Bea Kim
USA Snowboard Team Member

BY KATHARINE GAMMON

HYDRO FLASK U.S. SNOWBOARD TEAM MEMBER Bea Kim is chasing her Olympic dreams in the women’s halfpipe, as part of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The athlete, who has counted USC physical therapists (Ginelle Amormino DPT ’03; John Meyer DPT ’98, ORTHO ’99; and Lisa Meyer DPT ’01) as part of her care team, spoke to us about growing up on the slopes, recovering from shoulder surgery and relying on physical therapy to get through the aches and pains from the rough-and-tumble sport.

How did you get into snowboarding?

I grew up snowboarding with my family. We would drive up to Mammoth once or twice a year. With a younger brother who’s four years younger than me, there weren’t many activities we could all do together, but snowboarding was one of them. We’d be outside, get fresh air and just spend time as a family. Those trips are my earliest memories of snowboarding.

One weekend in Mammoth, there happened to be a competition. I told my dad, “Let’s just enter, and see what happens. Let’s do it for fun.” I ended up doing decently well, and after that season I told him I wanted to join the Mammoth Snowboard Team and take it more seriously. I was around 9 or 10 then, and that’s really when everything escalated.

How did you know that you were good?

I don’t think there was ever really a moment where my parents or coaches were like: She’s so good! There’s this running joke in the family that I’m the least athletic out of everyone — and it’s true, because I genuinely am the least coordinated (laughs). But it was something that I wanted to do, and so I kind of just put all of my effort into it, and was going to see how far that effort could take me.

You had shoulder surgery recently. How did that affect your career and how did physical therapy help you come back?

I had shoulder surgery in December 2024, which was definitely not part of the plan. The season before the Olympics is when you want as much competition and practice as possible, so surgery was the last thing I wanted. But it ended up being the best thing I could have done.

My recovery was about five months. I went to physical therapy a lot — probably too much — but it made a huge difference. It showed me how important it is to really strengthen your body and focus on all those little stabilizing muscles. Now, my shoulder actually feels better than my other one, and I feel like my snowboarding is at a higher level because of that work.

What role does physical therapy play in a snowboarder’s life?

Snowboarders take a lot of slams — on your back, your butt, your legs. Your body just gets compressed from all the landings. Physical therapists help with that: stretching us out, treating everyday aches and helping us come back from bigger injuries and surgeries. For me, physical therapy has been crucial in recovery. Therapists also teach us exercises to prevent injuries and strengthen those smaller muscles to do on the road when we can’t get to a gym.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not on the slopes?

I love spending time with my family, reading and going to the gym a lot, especially in the off-season. I also like little adventures and trips outdoors. Any chance to be outside and have some quality family time means a lot, since I’m gone so often.

ILLUSTRATION: JAYA NICELY