AJ Muss — Athlete, Survivor, Racer

Aaron “AJ” Muss (born December 15, 1994) is an American professional athlete known for his extraordinary journey from elite snowboarding to professional motorsports. Born in New Jersey and raised with a passion for snowboarding, AJ began riding at a very young age and went on to compete internationally in the FIS Snowboard World Championships before earning a spot on Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where he raced in the parallel giant slalom event.

AJ’s path hasn’t been without adversity. In 2014, what was intended to be routine shoulder surgery led to severe complications — a postoperative pulmonary edema that caused his lungs to fill with fluid and his heart to stop, leaving him clinically dead for nearly 30 seconds. He was placed in a medically induced coma and, upon awakening, had to relearn basic functions including walking, speaking, and cognitive skills. Despite predictions that his athletic career was over, AJ made a remarkable recovery and returned to elite competition.

After achieving significant success in snowboarding — including national titles and World Cup podiums — AJ transitioned to motorsports. He began racing professionally in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, driving for Bryan Herta Autosport in the Hyundai TCR class and later advancing into high-performance sports car racing.

Beyond snowboarding and racing, AJ is an avid skydiver with hundreds of jumps and wingsuit flights, reflecting his ongoing love of adrenaline and pushing limits. His story is widely recognized as a testament to human resilience, determination, and the power of perseverance.

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