Meet the artist behind the coolest skeleton helmets in PyeongChang

Josh Martin

Yun Sung-bin, Akwasi Frimpong, Kevin Boyer, Elisabeth Vathje, Rhys Thornbury and Alexander Henning Hanssen hail from five different countries, and only one of them (Yun) medaled in skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. But all of these sliding daredevils have one thing in common, and his name is Jordan Bourgeault.

Bourgeault — “JBo” for short — is the Calgary, Alberta-based artist who airbrushed some of the most eye-popping helmets in South Korea. He’s responsible for the infamous “Ironman” dome that Yun wore en route to Olympic gold for the host country…

South Korea’s Yun Sung-bin forges forward during the Men’s Skeleton heats at Olympic Sliding Centre on February 16, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Getty)
South Korea’s Yun Sung-bin forges forward during the Men’s Skeleton heats at Olympic Sliding Centre on February 16, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Getty)

…and the wildlife look that Frimpong, the first-ever Ghanaian to qualify for Olympic skeleton racing, rocked to a last-place finish…

Ghana’s Akwasi Frimpong slides long in men’s skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. (Getty)
Ghana’s Akwasi Frimpong slides long in men’s skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. (Getty)

…and this uber-Canadian flannel-and-moose look that Vathje, who came in ninth on the women’s side, donned…

Canada’s Elisabeth Vathje pumps her fist after finishing the women’s skeleton event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. (Getty)
Canada’s Elisabeth Vathje pumps her fist after finishing the women’s skeleton event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. (Getty)

…and this ode to Edmonton, Alberta, for Canada’s Kevin Boyer…

Canada’s Kevin Boyer during previews ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 7, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Getty)
Canada’s Kevin Boyer during previews ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 7, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Getty)

…and this regal design for Norway’s Alexander Henning Hanssen…

Norway’s Alexander Henning Hanssen in the men’s skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. (Getty)
Norway’s Alexander Henning Hanssen in the men’s skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. (Getty)

…and Rhys “Wild” Thornbury’s more staid representation of the New Zealand flag.

New Zealand’s Rhys Thornbury dives into men’s skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
New Zealand’s Rhys Thornbury dives into men’s skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

According to CTV Calgary News’ Glenn Campbell, JBo spent about two weeks on each of those helmets. Considering all the global airtime his work has gotten, that was time well spent.

“They really seem to like it,” Bourgeault said. “They talk about the artwork a lot and took some stellar shots. They would even do some close-up ones and I could see my little ‘JBo Airbrush’ insignia on the back. It was very cool to see on TV.”

All that exposure should be good for JBo’s burgeoning airbrush business. Aside from skeleton helmets, he’s decorated everything from guitars and cars to motorcycles and live human bodies. Fans of his work can wear it on their feet with custom painted Vans, starting at $180 for a pair of Captain Kirk Star Trek kicks on Etsy.

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