Nathan Barber, a recent graduate of the Winter Sports School and a rising star in slopestyle snowboarding, is a young athlete whose dedication and character exemplify the spirit of the late Sam Jackenthal. Nathan’s journey is not just about reaching new heights on the slopes; it’s about cultivating kindness, positivity, and resilience—values he lives by every day.
Receiving the Sam Jackenthal Award
Nathan’s dedication to these values made him a natural recipient of the prestigious Sam Jackenthal Award, an honor given to Winter Sports School students who embody leadership, courage, kindness, joy, and self-awareness.
Tess Miner-Farra praised Nathan’s “consistently positive and encouraging presence” and his ability to “raise the level of every group he joins – the level of kindness, compassion, fun, intelligence and generosity.”
For Nathan, winning the award is deeply meaningful. “I’m super honored to have won an award […] based on someone who was so great.” He added’ I value these characteristics and seeing that other people see those characteristics in me, it makes me feel good.”
Living Like Sam – “Be a Leader, and Be Courageous”
Nathan strives to live by the five pillars Sam embodied: leadership, courage, kindness, joy, and self-awareness. “It’s tough to be the outlier, starting those positive comments to your friends […] but it really does change the way that people live. Be a leader and start that chain of positivity,” he says. While standing out can be difficult, Nathan acknowledges that it requires courage. “It does take courage to take a different route than everyone else’s. But you have to be [courageous] if you want to be different and influence other people.”
“Be a leader and start that chain of positivity. It takes courage to take a different route than everyone else’s.”
With his kindness, humility, and unwavering dedication, Nathan Barber isn’t just chasing his Olympic dreams—he’s inspiring those around him to live with purpose, joy, and generosity, just like Sam Jackenthal.
Resilience and Trust
Nathan’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. After a traumatic brain injury (TBI) last year, he faced significant mental and physical hurdles. “Obviously, I was excited to come back and snowboard, because I love it and taking such a big break from it was hard,” he shared. However, returning to the slopes brought back fear and hesitation. “You get back to that fear aspect which is always going to be present …you just hesitate, and that’s hard to let bounce off you.”
“In order to be resilient you have to trust yourself”
For Nathan, overcoming this fear required trust. “The easiest way to build confidence and really kill that hesitation is to begin to trust the process and really take your time,” he explained. He encourages others to acknowledge and trust their feelings. “There’s really no rush,” he emphasized. “I think resilience is embedded in trusting yourself first. In order to be resilient you have to trust yourself.”
“Work Hard to Make Working Hard Easy”
One of Nathan’s personal philosophies is: “Work hard to make working hard easy.” This isn’t about slacking off; it’s about cultivating a positive mindset that makes the grind enjoyable. He believes in fostering an environment where effort feels rewarding rather than a burden.Nathan intentionally spreads positivity to lift others, motivating himself and his team to feel good about themselves while pushing their limits.
He credits his coaches and mentors for demonstrating the power of a positive environment. A coach who creates a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, spreading positivity and kindness on the mountain, can transform training into an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Dreaming Big
Nathan’s goals are as ambitious as they are grounded. While he dreams of competing in the Olympics, a goal he has held since childhood, he is also planning for life beyond his snowboarding career, knowing it has a limited timeframe. He hopes to pursue a STEM-related education. He also aspires to design snowboards for a leading company like Burton, with the ultimate goal of starting his own business.
His bucket list reflects a desire to step outside his comfort zone and fully embrace life. From traveling the world and trying exotic foods to adventures like paragliding and skydiving, many of his goals are about satisfying his curiosity and overcoming fears.