U.S. Olympian Nick Goepper Shares His Top Sleep Tips

Nick Goepper has a lot to be proud of in his career. He won three U.S. Olympic medals in slopestyle, and after retiring from the sport in January 2023 switched to halfpipe skiing with the hopes of winning another Olympic medal. 

Since embarking on this new journey, Nick has won gold medals at the 2025 X Games Aspen and December 2024 FIS World Cup and a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships. 

Goepper understands that sleep is a key part of athletic success—and he therefore prioritizes rest, whether he’s at home training or traveling for competition. 

“Sleep is paramount to athletic performance,” he says. “I cite it above all else for recovery. It can be the difference between winning the day and not.” 

Ahead, we chatted with Goepper about how he winds down at night, what his bedroom setup looks like, and what he does to sleep better on the road.   

Nick Goepper’s top sleep tips

1. Establish a consistent nighttime routine

Incorporating a few relaxing activities into your wind-down regimen can help you fall (and stay) asleep. So, how does Goepper get ready for bed? 

“My nighttime routine looks like this: clean the kitchen (I love a clean kitchen for the next morning), take a shower, meditate and stretch for 20 minutes on the floor, then read for five to 10 minutes and doze off,” he says. 

2. Choose the right mattress

The right mattress, one that supports your specific needs, can help you get better sleep. “My girlfriend and I share a king mattress,” says Goepper, adding that they have the Saatva Classic in Firm. 

“I sleep like a starfish, so we need the room,” he says. Additionally, Goepper says they have blackout shades on the window to ensure the total darkness ideal for uninterrupted sleep.  

“My nighttime routine looks like this: clean the kitchen (I love a clean kitchen for the next morning), take a shower, meditate and stretch for 20 minutes on the floor, then read for five to 10 minutes and doze off.” – Nick Goepper 

3. Get ahead of jet lag

Goepper shares his biggest sleep-related issue while traveling is jet lag. “You have to immediately adjust to the time zone you are traveling to,” he says. 

While there are many jet lag hacks out there, Goepper says what’s worked best for him is actually very simple: “Just stay up until the sun goes down and get up when the sun gets up and you will be OK.”  

4. Prioritize comfort while traveling

To ensure a more comfortable sleep environment while traveling, Goepper has a few tips. He usually stays in apartments rather than hotels and will look for extra pillows, light candles, and move or hide decorations to create a relaxing environment. 

“I even move furniture around sometimes,” he says. “I like a nice open space to stretch in the living room, so I am anti-coffee table. If there is a coffee table in the living room you can be sure I will move it to the balcony outside for the duration of my stay.” 

Next, learn about how Saatva is supporting Team USA’s sleep and restoration.