VIDEO: Nyman represents at GoPro Mountain Games

Steven Nyman competes at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail. Geoff Mintz/Ski Racing

Steven Nyman made his fourth career start at the SUP Surf Sprint at the GoPro Mountain Games Vail on Saturday. The World Cup racer finished the semiprofessional three-mile downriver sprint in 15th out of 32 competitors, just three spots back of his finish of 12th last season. Nyman admitted this was the “least prepared” he’s ever been for the competition, but was stoked nonetheless to hit Gore Creek.

Nyman got involved in the sport of stand up paddleboarding (SUP) in the summer of 2006 while training in Hawaii. He bought a board and paddled out into the ocean, but when he relocated back to Utah a couple years later, the lakes and reservoirs didn’t provide enough of a challenge, so he took to the river.

This year, Nyman also took to the trails racing in the sport division mountain bike race, where he finished fourth, making for a long day of competition at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, home of the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships.