Ok, so let’s get this straight. A young teenage girl from New Jersey makes her way to Killington, Vermont to hone her craft as a new snowboarder fresh off an elite youth hockey career? Before the age of 16, she travels the world winning every major urban competition in the world including Red Bull Heavy Metal Boston, The Uninvited Park City, DIYX Krakow, Copper Mountain Rail Jam, Rail Riot Laax, and more?

She then decides to start jumping and wins XGames Knuckle Huck in her rookie debut at the age of sixteen?

And then, mere weeks’ later, she qualifies for the US Olympic Team, heads to Italy and earns 6th place in her inaugural Olympic Slopestyle competition? Ie 6th out of 1000’s of global riders who had a similar dream?

Yes, you’re now acquainted with the young legend that is Jess Perlmutter.

Another Jess, Rider of the Year and future hall-of-famer, Jess Kimura shares her take readily: “(Jess is) different than the regular athlete competitor and that is really cool; that is really important to our culture.”

Todd Richards, a fellow legend and Olympic gold medalist offers a simpler take, referring to Perlmutter as “Young Swag Lord” on a live microphone broadcast to millions of American households on NBC during The Games.

After witnessing Jess for his first time at “The Bombhole Cup,” street heavyweight and XGames Real Snow gold medalist podcast host Chris Grenier remarked directly, “Damn. (Jess) put a certified beatdown on all the rails!”

What makes Jess especially compelling is not just what she has already achieved, however, it’s where the young talent is headed now. She is at the beginning of the following arc: Her contest resume is already world-class, yet her personal style and identity are still forming. The ink is just touching the paper. Within the industry, there is growing conversation about her long-term street potential and the rare ability to balance global podiums with legitimate, culture-defining video parts. Time can attest that riders who can do both at a high level are the rare ones.

Is this part of the reason that Torment Magazine named Jess the “2025-2026 Women’s Snowboard Rookie of The Year”? It’s likely so.

Another mythological god of boarding and certified professor of snowboarding, Mikey Leblanc, has his own words for Jess’ future:

“Even at this early stage she’s already one of the best on the contest side, and when you add her rapid progression, her taste in tricks and style — this is someone who can go legit gnar on a street part whenever she wants. Someone who can do both just doesn’t really exist yet. It reminds me of the brands that got in early on Jill Perkins and Mia Brookes and how they won. Jess is right in that kind of moment right now.”

In summary, Jess is not only the current moment. She’s the next era.