Zeb Powell is back on top!
After blowing minds with insane steez that earned him a gold medal finish during Men’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck four years ago, the 24-year-old snowboarder officially earned his spot back on the podium thanks to a silver medal finish in Thayer’s Men’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck during X Games Aspen 2024 in Aspen, CO on Friday (January 26).
Coming in with his biggest bag of tricks complete with stylish flips, hand drags, taps and beyond, Powell was beyond excited with his results as he took what he calls a “really hard slam” the first day at practice earlier in the week.
“I’m so excited [to be back on the podium]. I had a really hard slam the first day back practicing this week… it was find off like my hardest slam ever and it shook me. So to get back on my feet and just go do my thing was amazing,” Zeb tells Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder at the base of Buttermilk Mountain moments after the contest. “Just seeing the crowd and all the love is honestly what keeps me going.”
X Games Aspen 2024 Day 1 Recap – January 26, 2024
Rounding out the podium was X Games rookie Liam Brearly (CAN), who earned himself two gold medals in a row after a huge Slopestyle win at last week’s Laax Open in Switzerland and Canada’s Darcy Sharpe who ended with a bronze medal finish.
“[X Games] always feels like Hollywood. There are so many cameras and just so much hype. I feel like I’m used to it now, but then rolling through the crowd today and hearing the energy was insane. It’s my favorite part,” he adds.
Although contest season is in full swing, Zeb is taking his talents to Japan to ride some fresh powder in the back country. A trip that was supposed to happen around the same time last year, the 24-year-old took the initiative to make sure he rides in the bucket list location and he cannot wait to take it all in.
But aside from taking some time to do what he really loves, the Red Bull athlete hopes his integral role in the progression of men’s snowboarding inspires others to hop on a board and join in on the fun.
“I keep seeing people do doubles off the knuckles, so maybe I need to do more doubles, you know?” Zeb says of his goals this season. “I think that my real goal is just to keep doing me, keep building hype and keep getting people stoked to snowboard. That’s what I love to do.”
Celeb Secrets caught up with Zeb moments after winning the competition, where he talked about his silver medal finish, the progression of Snowboard Knuckle Huck and his plans for the rest of the season. Check out the full interview below and let us know if you’re hyped for the skier’s big finish by leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post.
For more coverage from X Games Aspen 2024, click here.
