Jon Olsson

Biography

Jon Anders Olsson (born 17 August 1982) is a former professional freeskier and alpine ski racer from Sweden. Born in Mora, Olsson started his career as a ski racer but at age 16 he switched his race skis for twin tips and quit ski racing. Eight years later, after a 50 000 SEK (US$5826.22) bet with fellow skier Jens Byggmark, Olsson started ski racing again with the goal of the bets being to make it to the Olympics in 2014. He now competes in both freestyle and ski racing. Olsson is known for his invention of several new double flips, including a D-spin 720 into a flatspin 540 (DJ flip), a switch double rodeo 1080 (hexo flip), a double flatspin 900 (kangaroo flip), and a switch cork 720 to flatspin 540 (the tornado). Most of the years between 2005 and 2015, Olsson hosted the big air event Jon Olsson Invitational, also known as JOI. In 2007 the event was voted best big air event by freeskier magazine. From 2007 to 2010 he also hosted Jon Olsson Super Sessions (JOSS), a freeskiing film contest that takes place in Åre, Sweden. The event consisted of teams of skiers skiing for approximately two weeks with a film crew and creating a short ski film. Olsson made his debut in the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Val-d'Isère in December 2010, as part of a plan to make the Swedish alpine ski team at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Hans Olsson, a Swedish alpine skier specialising in the speed events, is Jon Olsson’s brother.