Queen of the Halfpipe đ | Jake Seresin Imagine
Takes place before, during, and after the events of TGM
TGM Masterlist
Characters & Pairings: Lt. Jake âHangmanâ Seresin x pro snowboarder!reader (romantic), the dagger squad (platonic)
Content Warnings: fluff, profanity, | female!reader (she/her) | wc: 10k
Requested đš yes/noâfor @gizmodear đ€ (rules for requests)
Premise: Dedication, determination, blood, sweat, and tears. Thatâs what athletes put in when they say they want to compete on the worldâs greatest sporting stage. Years of hard work that come with sacrifices. At a young age Y/n L/n knew she wanted to be the best when it came to snowboarding, devoting herself to the Olympic dream. Love wasnât something she thought would happen for her as she was so focused on her career. But, as someone once pointed out to her years after she did in fact find her happily ever after, she was living in her own little Hallmark movie.
Note: ah Iâve finally finished and Iâm so happy with how it turned out! @gizmodear I apologize for the long wait (i think you sent this request at the beginning of February) but I hope you like this and I delivered with everything you couldâve imagined đ„č I really love writing the athlete!reader x dagger squad paring fics so this was so fun to write. I did so much research to be as accurate as I could since I am not familiar with snowboarding. I did watch Chloe Kim in 2018 & 2022 so a lot of what reader accomplishes in this fic was inspired by her so I hope you donât mind that I did that (except the ending since the 2026 Olympics hasnât happened yet obviously đ). Please let me know what you think!
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âSo one last run, huh?â
âOne last one,â she confirmed, hoping he couldnât pick up on the slight sadness in her tone. All good things must come to an end.
âBetter make it count,â he encouraged her. âYou got this, okay? Donât think about it-like I always tell you: donât think, just do. That gold medal is calling your name.â
âI better go claim it then.â
âWeâll be cheering when you do, babe. Go show them whoâs the Queen.â
Some people like the heat. Going to the beach and riding the waves of the ocean. Others enjoy the rain. The soothing sound of water hitting the pavement brings comfort to their ears. Then there are those who prefer the cold. Not as popular as the other two. People feel the only way to enjoy it is by staying indoors to sit by the fire and watch the snow fall through the window.
Y/n L/n loved the snow. Having grown up in the mountains of Colorado, she was used to blizzards and snowstorms. But she loved it mostly because of the sports associated with it. You know, the ones millions of people gather across the globe every four years to watch at the Winter Olympic Games. Athletes whoâve spent their entire life working to achieve their dream of glory. People who are not even patriotic rep their colors. Children watching for the first time think, âThatâs gonna be me one day.â
Thatâs how it was for ten year old Y/n Ln watching the 2002 Winter Olympics on the small tv screen in the living room of her home. It was a special year of the Games. Hosted on US soil in Salt Lake City, Utah. Taking place in the months after the country was met with tragedy following the attacks on the World Trade Center in September 2001. Not a dry eye in the stadium or on those watching from home as the flag that flew on Ground Zero was brought into the arena by members of Team USA along with the NYPD & FDNY.
The Olympic torch was passed by members of the 1980 gold medal winning hockey team, coach Mike Eruzione lighting the cauldron. One of the most notable teams in US Olympic history. They were just college students up against the number one team in the world in 1980, which ironically enough, was also on US soil in Lake Placid, New York. Anyone who watched them play could recall the chills they felt when the buzzer counted down to zero with sportscaster Al Micheals yelling, âDo you believe in miracles? YES!â Winning that game didnât deliver the gold medal, no, it only secured their place in the final match. There they defeated Finland 4-2, shooting themselves into history.
Y/n was familiar with many of the sports she grew to love watching. Her family owned and lived on a ski resort, so the art of skiing and snowboarding came to her at a young age. She was around four years old the first time she went down hill with her father. By the time she was around eight she could do it on her own with little help.
While her parents enjoyed skiing, Y/n was drawn to snowboarding. More specifically, the halfpipe.
At a whopping 11 to 22 feet in the air and slopes between 16 to 18 degrees, the halfpipe brings fast momentum to snowboarders allowing them to perform difficult spins and skills as they pass from wall to wall. For the Olympics, 22 feet was the typical height of the walls.
The first time Y/n attempted to drop in on the halfpipe was at the age of ten. After watching Team USA sweep the medals in the mens and watching Kelly Clark win gold for the women, Y/n was determined to one day stand on the podium and be crowned the queen of the halfpipe. Nerves were present, as they usually are when one tries to do something theyâve never done. With her parents and a snowboarding instructor present, Y/n became the little daredevil she was and tried her best.
Of course she couldnât be bold and attempt spins and jumps just yet. Surely that would end her career before it could even start. No, instead they would work on getting used to traveling down the slopes first. On top of that Y/n would have to unlock her inner gymnast so she could do the flips when she got air.
Her preteen years were dedicated to training. Homeschooling became a thing. Everyday she was out working tirelessly to the point her legs would ache. Often there would be a bad run where getting up from the snow would take an arm and leg to do. Balancing a social life as a teenager was impossible. Y/n pretty much sold her soul to snowboarding. But thatâs what one has to do when they dream of Olympic glory.
By the time Y/n was 15 she was already making a name for herself after joining the U.S Snowboarding Team. She won titles left and right that people were coming to her family's ski resort just to watch her train. A competitor of the Winter X Games at age 16, Y/n secured the gold after her second run in the womenâs superpipe final with a score of 83.75. Rumors speculated she was going to go for the 2010 Olympic Trials. Having just turned 18, Y/n was a leading contender for the Games.
But you know how there are always bad runs? YeahâŠ.the Trials seemed to give her that.
Y/n was hoping to be the first woman to land the 1080 in competition since no one had done it before. Men had been doing the trick since 2002, not as difficult as some of the other moves they were keen to do. While practicing Y/n had successfully landed it a handful of times. So once she felt she was confident, she planned to put in her trial runs. Her coach insisted sheâd wait, but Y/n was determined.
And unfortunately it was going to cost her.
After failing to land on her 1080 on both attempts, Y/n was left at the bottom of the leaderboard even with the lowest and highest dropped from her scoring. Embarrassed and humiliated, Y/n made no effort to hide how devastated she was. Tears fell from her puffy cheeks, the cold doing nothing to help. She tried to avoid the cameras but they followed her everywhere she went.
âY/n, what does this mean for you going forward?â
âAre you going to train for Sochi?â
âCan we expect to see you at next yearâs Winter X Games?â
Returning home from the trials, Y/n spent the first week watching the footage back to see what went wrong. Her coach of almost ten years was with her, scribbling furiously on the white board the error and how to fix them.
âYou opened too late,â he told her, circling the area in bright red where Y/n messed up. It made her glare at the spot. âWhen you do that you come in contact with the snow much quicker than you wantâthatâs why you lost your balance and fell. You didnât give much time to stop the momentum from spinning. You need to hit this markâ,â another red circle appeared just above the marked one, âto land on time on your feet without losing balance.â
âYouâre gonna make me run this at least twenty times today huh?â
âYou bet your ass I am,â he flicks the cap at her, âNow go get readyâweâve got work to do!â
And so for the next four years Y/n worked harder than she ever did before leading up to the 2010 trials. Sheâd been snowboarding almost fifteen years at that point, nearly seven at the competitive level. 1080s were what kept her up at night. One of the most difficult moves in womenâs halfpipe, Y/n spent the four years working to perfect it. Kelly Clark, the 2002 Gold medalist and 2010 Bronze medalist, ended up becoming the first woman to land it at the 2011 X Games, Y/n taking second place and becoming the second woman to land it the following year.
âRemember what I told you,â her coach squeezed her shoulders just before her turn at the 2014 Winter Olympic Trials. âLet the snow and air guide you, donât guide them. Keep steady and eyes openâyouâve trained for this and you can do it, Y/n. Just do what youâve been doing the last four years.â
Taking the advice sure as hell paid off. When Team USA marched into the dome of the opening ceremonies at the Sochi Winter Olympics, Y/n was amongst the 222 athletes representing the red, white, and blue.
Qualifications were nerve racking, but Y/n put her blood, sweat, and tears into the competition. The 1080 had everyone buzzing since it was to be the first time competed in womenâs snowboarding at the Olympics. âJust get on your feet,â she told herself, placing her goggles down as she prepared to drop in. âDonât think about it too much, just do it.â
âAnd here is 22-year-old Y/n L/n from Aspen, Colorado gearing up for her first run in the womenâs halfpipe qualifications. This has got to be a big moment for Y/n, having missed out on the Olympic team four years ago for Vancouver. Here in Sochi sheâs a favorite to make the podium after great runs at the Winter X Games, becoming the second woman to land the 1080âwhich weâll see her in a moment. Y/nâs been snowboarding since the age of fourâas one does when their family owns a popular ski resort. Weâre excited to see what sheâs got for us today.â
âFor those of you watching at home who are new to competitive snowboarding, hereâs how the scoring works. The athletes are given two runsâor attempts to score big by doing tricks between each wall as they go down the slope of the halfpipe. A team of six judges will then determine the scores through amplitude, another word for height, difficulty, variety, execution, and progression. The highest and lowest score are then thrown out and the remaining four are averaged together for that run. The highest of the two runs is what will determine their position on the leaderboard.â
With her first run of 90.00 and second a 86.75, Y/n advanced to the semifinals along with Kaitlyn Farrington, and Hannah Teter. Kelly Clark secured her place in the finals as the top qualifying score after qualifications. During the semifinals Y/n brought in a 92.50 and 93.50. Her coach was jumping up and down, her parents screaming and Y/n ran over to them when the results came in.
She was heading to the finals.
A silver lining moment was what she was met with after claiming a score of 91.00 following her two runs. Team USA sweeping the podium: Kaitlyn with the gold, Y/n taking silver, and Kelly the bronze.
At the press junket following the podium ceremony, Y/n could not stop smiling. Even when she was asked the question, âHow does it feel to be wearing the silver medal after what happened at the trials four years ago?â
âIt feels amazing as you can imagine,â chuckles erupt from all sides. âI try to erase the 2010 trials from my memory, but ultimately that is what made me determined to work so hard these last four years. Being able to represent Team USA and bringing home the silver medal alongside my teammates Kaitlyn and Kelly, who Iâve admired my entire careerâand watching Kelly win gold in 2002 is what kickstarted my dream of going to the OlympicsâŠâ Y/n pauses, grin growing wider, âItâs truly an honor. I-Iâm still coming down from the high of it all.â
âY/n over here!â The athlete points to a lady, who proceeds to stand from her chair to ask, âI know youâre going to be asked this a lot so let me be the first to, are we going to see you in four years for Pyeongchang?â
Biting her lip, Y/n gave a shrug though her smile remained, âIâm gonna train so the hope is you will see me in 2018, but you never know in sports. Anything can happen. For now Iâm gonna celebrate with my coach and my family who traveled all the way from the States with me and then get back to the snow when I get home.â
When one already has established themself as a name in their sport, with an Olympic medal, several national and world titles under their belt, then going bigger is to be expected. Higher difficulty in tricks, more air and speed, fighting with gravity to not fall on your ass. Y/n felt the pressure.
âYou want me to do back-to-back 1080s?â She nearly dropped her granola bar, staring at her coach dumbfounded.
âYou can do it,â he said as if it were obvious. âYouâve been getting so much momentum on the landing that youâre getting massive height on your 720. You can easily go for the 1080 on that.â
It seemed tricky, but Y/n wasnât one to say no to a challenge. âFuck it, letâs do it.â
The first time resulted in a face plant in the snow. The second time she lost balance and skidded the rest of the slope on her ass. Finally on the third attempt she managed to catch her feet, exclaiming âHoly shit! I did it!â Off to the side her coach was fist pumping, in a heap of joy for the athlete. Never had anyone successfully landed a back-to-back 1080. But Y/n did in a fucking practice run. âPyeongchang, here I come!â
When Y/n landed the movements at the 2018 Olympic trials, she was the highlight of the competition.
âThe 2014 silver medalist in this event, Y/n L/n dropping in. Great startâsetting up for her 1080âŠ.beautiful landingâsheâs been working hard to perfect andâ-OH! Oh my gosh she just did another one!! Did we just witness what I think we did? Holy moly folks I donât believe itâY/n L/n has just done the impossible with back-to-back 1080s in a single run!! Thatâs gonna have a massive score I can already tell.â
Adrenaline was pumping through her veins like never before when Y/n came down from the slope after her final move. Giggling like a maniac, her hands covered her mouth as the crowd roared around her. Her coach was going crazy, as were her friends and family who came out to support. A score of 95.00 sent the audience into a frenzy. And even with her second run, there was no doubt in anyone's mind.
Y/n was heading for Pyeongchang.
âIt was a successful Olympic Trials this past week with 241 athletes from across the country qualifying for Team USA in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Team USA will be competing in 15 sports, with many returning to the stageâincluding two time gold-medalist in the Menâs halfpipe, Shaun White, and 2010 Olympic champion of the womenâs downhill in skiing, Lindsey Vonn. The womenâs hockey team is looking to return to glory after not having won the gold since Nagano in 1998âthe team claiming either silver or bronze in the past Games. Thereâs been a lot of excitement among supporters for returning Olympian Y/n L/n, who will be competing in the womenâs halfpipe once againâL/n was the 2014 silver medalist in the event and became the talk of the trials when she completed back-to-back 1080s in her first run of the final competition, securing her place on Team USA with a massive score of 95.00. L/n has stated she will be attempting the 1080 duo at these Games. If she can pull out a score like she did at the trials of even higher, we could be looking at a new Queen of the Halfpipe.â
For the Games in Pyeongchang, each competitor would do two runs in qualifications and those who make it to the final will get three chances to produce a big score. It was smooth sailing to the finals for Y/n. Both runs received a score of 90.00, making her the top qualifier and securing one of twelve spots in the final.
February 13, 2018 was the best day of Y/nâs life.
It was a beautiful morning in South Korea. Sun beaming down with clear skies making the snow sparkle. Y/n was the last contestant in each rotation, spending the time in between her runs to keep her mind at ease. The playlist she made was blasting through the headphones she wore, a mix of genres that included artists like AC/DC, One Direction, and Beyoncé. Sometimes the cameramen would catch a glimpse of her dancing while mouthing the words to the songs, making viewers at home and the NBC commentators chuckle. Throughout the competition people were tweeting about the athlete:
@ sassycassie: @Y/nlikesthesnow is such a mood at the @Olympics. I wonder whatâs on her playlist.
@TeamUSAâïž: weâre all jamming with @Y/nlikesthesnow.
@Marvelicious: Petition for the @Olympics to include music in the halfpipe from here on out.
When it came time for her run, Y/n rolled her neck, said a mental prayer, and dropped in once she was given the green light. Her heart was racing by the time she finished her first run, which did not get a good score due to falling on her second 1080. A rocky start to her competition, the number came back a 41.00.
Quickly the athlete brushed it off. âThereâs still two more,â she told herself, approaching her coach who voiced the same thing. Two more chances to score big. All she needed to do was land the 1080s and get high altitude on her 720 and backside 900. Once that happened the gold medal was practically hers.
And she did just that.
On her second run, Y/n delivered what everyone was on the edge of their seats for. She screamed in victory going into her 720 because she had landed the second 1080 perfectly. Letting the remainder of the slopes guide her, Y/n finished her run with a beautiful 900 and shot her arms into the air, the people in the audience cheering. When she crossed the line she fell to her knees, board still attached to her feet and let out a cry of joy.
âWow, wow, wow! That was absolutely incredible! She completed the back-to-back 1080sâI know we already saw it in the qualifications, but seeing it today was even betterâand that 900 was massive, she couldâve thrown in a third! Look at Y/n, sheâs taking it all inâthe fans are going crazy, Team USA are already celebrating. And we still have one more run left! Remember the judges drop the highest and lowest scores and it looks like itâs gonna beâŠâŠA 98.75!!! THAT IS HUGEâTHE HIGHEST WEâVE SEEN YET!!â
Y/n was doing her best not to cry when her coach and parents hauled her into a group hug. There was still one more run to do, but it would be her victory lap no doubt. No way would anyone be able to touch her score.
Smiling the entire time, Y/n was effortless in her final attempt. One couldnât even call it an attempt when she was already the gold medalist. The remaining competitors had already gone, none close to the number she produced in the second run. Tears finally flowed when she finished her 900, coming to the end of the slope and unclamping her board before dropping to the snow. The sound of the cheers was so loud she could feel the vibration.
Cameramen surrounded the athlete. Feeling giddy she made a snow angel, laughing the entire time.
When the score came back a 93.50, Y/n was officially named the Olympic champion of the womenâs halfpipe. She wasnât the only member from Team USA on the podium, Arielle Gold claimed the bronze, pushing out 2002 Gold Medalist Kelly Clark by nearly two full points. Liu Jiayu was the silver medalist.
At the podium ceremony Y/n felt like she was in a dream. Even when the announcer said, âGold medalist and Olympic Champion, from the United States of America, Y/n L/n!!â With the medal placed around her neck and the sound of the national anthem echoing for all ears to hear, Y/n thought sheâd wake up in her bed and it would have all been a dream.
But it was far from a dream. The press conference assured that. Reporters and journalists from sports magazines and media swarmed the place, Y/n more nervous about answering their questions than performing tricks in the air that were life threatening if landed wrong. Several questions were to be expected:
âY/n, how are you feeling after your big win today?â
âCan you tell us anything about your plans when these Games come to an end?â
âIs it true you and actor Dylan OâBrien have been getting rather close?â
âY/n, are you going to train for Beijing in four years?â
Exhausted and in need of food, Y/n kept her answers simple and minimum. âI feel like I could run a marathonâbut mostly I could use some snacks. Oh thank you so muchâ,â A volunteer brought over an apple they had, and a reporter gave some crackers. âI feel even better now, thank you.â
âWell for one Iâm gonna sleep at least a whole week,â chuckles rang out. âThen Iâm gonna go see Black Panther since it comes out in three daysâanybody gonna go see it? The trailer looked amazing.â
At the question of Dylan OâBrien, Y/n refrained from making a face, âDylan is a good friend of mineâwe met at the 2015 ESPYâs and heâs been to my familyâs resort. Not to mention I was a fan of Teen Wolf when it was running. Thereâs nothing more going on, heâs a great buddy of mine and thatâs all.â Internally groaning, Y/n could already picture the internet reacting to her answer. No doubt would they start shipping the two. Dylan would likely get a kick out of it, but like she said they were just good friends.
Responding on the topic of Beijing, Y/n said, âIâm very lucky to call myself a two-time Olympian and would love to continue my Olympic career so yes, I do plan to train for the next Games.â
The rest of 2018 was memorable for Y/n. She was invited to award shows and movie premieres, including Avengers: Infinity War, The Maze Runner: The Death Cure (which only fueled more speculation about her and Dylan) and Spider-Man: Into The SpiderVerse. She even filmed a cameo in the upcoming remake of Charlieâs Angels with fellow athletes Aly Raisman, Rhonda Rousey, and Danica Patrick. At the 2018 ESPYâs, Y/n was nominated for four awards: Best Olympic Moment, Best Female Olympian, Best Female Athlete and Best Female Action Sports Athlete. She took the latter three, in disbelief each time her name was called.
Her personality drew people in and many young girls were interested in snowboarding because of her. Within weeks she accumulated 500 thousand followers on instagram. People begged her to start a YouTube channel, wanting to follow the journey as she trains for Beijing.
âHello friends of the interweb,â she waved to the lens of her camera. âYouâve been shouting from the rooftops and Iâve heard you loud and clear. Today is my first attempt atâŠvlogging? Is that what you call it?â Shrugging, she starts to walk down the hallway of her home. At age 26, Y/n moved out of her parents home shortly after her first Olympicsâ-having went proâand bought a cabin on the resort so she could remain close with her family and coach. Plus it was where she trainedâa nice little plaque on the entrance of the resort reading, âHome of Olympic Champion Y/n L/n.â
Fans loved seeing a more in-depth look at the Olympian. Y/n would do Q&As, give snowboarding 101 lessons, collaborate with Olympians from other sports she grew to become close friends with, and do daily vlogs of training.
âHi, Iâm Y/n L/n,â she smiled at the camera from where she was sitting, a pale pink background behind her. âAnd Iâm here with Buzzfeed where Iâm gonna be answering some questions while playing with puppies.â Clapping her hands excitedly, she grinned, âLetâs do this!â
âWas Snowboarding always your first choice when it came to sports?â
âYes it was,â there was a tiny bulldog in her lap, drifting off to sleep while an excited lab pup was trying to chew at Y/nâs shoes. âWhen your family owns a ski resort in the mountains of Colorado, usually snowboarding or skiing is going to be the first sport youâre introduced to. In my case it was just like that and while my parents were more for skiing, I loved snowboarding because it was like surfingâŠ.but on snow.â
âWhere would you be if you werenât a professional athlete?â
âYou know I havenât really thought about this,â she makes a face that reads, âis that bad?â. âIâve always loved animals soâŠ.probably a vet or a career that involved animals. Since Iâve started my YouTube channel Iâve grown to love creating videos and editing themâthat whole process. I would not go as far as to say Iâd be an Internet personality but I would maybe use those skills to go into film work. But in all honesty, Iâd probably be running the resort with my parents. Itâs the family business after all.â
âDo you have any tattoos?â
âI do,â flashing her forearm, the Olympic Rings inked her skin with tiny lettering that read, Sochi and Pyeongchang. âI got the rings shortly after returning from Sochiâalready set on where it was going to go. The names were done after Pyeongchang. I have other tattoos on my legs and back, but this one is my favorite because it represents the dream I achieved.â
âHave you ever been in love?â
âOoh weâre getting to the hard questions now,â she laughed, grabbing a puppy that was tugging on her sleeve to hold. âUmmmâŠ..not really. While Iâve been in relationships I donât think any has made me feel what love is supposed to be like. Itâs probably why they didnât work out,â again she makes a face. âI had a genuine care for them, but thereâs a certain way people describe being âin love.â And from what Iâve heard, none of my experiences would be like that. I hope that doesn't make me sound heartless,â Y/n shrugs, not embarrassed at all by being honest. âI got too much going on right now to be worrying about love though. When the time comes, it will.â
Well she was right on that. However she wasnât expecting it to be sooner than what she thought.
Around December of 2019, Y/n had returned to Colorado after being in New York for a couple weeks for a friendâs wedding. Since becoming a bigger name in the world of snowboarding and in popular culture, the resort got more attraction throughout the year where bookings were full. During this time Y/n would help run things to get some stress from her parents. Sheâd train early mornings and late at night, leaving the middle of the day to assist in any way she could. Regulars whoâd been coming before she was an Olympian would treat her the same, whereas tourists coming for the first time were usually starstruck.
Y/n loved interacting with supporters. Every smile she received and autograph she sighed was met with love. Kids would ask questions, the Olympian kneeling to their level to answer with full transparency. Adults would shake her hand and say they canât wait to hopefully see her in Beijing. Those moments are what motivated Y/n to do her best with each session.
âY/n, could you come here for a second?â her mother called out one night after Y/n finished her final run for the day. Sheâd just entered the lobby to say hi to her parents before heading back home when she spotted them with a group of people. One of whom looked very familiar.
Removing her scarf from face and pulling the hood down, Y/n was met with several pairs of eyes that immediately went wide. She could imagine why, considering there was a huge photo of her with the gold medal framed on the wall dedicated to the gallery of famous visitors the resort had.
Moving closer, she noticed that the group consisted of about eight people, seven of which were guys and one lady. The older gentleman who appeared to be roughly her fatherâs age was beaming at her. Quickly he was introduced by her mother.
âY/n, I donât if you remember since itâs been so long, but this is Pete Mitchell. He and your dad go way back and heâs visited a few times since we took over this place.â
Now the face brought memories with the mention of his name. Grinning, Y/n shook the hand that was extended to her, âYeah, I remember. Maverick, right?â
âThatâs right,â he smiled. âWow, itâs great to see you again. Congrats on everything youâve accomplished, Y/n. Iâve been watching you compete since your first trials.â
âThank you,â she tries not to look flustered. âSorry for looking so bustedâI just finished a run and was not expecting a reunion so soon.â The words have the older adults chuckling. Glancing behind Peteâs shoulder, Y/n nodded to his companions, which had the pilot scurry to introduce them.
Pointing to each person, he lists off, âthese are my lieutenants and members of my Top Gun striker team. Bradley Bradshaw, Natasha Trace, Robert Floyd, Mickey Garcia, Reuben Fitch, Javy Machado, and Jake Seresin.â
As he calls their names they each go to shake Y/nâs hand, saying, ânice to meet you.â When she gets to the last person, Jake, Y/n feels a light spark as their skin touches, making both of them flinch.
âPleasure to meet you, maâam,â the tinge of a southern accent nearly makes her knees go weak, a dazzling smile to compliment the pilot.
âPleasureâs all mine,â she returns before moving back to stand beside her parents. âThank you all for your service. What brings you to Aspen?â
âWell weâve seen enough of the beach and oceanânow that weâre all stationed in Miramarâand thought weâd like a scene change,â Pete explained, gesturing to her parents. âI called your folks up after our assignment to book us a getaway since these guys were in need of a break. Weâre here for the weekend to hit the slopesâand teach some of them how to ski.â
âFun,â she hums, glancing to see some nervous eyes among Bob, Javy, Mickey, and Jake. When she caught Jakeâs gaze he smiled at her, making her look away before she blushed. âWho all knows how to ski?â
âReuben, Nat, and I do,â Rooster answered, âthis is the first time those clowns are seeing snow.â
âIâll have you know, Bradshaw,â Jake lifts a hand, giving a mocking glare. âI have seen snow, but seeing as I am a Texas man we donât get it down there.â
âI get snow where Iâm from,â Bob interjects, blushing a bit, âBut I was the type to stay indoors when it did. Iâve never skied though.â
âWell there is a first for everything,â Y/n beams, âand once you get the hang of it, itâs pretty easy. Although Iâm probably not the best judgeâŠ..since I pretty much live on the snow.â
âI personally wanna try snowboarding,â Nat admits, smiling when Y/n gives her a thumbs up and mouths, âgood choice.â
âIâll do it if you do it,â Mickey says and the two high five.
âMaybe Y/n can give you some pointersâ Y/nâs dad suggested, glancing at her with a tilt of the head. âSheâd be the best teacher here.â The Olympian smiles, offering a light shrug.
âI wouldnât mind.â
Mickey and Nat nearly turned into school children right there, but where Nat was calm on the exterior, Mickey was unleashing his inner fanboy.
âIf itâs not out of your wayâ.â
âOh my God, to be trained by an Olympic gold medalist? Life goal complete.â
Y/n couldnât help but giggle at the man, âThat settles it then. I hope to see you on the slopes first thing tomorrow morning. How does ten sound?â
âShit that means we get to sleep in,â Reuben said in relief, the others making the same expression. At Y/nâs confusion he adds, âwe normally all get up at four in the morning. Ten oâclock is a dream.â
âI know what you meanâI get up at five for training. So I would definitely want you all to get a good nightâs rest. Hours on the slopes will have you running to your bed,â checking her watch, Y/n lets out a yawn, chuckling when she finishes. âSpeaking of running to bed, I am beat if you havenât noticed.â She goes to shake their hand once more, âIt was so nice meeting you all and I look forward to tomorrow. Pete, it was great seeing you again.â
Saying goodbye to the group and her parents, Y/n waves one last time and heads to the door. The entire short drive to her home, her mind wanders to Jake. A warm feeling she couldnât describe boiled in her chest, not sure if it was a little crush or just that she was attracted to him. With his green eyes, sun kissed skin, blonde hair, and dazzling smile, the man was a looker. She definitely could see him being a charmer, maybe even a playboy.
She didnât want to think about that possibility.
Compared to her snowboarding career, relationships were something Y/n didnât have the best record with. Yeah she dated, shared a kiss or two with someone she was interested in, but she never saw someone more than five to six months. It wasnât easy to balance time and energy for a partner. Snowboarding was her life and she permanently lived in Colorado. She stopped dating people in Aspen because they usually were driven by what Y/n could bring them. Relationships with fellow athletes were more difficult since they were dedicated to their sport just like she was to hers. The one time she did get involved with an athlete lasted less than two weeks.
Then you had the people in Hollywood. Since winning the silver in 2014, Y/n made plenty of friends in the film and movie industry. Anytime she was pictured with someone it sparked rumors. Even when they were with a group of friends it didnât stop the gossip. Y/n did, however, get involved with an actor that was a friend of Dylan OâBrien. He introduced them at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards where they hit it off. It only lasted five months but it was enough to get the internet buzzing with excitement.
Since then Y/n hadnât been serious with someone, focusing solely on training for the Beijing Olympics. As the defending Olympic champion in the halfpipe Y/n was determined to defend her title. There wouldnât be any time for romance.
But that weekend left Y/n with a newfound feeling. One she wanted to keep the more she got to know Jake. Each night he was at the resort theyâd meet at the lounge to have a drink, sometimes with a group, or by themselves. Theyâd catch each other in the mornings to get coffee, Y/n feeling the giddiness rise each time with every conversation. The boys caught on quickly what was happening, going as far to joke with Y/n about his history with women.
Her confidence dropped a bit, but Jake shut it down instantly, âI havenât been with anyone in about a year. And I wouldnât want something with you to be one and done, Y/n. I want to get to know you better and see where this goes.â
âJake, how would this even work?â The two were sitting on one of the lounge couches the night before he was set to return to California. It was a good point to bring up. With him being in San Diego and her in Aspen, it would be difficult. âI like you and have enjoyed our time this weekendâa-and Iâd love to see where this goesâŠ.but being with me isnât easy.â
âWhyâs that?â He asked, oblivious to her concern.
She gives him a knowing look, âWell first thereâs the distance like I mentioned. But also Iâm in a career where I prioritize that more than anything. I have to go out of the country for competitions several times a year,â her hand makes a motion to show emphasis. âThis is where I trainâand I donât see myself leaving anytime soon. My goal is to make it to the Olympics again.â
Jake is quiet for a moment. It worries Y/n, thinking that he was going to get up and leave without another word. But then he gently places a hand on top of hers that was resting on her lap, âI admire and respect you for being honest with me. Not many people are like thatâhell, Lord knows I wasnât five years ago. But even though it may be difficult, I donât want to avoid it just because of the âwhat ifâsâ. So it doesnât work out, thatâs okay, but Iâd like to at least try.â
Biting her lip, she looks at their hands, âYou sure?â
âIâm sure,â he smiles, âplus it gives me a reason to continue coming out here. I think Iâve fallen in love with this place,â glancing around the building, his smile gets bigger at the sight of the sun setting making the mountains look beautiful from where they were. âBeing from Texas, we donât get this type of scenery. I thought I wouldnât like the snow but it seems to have grown on me in the few short days.â
âWell, Lieutenant, youâre gonna have to get used to it if you roll with me.â
âI think I can adapt well, darling.â
When the squad left the next morning, a little piece of Ynâs heart left with Jake. She didnât believe in love at first sight but there was no denying the feelings swarming like butterflies each time they were together. FaceTimes became their thing. Usually a couple times a week with casual texting since both had busy lives. Jake then flew out a couple weeks later to spend New Yearâs with Y/n, the two sharing their first kiss that sparked like the fireworks in the sky.
Y/n traveled to San Diego in February with Jake returning to Aspen in March. What was supposed to just be a weekend turned out to be Jake having to stay for nearly three months due to the world shutting down. The pandemic was something no one couldâve predicted. Both Y/n and Jake had to scramble to figure out what to do, her parents offering him a cabin to reside in since they had to close down the resort. The competitions Y/n was set to compete in were canceled, Jake having to work remotely with meetings through zoom. There was no indication if heâd have to return to San Diego and frankly he didnât know how he would since airlines were shut down.
It was a blessing in disguise, however, because it brought the two closer. Jake and Y/n were able to do things together despite being confined to the resort. Since it was only them, her parents, and her coach on the premises, Y/n was able to still train and even taught Jake how to snowboard downhill. He told her about his career and what it was like being in the air competing against the speed of sound.
âItâs an adrenaline rush most of the time,â He explained one night as they laid by the fire, a random movie on the Tv mounted above the mantle. âYou can probably relate when you do your runs. Not being able to really think and just let your body take over. Feeling a high thatâs indescribable and praying it will end how you think it will.â
In the mornings Y/n would drop off breakfast and coffee to his cabin on her way to training. After his meetings heâd bring her lunch or dinner since she was practicing most hours in the day. The 2020 season was canceled, but that didnât mean she wouldnât prepare for 2021. Athletes training for the Summer Olympics would have to wait a whole year, meanwhile the plans for the Winter Olympics in 2022 remained. Speculations already arose that by the next spring things would slowly go back to normal with the implementation of a vaccine. Jake returned to San Diego as soon as the green light was lit, mostly because the Navy was ordering him to. Airlines only allowed certain people to fly with regulations set to accommodate social distancing. It was a bittersweet goodbye for the couple, Jake promising to return as soon as he could.
Their relationship continued to be long distance for a long time. San Diego locked down several times preventing either from traveling to see each other. Y/n kept busy by training from sunrise to sunset, Jake running missions the Pentagon tasks the Dagger squad with and the two FaceTimed consistently. Luckily by spring of 2021 things did in fact calm down. A vaccine was introduced, both wasting no time to receive it, and making plans for Y/n to fly out to San Diego.
When she landed she was met with the clear skies and warm rays of the sun, catapulting into Jakeâs awaiting arms after exiting the terminal. âI missed you so much!â She giggled as he spun her around.
âI missed you more, darling.â
Everyone welcomed her with smiles, the pilots excited to see Y/n again after so long. They took her to The Hard Deck to celebrate her and Jakeâs one year anniversary and for her qualification in the 2021 Winter X Games.
âExcited to get back in the pipe, Y/n/n?â Reuben asked her.
âYou bet your ass I am,â she clicks her beer glass with his. âCanât wait for the world to see what Iâve been practicing.â
The squad cheered on Y/n from Fightertown during the Winter X Games, watching her claim the gold of the womenâs Superpipe for the sixth time. Jake was the loudest, his reaction to her win captured by Rooster, âThatâs my girl!!â
Flash forward to January 2022. The team rang the year in, Y/n joining festivities where she and Jake celebrated their third New Yearâs before they all traveled North to Mammoth to watch Y/n compete in the Mammoth Grand Prix. The first completion of the year, it would be where the Beijing Olympic Team members were named.
By the end of the competition, Y/n was going to have to set an appointment with her tattoo artist to add Beijing to the list of Games.
âYEAHH!!!â The scream released, arms shot into the air as her name shot to the top of the leaderboard following her second run, the score a 96.00. On the ground Jake, her coach, parents, and friends were losing their minds. Rightfully so, they just witnessed Y/n make her third Olympic team.
âAnd there you have it folks, the defending Olympic champion in the halfpipe is heading to Beijing in her third Olympic appearance. Y/n L/n has shown greatness this whole weekend, proving herself as one of the best in the sport. Thereâs been so much improvement in her formâthe Winter X Games this past year was the last time weâd seen her since the pandemic shut everything down, but that didnât stop Y/n from getting ready for Beijing. She is unstoppable. It'll be an exciting Games next month, not just for the womenâs competitionâShaun White will return to the stage for the fifth time in an attempt to defend his gold model.â
A celebratory party was in store for the Olympian. Champagne was popped and music blasting in the restaurant the members of Team USA rented together. All their friends and family were there having a grand time. Y/n and Shaun got pictures together, the internet calling them the king and queen of the halfpipe. Pretty much all of the dagger squad, minus Jake of course, were chatting up with the OlympiansâBob received a thumbs up from Y/n when she spotted him talking with Mikayla Shiffrin.
Halfway through the night, Jake pulled her aside, âHow you feeling?â
âGood,â she breathed, still coming down from the high of excitement. âExcited, nervous, internally dreading the long flight but overall Iâm happy.â
âIâm happy for you, darling,â he kissed her head, âYou deserve this. After watching you bust your tail these past two years, I canât describe how proud I am of you.â
Y/n felt a wave of love course threw her, kissing him softly as a thanks. When they pulled away Jake asked what was next to which she replied, âWhat do you mean?â
âWellâŠI hear Italy is hosting in four years.â She made a sound of âAhh,â
âThatâs what you mean.â
Jake quickly explains, âI just wanted to know if thatâs in your sights. Youâre gonna get asked plenty next month, so see it as me wanting to be the first to knowâŠâŠand because Iâm already planning on being there if you do.â Unfortunately due to covid restrictions, Jake and her family are unable to attend the Games in person. Only her coach was allowed to travel with Y/n, meaning everyone else would have to cheer from home.
Italy wasnât even on Y/nâs mind. After a career of over fifteen years and having celebrated her 30th birthday, the next chapter was something she thought about often. Jake was her longest relationship, the two at two years and Y/n fell more and more in love with him each day. While the long distance was going well, it would only be a matter of time before one of them would want to settle. Marriage. Children.
Going for a fourth Games was possibleâlook at Shaun. Beijing was his fifth Games, and Kelly Clark competed in five.
âConfident youâll be around by then? 2026 is a long way from here,â teasing at first, Y/n felt her heart skip by the look she received. It was one of love, determination, and admiration.
âIâm confident in a lot of things, Y/n. And when it comes to us,â two fingertips come up to hold her chin steady, green eyes boring into hers. âI see a cabin with a front porch and gorgeous sunrise over the mountains as we drink coffee and reminisce over our glory days before the little ones left the nest. Thatâs what I see when I look at you.â
February 2026âLivigno, Italy: Final of the Womenâs Halfpipe in the XXV Olympic Winter Games.
âSo one last run, huh?â Jake squeezes Y/nâs hand, easing her nerves as she feels the metal of his wedding band on her skin. She had yet to put her gloves on, waiting for someone to escort her to the top of the slope.
âOne last one,â her tone was laced with sadness, not doing much to mask her anxiety. She was one run away from winning a third conservative gold medal. Beijing was already four years ago, Y/n adding a second gold to her collection to retain her title as queen of the halfpipe. She was met with international recognition following the Games. Her performance in Beijing resulted in the first 100.00 scored in the Olympics.
On the cover of Sports Illustrated and winning big at the 2022 ESPYâs, Y/n was on top of the world. Appearances on James Corden and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Y/n not only showcased her gold medal, but a diamond ring on her finger where she told the world her love story with Jake.
âHi, Iâm Y/n L/n,â she waved at the camera, a MacBook in front of her and trying not to laugh at where Jake was sitting in his own chair beside the producer of GQ, videoing her with his phone. âTwo-time Olympic gold medalist in the womenâs halfpipe and Iâm here with GQ, about to go undercover on the internet.â Opening the laptop, she shakes her head with a nervous grin. âThis is gonna be interesting.â
Ironically enough, she chose the username Y/ndoesntlikethesnow. âIâm sorta scared at what Twitter and Reddit will bring. Just becauseâŠ.,â she makes a face, âI go on the bird app religiously so I know what thatâs like, but also Iâve heard horror stories about Reddit.â
âI wanna know how @Y/nlikesthesnow managed to get up after planting face first in the snow at her first Olympic trials. On live television. If that was me I wouldâve retired right then and there.â
The laugh that escaped Y/n was equivalent to a wheeze, sending Jake into his own laughter. Calming down, Y/n had to wipe her eye, âoh my goodness what a great start. Okay,â her fingers hovered over the keys, typing away with each word she spoke. âThank you for bringing this memory upâit was truly a defining moment in my career I would say. Not only did it humble me, but had it not happened I probably wouldnât have busted my butt as much as I did to get to Sochi. So itâs kinda sentimental nowâŠ.though I do die inside each time someone tags me when they use the gif.â
Clicking send, Y/n clapped, ânext!â
âDoes Y/n L/n and her fiancĂ© know they basically lived in a Hallmark movie? Guy comes to a small town and meets a local girl whoâs family runs a ski resort and they fall in love in just a few short weeks. I think about that a lot.â
Both Y/n and Jake make a snort, âJake is here with me now,â she points to though he canât be seen. âWe both love this question. And to answer it, you know it never crossed our mind that this was happening, but if Hallmark would like some inspiration for their next movie weâd be happy to give some.â
The wedding took place in fall of 2023. Shortly after Y/n made the decision to move to San Diego to be with Jake, finding an indoor halfpipe training facility to train in. She continued to dominate the 2023-2025 seasons. By the time she made her fourth Olympic team, Y/n became the most decorated female snowboarder in Winter X Games history and won the Mammoth Grand Prix for the sixth consecutive time.
Now in Italy for her final Olympic appearance, the pressure was on.
Currently Y/n was in last position, shocking many as she had multiple errors in her first two after being the number one qualifier. Eight years ago in Pyeongchang, her friend and former teammate Shaun White stunned the world when he went from the bottom to the top of the leaderboard in the final rotation of the menâs final, claiming his third gold medal.
People were itching to know if the same would happen to Y/n. Commentators and twitter alike saying it was deja vu happening.
Only Jake, the squad, her coach and family were the ones to know she would be retiring. Her last run marking the end of an era in snowboarding. With her first two a disaster, Y/n wanted to end on a high note.
âBetter make it count,â Jake told her, cupping her face in his hands to stare deeply into her eyes. âYou got this, okay? Donât think about i-t-like I always tell you: donât think, just do.â Kissing her forehead, he adds, âThat gold medal is calling your name.â
Confidence filled her, Y/n lifting her chin high to show her determination. âI better go claim it then.â
Jake mirrored her grin, winking just as the volunteer was calling her name. âWeâll be cheering when you do, babe. Go show them whoâs the Queen.â Giving one last kiss of support, Jake says goodbye to his wife, âI love you.â
âI love you,â she returns and he watches her leave before heading to the area where the others were waiting for him.
âHow is she?â Javy asks him, adjusting the lapels of his coat. It was a cold but beautiful day in Italy. Perfect for snowboarding.
âI can tell sheâs worried,â Jake takes out his binoculars, setting up to see Y/n take her place. âBut sheâll pull through. She always does.â
âWelcome back to our coverage of the womenâs halfpipe final here in Livigno, Italy. Y/n L/n, the defending two-time gold medalist is about to take her final run in this competition.â The title card appeared on the screen for viewers watching at home, reading: âY/n L/n-SeresinâGold Medalist: 2018 & 2022, Silver Medalist: 2014âHometown: Aspen, Colorado, USA.
âItâs been a rocky day for L/nâfailing to produce a big score on her first two attempts: 39.00 in the first and 49.00. Sheâs got one more chance to beat the 92.25 and is currently in last position. If you can think back to 2018 Shaun White was in the same position, managing to come back in his final run to take the gold. In just a few moments we shall see if Y/n can do the same.â
Itâs said that your heart beats on average 60 to 100 beats per minute. Thatâs a normal heart rate. Throw in emotions such as anxiety and youâll find it increasing. If a doctor were to place a stethoscope over Y/nâs chest as she secured the clasps of her snowboard, pulling the goggles over her eyes, theyâd find the number of her bpm to be at least 110 maybe even 120.
âDonât think,â Jakeâs voice echoed in her head, bringing a sense of calmness. âJust do.â
âDonât think,â she repeated under her breath. âJust do.â Maneuvering her board once she was giving the go, Y/n starts her decline into the halfpipe, dropping in one last time. Unlike her previous runs where she focused too hard that led to the mistakes, Y/n moved effortlessly like the board was in control. Back-to-back 1080s, her signature move. Getting high in the air she spun. Backside 900 and frontside 700. Opening at the right moment to hit the snow correctly and set up for the next trick. Showing off her talent as one of the greatest athletes of her generation.
Thinking back to her first time her feet touched a board, Y/n felt the nostalgia in her veins. It was comforting, masking the nerves it soon replaced. She was in her element. Picturing the mountains of Aspen and the snow she grew up on.
She could hear the crowd getting louder with each move. It fueled her, pushing the Olympian to get higher in the air, spin faster, and land perfectly. When she came down on her 1260, a difficult move usually seen in the menâs competition, Y/n felt her heart stop as she hit the snow.
It was a golden finish.
A roar ignited from the crowd, Y/nâs hands flying to her mouth, making her final descent down the pipe across the line and falling to her knees like she did back in 2018. It was so loud she could barely hear her own thoughts, audibly shouting, âOh my God!â Desperately searching for her husband, she found Jake jumping up and down with the squad, screaming like their lives depended on it.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, Y/n throwing off her goggles and unclamping her board from her feet to run towards them. The fucking aviator broke the rules and hauled is ass over the barrier to meet her in the middle, catching Y/n when she jumped into his arms. âYou fucking did it!!! You did it!!â
Suddenly their little hug was interrupted by her coach, parents, the squad and members of Team USA joining in. The score hadnât even come in, but it didnât matter. Y/n just pulled the comeback of the decade. Going from the bottom to the top in the blink of the eye.
âAll eyes on Y/nâhere she goes dropping in. Good start on the grip to gain momentum as she sets up her first trick. Hereâs her signature move as weâve seen time and time againâŠtwo 1080s often called âthe corkâ and sheâs had trouble all day with thisâwell no problems right there that was beautiful. Now with the backside 900âŠ.looking goodâif she maintains this then the gold medal is hers. Itâs gonna be that last trick, the McTwist, that could make or break this runâŠ..no problems on that frontside 700. All thereâs left is the 1260âvery difficult we donât see it in womenâs halfpipe but Y/n is determined to land itâcan she do it for the gold medalâŠ..AND SHEâS GOT IT!! She landed itâoh my goodness that was incredible! Thatâs gotta be enoughâthereâs no doubt in my mind, Y/n L/n has just won her third consecutive gold in the womenâs halfpipe after being in last place for two rotationsâputting on a show stopping performance in the final run.â
âShe knows it too. Members of Team USA and Y/nâs support team including her coach and husband are celebrating with her. She needs higher than a 92.25 to take the leadâwill it be enough? It has to beâŠ..A 99.75 SHEâS DONE IT! A QUARTER OF A POINT AWAY FROM PERFECTION, Y/N L/N HAS WON HER THIRD GOLD MEDAL IN THE WOMENâS HALFPIPE HERE IN ITALY. THE QUEEN OF THE HALFPIPE REMAINS ON THE THRONE.â
Y/nâs lifted onto Jakeâs shoulders when the score comes into the uproar of cheers around her. American flags wave in her face, a sea of red, white, and blue against the glistening snow. It was a scene she would remember in the years to come following her retirement from snowboarding.
The Olympic Rings staring back at her along with the American Flag rising to the sound of the national anthem. Gold around her neck, the heaviness leaving a lasting mark as it would be the last time she would be crowned the Olympic champion. Jake clapping with tears streaming down his face as she waved to him in the crowd. Her parents crying with him, the guys and Nat are whistling and jumping up and down. Pete in a side embrace with her coach and former teammates beaming like they were witnessing history.
In fact it was history. Y/n became the first woman to win the gold in three consecutive Olympic Games. From a little girl with a love of snowboarding who missed out in her first trials. To become a silver medalist and most decorated Winter X Games title holder. To a three-time Olympic champion.
She truly was the queen of the halfpipe.
âŠâŠâŠâŠ.
TGM tag list: @avaleineandafryingpan @caitsymichelle13 @poppyalice2001 @cutelittlepotatofry @luckyladycreator2 @americaarse @elenavampire21 @back-tooo-black
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