Following the launch of the Real Loser Project earlier this year, Olympic halfpipe skier Hunter Hess has donated a whopping $30,000 to non-profit organization, STOKED. Hess created the project in May 2026 and sold t-shirts and hats emblazoned with the slogan “Real Loser” in order to raise money for STOKED, which gives underserved youth access to and mentorship in action sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing.
Hess presented the check to STOKED on August 12, 2026, just two and a half months after he launched the project. Within days of the Real Loser project going live, Hess had raised more than $45,000 and, for the second time this year, made headlines across mainstream media.
The project was originally inspired by Hess’ experience at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games, after he spoke in a press conference about representing the United States and attracted the ire of President Trump. Hess, who hails from Bend, Oregon, has been competing in halfpipe since he was a teenager at events like X Games, on the FIS World Cup Circuit, and more recently at the Snow League. The 2026 Milan Cortina Games marked his first Olympics with Team USA.
Hess’ answer to a routine question in the conference prompted a tweet from the President calling the skier a “real loser.” Following the exchange, Hess and his family began to receive death threats and an onslaught of unwanted media attention as he tried to focus on landing an Olympic halfpipe run. Following his first qualifying run, Hess flashed an L across his forehead towards the cameras, in a moment that went viral. Although he qualified in 5th place, Hess wound up crashing during his final two runs at the Games and came in 10th place.
Following the Olympics, Hess spent the long flight home from Italy thinking about how to turn what had become an ordeal into something good. That’s when he got the idea for the Real Loser Project. After chatting with STOKED founders, Steve Larosiliere and Selema Masekela, Hess knew that it was the perfect cause to raise money for. STOKED will celebrate their 21st anniversary later this month.
