Gold medalist Mark McMorris of Canada poses after competing in the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle on day three of the X Games Aspen 2026 at Buttermilk Ski Resort on January 25, 2026 in Aspen, Colorado.
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X Games Aspen 2026 is in the books, marking the last standalone X Games competition before X Games League launches later this year.
Over 18 competitions, including the highly anticipated return of snowmobile freestyle, viewers saw longtime heavyweights continue to dominate and fresh-faced rookies emerge as the future stars of action sports.
In the former category, who is more dominant than Mark McMorris?
Now 32, the Canadian is the proud owner of 25 X Games medals, including 14 gold total and eight in the slopestyle discipline. Not only does that bolster his lead among any athlete in Winter X Games competition, but he has now moved into third place in overall medal count, behind only Bob Burnquist (30) and Nyjah Huston (26).
“I dreamt of being in the X Games as a kid but never in my wildest dreams could I have dreamt I would be the winningest athlete in the X Games,” McMorris said on the broadcast. “I didn’t know if I would get another one of these, so this eighth gold means the most. The color of this medal is nice but I’m just thankful I rode to the best of my ability today—that’s always my goal.”
That ability was on full display as, in deteriorating storm conditions, McMorris decided to add a new trick he’d just learned, a frontside triple cork 1800, to his third run. It was a high risk that ultimately carried a high reward.
Ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, McMorris has put the rest of the slopestyle world on notice with his new run, including Norway’s Markus Kleveland and American Red Gerard, who came in second and third, respectively, at X Games Aspen.
Other veterans who continued their winning ways at X Games Aspen included halfpipe snowboarder Scotty James, who won his eighth X Games gold medal and 11th overall SuperPipe medal.
Gold medalist Scotty James of Australia poses during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe on day two of the X Games Aspen 2026 at Buttermilk Ski Resort on January 24, 2026 in Aspen, Colorado.
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The Aussie now ties Shaun White and Chloe Kim for the most X Games gold medals in skiing or snowboarding. Like McMorris, James was also as proud of his progressive riding as he was the shade of his medal; he landed the first-ever back-to-back backside 1440s.
Speaking of progression, on the women’s snowboarding side, five-time X Games gold medalist Kocomo Murase of Japan landed the first backside triple cork 1620 in women’s competition.
“Three years ago I couldn’t put it down so this time, I’m just really stoked to pull it off,” Murase said.
But the young guns also had a weekend to remember, claiming podium spots left and right.
X Games rookie Indra Brown of Australia became the youngest woman to ever medal in Ski SuperPipe at 15 years, 11 months when she took silver.
Over on the slopestyle course, X Games rookie Naomi Urness of Canada, who was the first to drop in, remained on top to take her first X Games gold.
Gold medalist Jessica Perlmutter of the United States poses during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck on day three of the X Games Aspen 2026 at Buttermilk Ski Resort on January 25, 2026 in Aspen, Colorado.
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In snowboard Knuckle Huck, another X Games rookie, Jessica Perlmutter, won her first X Games gold medal, ending Murase’s quest for a three-peat.
Finally, viewers were thrilled to see snowmobile freestyle return to X Games Aspen for the first time since 2020. Three-time X Games gold medalist Brett Turcotte and defending 2020 champion Cody Matechuk, both of Canada, battled it out for the win. Ultimately, Turcotte held on to the lead after a dominant first run.
Next up for X Games is the debut of X Games League. The inaugural XGL Summer season begins in 2026 with three stops, followed by the first Winter season in 2027 with three stops.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellebruton/2026/01/26/x-games-aspen-2026-mark-mcmorris-dominant-snowmobiles-return/
