medal eluded him due to the sport's evolving competitive landscape, his role as a pioneer who helped shape freeskiing's identity from a niche pursuit to a mainstream spectacle is undeniable.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Simon was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Simon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Simon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a total of 10 X Games medals, including a gold in SuperPipe at Winter X Games 13.
- Set a world record for quarterpipe height in 2009, skiing 35 feet out of the pipe.
- Founded the Dumont Cup, a major amateur freeskiing competition that launched the careers of many pros.
- Earned multiple Dew Tour victories and was a consistent top-ranked halfpipe skier throughout the late 2000s.
Did You Know?
He is from Bethel, Maine, the same town that hosts the Sunday River ski resort where he learned to ski.
Dumont attempted a world record for the highest air on a quarterpipe in 2012, a event broadcast by ESPN.
He retired from professional competition in 2015 to focus on business ventures and film projects.
He has appeared in numerous ski films, including Teton Gravity Research productions.
“I built my runs on amplitude; go bigger, and the tricks will follow.”
