The Financial Reality of Pro Snowboarding and How to Escape It w/ Stevie Bell

Every athlete knows the music will eventually stop. Whether you walk away on your terms, are forced out by injury, or have a contract that doesn't get renewed, your career will inevitably end.

In leagues like the NFL, NBA, or MLB, that ending can still leave you financially set. You might walk away with generational money.

In action sports, that's rarely the case. A pro snowboarder can start earning real money in their teens. They can travel the world, land major sponsors, build a name, and live what looks like a dream career. But very few retire with enough money to last a lifetime.

The earning window is short, the contracts are volatile, and the industry replaces you faster than you expect.

What should athletes be doing during their earning years to avoid starting over financially at 30?

Stevie Bell's snowboarding career is nothing short of meteoric. Starting from riding the bus two hours a day to Brighton as a laser-focused teenager, then landing a breakout video part just two years into riding, he went from unknown kid to signing a life-changing contract with one of the most iconic brands in snowboarding.

From managing fear on handrails that could end a career, to navigating brand politics when Forum was shut down, to walking away from the sport and rebuilding his identity after the checks stopped coming. His story is a masterclass in how quickly momentum can build and how quickly it can disappear.

Stevie shares his career arc with me. We talk about how quickly money can scale, how quickly it can disappear, why most riders walk away with nothing, and how financial literacy becomes a competitive advantage when the career clock is ticking.

Things You'll Learn In This Episode

The moment every career ends, and why most people aren't ready- Whether it's injury, burnout, or a contract that isn't renewed, the music eventually stops. How do you prepare financially and psychologically for an ending you can't control?

Fear as a strategic advantage- Top riders don't eliminate fear; they manage it. What does calculated risk look like when the downside is career-ending, and how does that translate to business and investing?

The evolution of the industry- With airbags, Olympic pipelines, social media, and corporate sponsors, snowboarding has gone mainstream. Does more visibility actually mean more sustainable opportunity?

Win or build: the new income model- If salary-based sponsorship is shrinking, and only a few athletes win consistently, how should modern athletes think about brand, leverage, and long-term income beyond competition?

Guest Bio

Stevie Bell is a former professional snowboarder and industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in action sports. He built a 14-year professional career after breaking onto the scene with a breakout video part just two years into snowboarding, eventually signing with Forum, one of the most iconic brands in the sport's history. During his tenure with Forum, Stevie traveled internationally filming video projects, participating in global tours, and contributing to one of the most influential eras in snowboard media. His career spanned major brand partnerships, long-term sponsorship contracts, and firsthand exposure to the evolving economics of action sports, from athlete compensation structures to the impact of corporate acquisitions and industry consolidation. After stepping away from professional competition, Stevie transitioned into entrepreneurship and content creation. He is currently the host of the Forum Chronicles podcast, where he documents the 20-year history of Forum and interviews key figures who shaped the brand and broader snowboard culture. To learn more or find out about the podcast, follow @steviebell801.

About Your Host

From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America's #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is the founder of The Money School™ and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier.

His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works.

Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans, delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.

Resources

Private Money Guide: https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/book-podcast

Wealth Wednesday Webinar: https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/wednesday-webinar-podcast

Mapping out the Millionaire Mystery: https://go.moneyschoolrei.com/newbook-podcast