BREAKING

InterviewsSportsX Games Aspen

From Underdog to Slopestyle Gold, Skier Luca Harrington Dishes on Monumental Weekend at X Games Aspen 2025 (Exclusive)

At just 20 years old, New Zealand’s Luca Harrington arrived at X Games Aspen 2025 as an alternate, uncertain if he’d even get a chance to compete. Less than 24 hours later, he stood atop the podium, clutching his first-ever X Games gold medal in Men’s Ski Slopestyle, proving that sometimes, the best stories are the ones no one sees coming.

Friday afternoon’s contest was nothing short of electric, with nine competitions unfolding under challenging flat light conditions at Buttermilk Mountain. Among the standout storylines was the rise of two rookies — Harrington and USA’s Konnor Ralph — who shocked the field by knocking out heavy hitters like Alex Hall and Colby Stevenson before the final.

For Harrington, the moment was surreal. He had been training all week, unsure if he’d even get to drop in. Then, after Big Air practice the night before, he got the call that he was in.

“I had a little bit of a hard time getting to sleep last night because of all the excitement, so yeah, today has been absolutely incredible,” Harrington told Celeb Secrets after his win. “I did not expect it to turn out the way it did, but I’m so grateful that it did and I’m really happy with the results.”

Luca Harrington during Mens Ski Slopestyle Final at 2025 X Games Aspen at Buttermilk in Aspen, CO. ©Trevor Brown, Jr./X Games

With a fresh mindset and nothing to lose, Harrington dominated the Slopestyle course, showing off a well-rounded run that blended technical rail work with massive airs. His creativity and execution earned him a 92.33, enough to secure gold and cement his place in X Games history.

“I wanted to pull out my best tricks. I had a couple in mind that I knew I wanted to do, and I wanted to really show my best work. I feel like I did that pretty well today, and I’m super happy,” Harrington reflected.

Swiss star Andri Ragettli, rocking a signature electric pink jacket, claimed silver, while Team USA’s Mac Forehand took bronze, high-fiving fans at the bottom of the course. Meanwhile, Ralph narrowly missed the podium in fourth, despite landing a triple cork 1800—another testament to the night’s next-level progression.

Luca Harrington during Mens Ski Slopestyle Final at 2025 X Games Aspen at Buttermilk in Aspen, CO. ©Trevor Brown, Jr./X Games

Harrington’s weekend wasn’t over yet. He took to the course once again for the Pacifico Men’s Ski Big Air competition on Saturday (January 25), where he soared to a silver medal finish with an incredible score of 97.00.

The competition was historic, as Italy’s Miro Tabanelli became the first skier ever to land a 2340, securing gold and writing a new chapter in the sport’s progression.

“The vibe of X Games is unreal, the conditions were crazy, the final was the craziest final I’ve ever experienced — just savage,” Tabanelli said.

Harrington’s second-place finish further solidified his breakout performance at X Games Aspen 2025. His combination of consistency, technical skill, and big-stage composure showcased his potential as a rising star in freestyle skiing.

Luca Harrington during Mens Ski Big Air Final at 2025 X Games Aspen at Buttermilk in Aspen, CO. ©Mark Kohlman/X Games

With the season far from over, the young Kiwi isn’t slowing down anytime soon. “Well, I actually have Big Air tomorrow night, so we’ll see how we do on that,” he said before the event, already eyeing his next challenge.

Harrington’s breakout moment at X Games Aspen 2025 is more than just a Cinderella story. It’s a sign of the new wave of skiers pushing the boundaries of the sport. And if this weekend was any indication, his name is one we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the future.

You can re-live Luca Harrington’s gold medal finish in Men’s Ski Slopstyle by watching the full competition below.

For more coverage from X Games Aspen 2025, click here

Author

  • Juliet Schroder

    Juliet is the founder and executive producer/host of Celeb Secrets and Celeb Secrets Country. When not reporting on the latest news in pop culture and country music, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, watching sports and exploring the latest fashion trends. Juliet holds a B.S. in marketing from St. John's University.

    View all posts
Juliet is the founder and executive producer/host of Celeb Secrets and Celeb Secrets Country. When not reporting on the latest news in pop culture and country music, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, watching sports and…

Related Posts

Ad Blocker Detected!

(function() {function signalGooglefcPresent() {if (!window.frames['googlefcPresent']) {if (document.body) {const iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style = 'width: 0; height: 0; border: none; z-index: -1000; left: -1000px; top: -1000px;'; iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.name = 'googlefcPresent'; document.body(iframe);} else {setTimeout(signalGooglefcPresent, 0);}}}signalGooglefcPresent();})();

Refresh