Over 100 elite skiers and snowboarders from around the globe are set to hit the slopes and compete in X Games Aspen 2025 on Buttermilk Mountain in scenic Aspen, Colorado. Several American athletes making an appearance also have their eyes set on making Team USA for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
From superstars and longtime veterans of U.S. Ski & Snowboard to rising talent and newcomers, below is a breakdown of some things to keep an eye on as competition gets underway on Jan. 23.
SKIERS
A trove of veteran Olympians and high-flying skiers will showcase to the world that the U.S. men’s freeski team will be medal contenders in every discipline at X Games Aspen 2025 and beyond. Leading the way appears to be Alex Hall, the 6-foot-4 skier who took home slopestyle gold during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Born in Alaska, and raised in Zurich, Hall is the only skier to earn gold in four different disciplines over his X Games tenure – slopestyle, big air, knuckle huck and real ski. The latter two are not contested at the Olympic level. On the slope, he is known for his risk-taking and high-velocity rotations. Once known to be a quiet guy off the slope, he now has also become a leader in discussions regarding equal prize payouts at FIS Ski events.
Three-time Olympic medalist and U.S. Ski and Snowboard veteran David Wise is also returning this year to chase his ninth career X Games medal. Known for his unique style and laser-like focus, the Nevada native is one of the oldest skiers who will compete at X Games (34 years old). For reference, Wise won his first Olympic medal, gold, at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games when the youngest X Games invitee, LJ Henriquez, was only 5 years old.
Another Beijing Olympic medalist, Colby Stevenson, is looking for his sixth career X Games medal this week. Stevenson, known for his all-around proficiency, captured silver in the men’s big air competition in Beijing, posting a 91.75 in his second run. Norway’s Birk Ruud, who took home gold, will also compete this year at X Games 2025.
Additionally, fans should keep an eye on a pair of hometown kids. Alex Ferreira, who made waves after having a perfect 2024 season (seven competitions, seven wins) is looking to prove he belongs at the top of the podium here and in 2026. The Aspen native is also known for his “Hotdog Hans” video series, where he dons prosthetics and portrays a cantankerous old skier. The other is Colorado’s own Birk Irving. The grandson of prized author and Academy Award winner John Irving (The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules) shows that creativity runs in the family. Irving’s sister, Svea, is also competing this year in the Women’s Ski Superpipe.
Meanwhile, the women’s side appears to be full of newcomers and rising stars looking to make a statement. Leading the way is 20-year-old Aspen native Hanna Faulhaber. Once known to be one of the youngest skiers on tour, the 2022 Olympian is now trying to prove she belongs on the podium again. After earning bronze in her rookie debut in 2023, she missed X Games 2024 due to an injury.
Faulhaber will face some stiff competition at X Games 2025, including Eileen Gu, who has represented China at the international level since 2019. Gu is a three-time Olympic medalist, including two golds in 2022, and a four-time X Games medalist.
Behind Faulhaber are several rising skiers set to either make their X Games debut or return for their sophomore season. The first notable name is Bella Bacon. The East Coast native who trains in Utah continues to show her love of skiing and competitions by skiing through the pain. She has battled enduring MALS and Long Covid, which has produced POTS-like symptoms while competing. However, after taking some time to recover, she is ready to prove she belongs among the elite slopestylers and big air skiers.
Another name to watch is Ella Andrews. The Vermont native competed at the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games and was recently named to the U.S. Freeski team for the first time in her career this year.
Snowboarders #
While the list of women’s skiers representing the U.S. is full of newcomers hoping to showcase their skills on the international stage, the list of women’s snowboarders is full of global superstars and veterans looking to continue their dominance.
Seven-time X Games gold medalist Chloe Kim is expected to be the favorite in the Superpipe event once again. The California native has set new heights for women’s snowboarding, becoming the first-ever back-to-back Olympic gold medalist in women’s halfpipe. She is also the first woman to win gold at the X Games, the world championships, the Olympics and the Youth Olympics. X Games 2025 will be the 11th time she has competed at the X Games.
However, her competition for gold will be closer than ever, with two-time X-Games silver medalist Maddie Mastro planning to unleash a few unique tricks during the event. Known for her “go big or go home” style of snowboarding, Mastro landed the first-ever frontside double cork 1080 in a women’s competition earlier this month and is looking to do it again in Aspen. If she lands the trick, she could take home the top prize. Both Mastro and Kim are looking to make Team USA for their third consecutive Olympic Winter Games.
In slopestyle, Beijing 2022 silver medalist Julia “Jules” Marino leads the way. The New York native who switched from skiing to snowboarding full time at age 14 has won the FIS Crytal Globe, the award for the top overall points leader after the season, two times and owns seven X Games medals. She won X Games slopestyle gold in 2017 as a rookie and is eyeing a second one in 2025.
On the men’s side, all eyes will be on Silverthorne, Colorado’s Red Gerard. After eight frustrating attempts to earn X Games gold, the 24-year-old and PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games gold medalist finally achieved the feat in slopestyle in 2024. Now, he wants to do it again. Additionally, Gerard will be looking to make his third consecutive Olympic team for Milan-Cortina 2026. He narrowly missed the podium in Beijing, placing fourth. Canada’s Mark McMorris, the Beijing 2022 bronze medalist likely is Gerard’s top competition once again.
