Nick is a USA Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Concrete Contractor, and the Oldest U.S. Olympic Snowboarder in History

Nick Baumgartner grew up in Iron River, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, once a major mining town. In high school, he was a hurdler and an All-American and State Champion wrestler, followed by playing football at Northern Michigan. Then, the allure of snowboarding took over. He was hooked.

After college, for years every summer, Nick went to work pouring concrete, taking on the harsh physical conditions of the construction trade in order to support his professional snowboarding dreams come winter. Unable to afford housing for those months spent training in the mountains, he lived out of a crusty van, parked anywhere he could find a spot.

Finally, he had a shot at his longtime goal. In the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, he took 20th in bordercross, and 25th in 2014 in Sochi, Russia. In 2018, he placed fourth in South Korea. Then, back to slinging concrete. But the dream of one more Olympics couldn't be shaken.

In the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, Nick made a dire mistake that cost him a medal. He was devastated. However, the next day, in the first-ever Olympic mixed team snowboard cross, teammate Lindsey Jacobellis and Nick took the gold medal. Nick was the oldest athlete of the entire 223 member USA team, and the oldest U.S. snowboarder in history!

These days, Nick travels around the country speaking about his remarkable journey. Oh, and he's still slinging concrete.

Prior to his retirement in April of 2026, Ron Jolly hosted the morning program on WTCM NewsTalk 580-Traverse City, MI for 32 years. 
Over the course of his 43-year career in broadcasting Ron has conducted over 10,000 interviews including top political leaders, bestselling authors and local community leaders across Northern Michigan.  

His program was named Best Morning Show by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters several times.

Prior to his talk radio career, Ron won numerous state and national awards as a radio newscaster, and anchored morning newscasts on WGTU-TV 29&8 in Traverse City.

He authored the Northern Michigan Almanac (University of Michigan Press, 2005), and co-authored Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Almanac  (University of Michigan Press, 2010). 

As a high school student, Ron worked as a Congressional Page on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

He has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Michigan and the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative and as a host for several exchange students.

He and his wife Laura (and dog Wrigley) make their home in Acme, Michigan where they enjoy hiking, skiing, reading and exploring beautiful Northern Michigan.