Jake Aldridge, ’20, grew up an avid snowboarder and member of the snowboarding community, but when it came time for a career, he thought he’d have to give up that lifestyle. UMD helped him find a balance.

Aldridge presents a new snowboard binding design to retailers in Denver, Colorado. Submitted photo.

Aldridge searched for schools that combined snowboard culture with a high-value education. He found that in Duluth. While juggling the demands of an engineering degree, he explored the region with friends and through UMD’s Recreational Sports and Outdoor Program (RSOP), where he also worked as a rock-climbing guide. This work complemented his classes and helped him hone technical and interpersonal skills. His mentors there also showed him that there were more nontraditional employment opportunities available to him after graduation. “It opened my eyes,” he said. “You can live a passionate lifestyle … and still have a career at the same time.”

After graduation, Aldridge worked as a product manager for Ravin Crossbows. “ Going to UMD really sparked my interest in surfing as well as the continuation of snowboarding,” he says. “I want to live somewhere that allows me to do all of these things that I now love.”

Luckily, he found both: chasing surf and slopeside powder while working as a mechanical design engineer in Seattle, Washington, where he designs snowboard bindings for K2. From annual design updates to new features and products, he’s applying both his expertise as a mechanical engineer and his background as a snowboarder to excel in his role.

“I had the greatest experience at UMD,” he says. “UMD gave me that ability to explore.”

Header images: Aldridge climbs with RSOP at a crag known as “Section 13” in Little Marais, Minnesota.