150 TOP SKI, SNOWBOARD AND SNOWMOBILE ATHLETES TO COMPETE AT X GAMES ASPEN 2026
A historic weekend of medal hunts, record-breaking tricks, and the long-awaited return of snowmobiles is set to electrify Buttermilk once again.
X Games has officially announced a powerhouse field of 150 invited athletes, featuring the world’s best in snowboarding, freeskiing, and snowmobiling. From January 23–25, Aspen will host three action-packed days of elite competition, live music, fan experiences, and nonstop festival energy.
THE RETURN OF SNOWMOBILES IGNITES THE COMPETITION
After a five-year hiatus, snowmobiles are roaring back with Freestyle and Speed & Style, bringing legendary names to the start list.
- Brett Turcotte – Eight-time medalist and known for his iconic California Roll – returns to reclaim dominance.
- Brandon Cormier – The 2020 rookie who shocked fans with Freestyle gold – is back with his fearless style.
- Willie Elam – Two-time bronze medalist – aims to capture his first career X Games gold across both disciplines.
The return of snowmobiles promises massive airtime, high-risk tricks, and the biggest motorsports energy Aspen has seen in years.
SNOWBOARDING: RISING STARS, WORLD RECORDS & GOLD CHASERS
X Games Aspen 2026 snowboarding is set to break barriers yet again—especially after last year’s unprecedented progression.
Men’s Big Air: A New Era of Progression
X Games 2025 saw four athletes land 2160s—something never done before. Then rookie Hiroto Ogiwara stunned the world by landing the first-ever 2340 in competition, taking gold and earning a Guinness World Record.
Returning contenders include:
- Hiroto Ogiwara – The new benchmark for progression.
- Taiga Hasegawa – First to land a Cab 2160 in competition.
- Yiming Su – Landed the first quadruple cork 1980 in competition.
- Rene Rinnekangas – First to land a backside 1980 in Slopestyle.
Pipe and Slopestyle Legends Return
- Scotty James chases a fifth straight SuperPipe gold, inching closer to Shaun White’s legendary streak.
- Red Gerard targets a Slopestyle three-peat, while
- Mark McMorris—holder of a record 24 X Games medals—debuts his new backside 1980, signaling he’s ready for the next generation.
Women’s Snowboard Set for Iconic Moments
It’s a stacked field with heavy hitters:
- Kokomo Murase – Recently landed the first women’s backside triple cork 1620 in practice.
- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott – Dominant in Big Air and Slopestyle after her historic back-to-back double cork runs.
- Mia Brookes – Rising star competing in three disciplines.
- Anna Gasser – Holder of four Big Air golds, aiming for a record-breaking fifth.
FREESKI: UNSTOPPABLE HEAVY HITTERS & HIGHLY ANTICIPATED COMEBACKS
Men’s SuperPipe: The Event to Watch
The battle for the pipe podium will be fierce:
- Nick Goepper returns hunting his second SuperPipe gold.
- Alex Ferreira, Aspen local, looks to break the tie for most SuperPipe medals.
- Gus Kenworthy makes his long-awaited return after four years, aiming for his first SuperPipe gold.
Women’s Freeski: Triple Threats and Medal Machines
- Eileen Gu, already a three-time X Games gold medalist, may compete in three disciplines again—Slopestyle, Big Air, and Knuckle Huck.
- Mathilde Gremaud brings nine medals and unmatched consistency.
- Megan Oldham—the first woman to land a triple cork in competition—returns to chase her first medal since 2023.
Men’s Slopestyle & Big Air: A New Generation Rises
- Luca Harrington, last year’s breakout rookie, aims to expand his growing medal collection.
- Alex Hall, known for medaling in three events in one X Games, is ready to do it again in 2026.
HOW TO ATTEND OR WATCH X GAMES ASPEN 2026
- New for 2026: All daytime events are free and open to the public.
- Watch live on ESPN, ABC, and globally on YouTube.
Visit xgames.com for full athlete rosters and ticket information.
Rosters subject to change.