Huw Nightingale ended his 2025/26 snowboarding season competing in Erzurum, Montafon and Mont-Saint-Anne, returning to competition after the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. At this year’s Winter Olympics in Italy, Huw competed for Team GB in the individual and Mixed Team competitions, and alongside his teammate Charlotte Bankes, he became the Olympic champion in the Mixed Team Snowboard Cross event, marking Team GB’s first-ever Olympic Gold medal in a snow sport, and Huw made his Olympic debut in 2022 in Beijing, China. Prior to the Olympics, Huw won Gold with Charlotte in the only Mixed Team Cross event of the season in Cervinia, Italy in December, and at the 2025 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships in Engadin, Huw finished 10th in the individual and 12th in the Mixed Team. At the World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia in 2023, Huw made history winning Great Britain’s first-ever snowboard Mixed Team title. Talking with Huw, he told us about becoming the Olympic champion in the Mixed Team Snowboard Cross event at this year’s Winter Olympics with Charlotte Bankes, his success during the 2025/26 World Cup season and making history at the 2023 World Championships.
At the end of the 2025/26 snowboarding season, you competed in Erzurum, Montafon and Mont-Saint-Anne; how was it getting back into World Cup racing after the 2026 Winter Olympics and how do you feel the last competitions of the season went?
It was kind of strange because I’d already achieved the goal I wanted that season, so I could finish the rest of the season with no pressure and just race freely. Of course, I still wanted to do well, but a lot of weight had been lifted off my shoulders for those final events. I felt much more relaxed and could just focus on enjoying the racing.
What was it like representing Team GB at your second Winter Olympics in February in both the Men’s individual and Mixed Team competitions, and how different did you find these Games to your Olympic debut in China in 2022?
Competing for Team GB is such an honour. Even representing Great Britain for the second time, it still feels incredibly special.
Going to Beijing in 2022 meant a lot because, at the start of that season, qualifying for the Games felt like a long shot. I honestly didn’t think it was going to be possible.
Milano Cortina was an even more special experience because, although Beijing was amazing, it was still during COVID, so there were no crowds and no family there to support me. This time, seeing my parents waiting for me at the finish was an incredible feeling. Being able to share that moment with them made it even more special.
How was it attending the opening and closing ceremonies in Italy, and how did you stay focused throughout the Games?
It was actually my first opening and closing ceremony, and it was such a great experience. It’s one of the few chances you get to meet athletes from all the other sports.
The build-up to the Games is so intense and stressful that the ceremony almost feels like a moment where you can stop, look around and appreciate how far you’ve come. Just making it to the Olympics is already a huge achievement.
For me, it was nice to have an evening where you could relax a little, enjoy yourself, and take your mind off competing before the racing started.
You became Olympic champion alongside your teammate Charlotte Bankes in the Mixed Team Snowboard Cross event; how did it feel standing on the podium and winning Great Britain’s first-ever Olympic Gold medal in a snow sport?
At first, I didn’t actually know it was Great Britain’s first-ever Olympic Gold medal on snow. I only found out after the medal ceremony.
After a disappointing singles race, Charlotte and I really wanted to bounce back and prove to ourselves that we could perform on the biggest stage. Winning that Gold was an incredible feeling, but what made it even more special was sharing it with Charlotte.
She’s taught me so much over the years, and I’ve learned a huge amount from her. I was so happy for her because she’d had some tough Olympic experiences in the past, so seeing her finally win the Gold she deserved made the moment even more special.
How did you find the experience racing in the final at the Winter Olympics, and what was it like watching Charlotte in the last race that would determine the medals?
I was actually more nervous before the first race because I knew that if we got through that opening heat, we’d have a real chance of fighting for Gold. After that, everything happened so quickly that I don’t think I even had time to get nervous. I knew what I had to do from the previous runs, so everything just came naturally.
Watching Charlotte was probably more nerve-racking than racing myself. It felt like the longest minute of my life. When she crossed the line, I couldn’t believe what we’d just achieved.
Ahead of the Winter Olympics, you and Charlotte won the only Mixed Team Cross event in the 2025/26 World Cup season when you won Gold in Cervinia, Italy in December; what was it like winning the medal so close to the Olympics, and what do you enjoy most about competing in Mixed Team events with Charlotte?
Winning the race before the Olympics gave us a huge confidence boost and showed that we were in a good place heading into the Games.
At the same time, going into the Olympics as one of the favourites brings even more pressure.
Snowboard cross is usually an individual sport, so winning alongside Charlotte made it even more special. In the Team event, it feels like you’re winning for everyone – the coaches, wax technicians, support staff, and everyone who’s helped you get there. That’s what makes it so rewarding.
Can you tell us about competing at the 2025 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships in Engadin, where you finished 10th individually and 12th in the Mixed Team?
The World Championships in Engadin were brilliant, and the event they put on was amazing.
I actually didn’t have the best training days beforehand, so I wasn’t very confident going into qualifying. After training, I spoke with my coaches, and they reassured me that I was capable of performing much better than I’d shown.
The next day, I surprised myself by qualifying 10th, and that gave me the confidence I needed going into race day.
The Team event was tough because we went in as favourites, but things didn’t go the way we wanted. That’s snowboard cross – you can’t control everything.
How was it making history at the 2023 World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia by winning Great Britain’s first-ever snowboard Mixed Team title?
Winning in Bakuriani came as a bit of a surprise. Neither Charlotte nor I had our best first day, so we went into the Team event just wanting to enjoy ourselves and bounce back from the previous day. I think everyone was surprised by how well I was riding – including me! Our boards were running really well, which definitely helped, and we weren’t thinking about winning. We just wanted to have fun.
To come away with the victory made it really special, and it gave me confidence that I could compete with the very best riders.
Do you remember how you felt representing Great Britain at a snowboarding competition for the first time, and what are some of your stand-out memories from your further competitions?
Representing Great Britain for the first time felt surreal. I honestly couldn’t believe I’d made it that far. I was really nervous all week, but I managed to qualify in my very first World Cup race, which I never thought would happen. My dad was there as well, so having him there to experience that moment with me made it even more special.
Looking back, I’ve made so many amazing memories over the last few years, but one thing I’ve learned is that having fun is the most important part. Whenever I’m enjoying myself, that’s when I race my best.
How is it competing around the world and do have a favourite aspect of being a snowboarder?
Competing all over the world has been amazing. I’ve been to places I never dreamed I’d visit, met incredible people from so many different countries, and experienced lots of different cultures.
The best part is that I get to do the thing I love most wherever I go.
Where does your love of snowboarding come from and how did you get into it?
I love snowboarding because there are so many different ways to enjoy it and express yourself.
One of the best things about the sport is the community. What keeps me loving it is coming home after competitions and just going riding with my friends. When I’m with them, I can forget about the competitive side of snowboarding and just enjoy being on the mountain again.
Even though I started skiing when I was really young, I always knew snowboarding was what I wanted to do one day.
Have you received any advice over your career so far that has stuck with you, and what advice would you give a young athlete starting out in the sport?
I think that, in any competitive sport, you can’t forget why you started. Winning is amazing, but sometimes taking a step back and just enjoying what you do is even more important. I always remind myself why I wanted to snowboard as a kid, and that helps me keep everything in perspective.
For young athletes, I’d say don’t get too caught up in winning straight away. Everyone has their own journey. Some people reach the top earlier than others, but that doesn’t mean your opportunity won’t come. If you keep working hard and stay patient, your time will come.
What does a typical training day look like for you, and how has it changed over the years?
My training has stayed pretty similar over the last few years. I’ll usually start the day in the gym, focusing on strength and power with weight training. In the afternoon, I’ll do some form of cardio. When I’m on snow, my training varies depending on how I’m feeling and what I need to work on that day.
When do you start preparing for a new season and how do you get competition ready?
I always need a holiday after the season, preferably somewhere hot.
You don’t always realise how tired your body is until you finally stop. Snowboard cross is tough on the body, so it’s important to give yourself time to recover.
I don’t think you’re ever completely ready for the first race of a new season, but I know I’m prepared if I’ve done everything I possibly could during the off-season. At that point, all you can do is trust the work you’ve put in.
Do you have any favourite sports to watch, and were there any snowboarders (or other athletes) that inspired you when growing up?
I love sport in general because I know how much work every athlete puts in to reach the top. It’s always great to see someone succeed after dedicating so much of their life to their sport.
I’m a big Manchester City fan, so I love watching football. I also enjoy rugby and have a lot of respect for what rugby players put their bodies through.
To be honest, I never really had one athlete that I looked up to growing up.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love spending time with my friends, whether that’s just relaxing somewhere or playing different sports together.
I also really enjoy road cycling. It’s a great way to switch off, clear my head, and get away from everything for a while. Sometimes it’s nice to just get on the bike and not think too much about anything at all.
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