Day Two | X Games Aspen 2024

Monster Energy Athletes Win Five Gold Medals on Day 2 of X Games Aspen 2024 

The biggest day of competitions at X Games Aspen 2024 is in the books! Monster Energy stormed podiums and took victories in key events. 

When all was said and done, Monster Energy riders claimed a total of nine medals (5 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze) on Saturday at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen Snowmass, Colorado.

Day 2 of the 23rd edition of Winter X Games in Aspen brought two brand-new contest events with Women’s Knuckle Huck contested in ski and snowboard – and Monster riders won them both!

Here’s how it all went down for the team at X Games Aspen 2024 on Saturday:

SAMSUNG GALAXY MEN’S SKI SLOPESTYLE: BIRK RUUD FINALLY CLAIMS FIRST-EVER SLOPESTYLE GOLD

THE ELUSIVE SLOPE MEDAL: As the owner of five Big Air medals, 23-year-old Birk Ruud from Oslo, Norway, came to Aspen 2024 on a mission to finally get a medal in Slopestyle. Especially since he’s the reigning FIS Men’s Ski Slopestyle World Champion. But as history has proven, getting gold in the discipline at X Games is an elusive feat – and almost every year brings a different winner.

Putting his technical rail skills and signature air control on full display, Ruud put down leftside front 360 switch-up, continuing 270, switch rightside 270 continuing 450, switch leftside 270 back swap to forward, right backside 270 switch-up to forward in the rails. In the jump section, he boosted a right double cork 1620 safety grab, switch leftside double cork 1620, and left double cork bio 1800 mute grab for 96.33 points and the win.

“I’m feeling amazing now. After doing Big Air last night, I was so tired and kind of beaten up, and I was very down. It’s the first time I kind of felt like I just failed myself for two years. But to be back here and getting the redemption and putting down one of the best slopestyle runs I've ever done just feels truly amazing. I’m very, very happy,” said Ruud.

Ruud now owns 6 X Games Medals (3 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze).

A-HALL CLAIMS SILVER: Another rider hungry for a medal at Aspen 2024 was 25-year-old Alex Hall from Park City, Utah. Last year, the Olympic gold medalist left Aspen empty-handed without a single medal. Plenty of fuel for his competitive fire, to say the least.

After already claiming silver in Friday’s Big Air final, Hall hit the Slopestyle course with confidence and next-level tricks. The stars aligned on Run 3 when Hall put down a perfect routine of blindside switch-up transfer front-swap to switch, switch rightside 270 continuing 270 nose tap, leftside 270 frontside switch pretzel 270, and a technical switch leftside 270 backside switch pretzel 270. In the jumps, A-Hall landed leftside alley-oop double cork 1260 lead Japan grab, switch leftside double cork 1440, switch rightside double cork 1260 pullback to 1080 safety grab for 96.00 points and the silver medal. 

Hall now owns 11 X Games medals (5 Gold, 3 Silver, 3 Bronze).

THAYER WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD KNUCKLE HUCK: KOKOMO MURASE TAKES GOLD IN FIRST-EVER WOMEN’S COMPETITION

FEMALE RIDERS GET TIME TO SHINE: In the bigger picture, Saturday at X Games proved a historic day for women’s snow action sports. That’s because for the first time, the creative Knuckle Huck contest on the landing zone of the Big Air jump was showcased in dedicated women’s divisions. Quick reminder: At Aspen 2021, 21-time X Games medalist Jamie Anderson competed as the first woman when Snowboard Knuckle Huck was still in all-boy’s club. Times sure have changed…

MURASE CLINCHES WIN ON FINAL TRICK: As the 20-minute jam session heated up, the main duel focused on 19-year-old Kokomo Murase from Gifu, Japan, versus 21-year-old Annika Morgan from Germany. Morgan kept the top spot on lock until Murase boosted a face-melting trick on her final run: A backside Miller Flip 540 hand drag propelled Murase into first place. She also posted a floaty backside 360, method air past the blue line of the landing zone, frontside 360, and massive backside 180 melon, soaring into the depth of the landing for the gold medal.

“The first time for Knuckle Huck, and I’m so happy that I did my best!” said Murase upon winning gold in the inaugural Women’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck.

MORGAN GETS FIRST X GAMES MEDAL: Known for her skateboard-inspired tricks and technical style, Morgan is no stranger to podiums at big events. But she had yet to bring home precious metal from X Games. Voila! Sending moves like backside cork 360, frontside 360, backside 180 no grab, backside 360 Miller Flip, and a stylish switch zero spin over the knuckle earned the German Olympic athlete silver as her first X Games medal. Congrats to all riders for making this first-ever women’s event a true spectacle!

THAYER WOMEN’S SKI KNUCKLE HUCK: OLIVIA ASSELIN COOKS UP PERFECT RECIPE FOR GOLD MEDAL

CREATIVE SHOWCASE FOR FREESKI WOMEN: Next on the agenda, freeski women finally got their own forum for creative knuckle tricks. Certified X Games gold medalists and Olympic champions proceeded to send their best tricks, and Monster Energy clinched another victory!

ASSELIN GETS FIRST GOLD: The leaderboard became a game of musical chairs, and the top seat changed by the minute. At least until 19-year-old Olivia Asselin from Quebec City, Canada, put down a show-stopper: A flat spinning right 540 off the knuckle on Run 4 bumped Asselin into gold medal position. She also impressed the judges by landing a versatile selection of tricks, including hand drag 540, nose drag 360, and a switch zero spin air on her last attempt. In other words, the kind of creative formula for which Knuckle Huck was created.

“I was a bit confused because it was such a new thing, the first women’s Knuckle Huck. So, it was a bit overwhelming. But I think it’s awesome that there are more creative events for women, and it was amazing to experience it,” said Asselin upon winning the first-ever Women’s Ski Knuckle Huck contested at X Games.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER FOR HOEFFLIN: Dropping in as the oldest rider in the field, 33-year-old Sarah Hoefflin from Geneva, Switzerland, still posted some of the freshest tricks! The Olympic gold medalist dug deep into her repertoire of tricks and stoked the crowd (and judges). Standouts such as nose butter 540, 360 safety grab, massive 540 nose butter, and a stylish switch zero spin straight air earned Hoefflin the bronze medal in Knuckle Huck as her fifth X Games medal.

Hoefflin now owns 5 X Games medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).

PACIFICO MEN’S SNOWBOARD BIG AIR: TAIGA HASEGAWA CLAIMS GOLD WITH BOUNDARY-PUSHING TRICKS

NEXT-LEVEL AERIAL TRICKS: As Saturday night on Buttermilk Mountain turned into a party under the floodlights, the Men’s Snowboard Big Air final showcased the sport’s rapid evolution. Riders pushed the boundaries with rotations of 1620, 1800, and 1980 degrees, executed with style and finesse in the most progressive final of all time.

TAIGA ROARS TO VICTORY: Dressed in baggy pants and neon drip, 18-year-old Taiga Hasegawa from Iwakura, Japan, dropped in as the youngest competitor of the night. But as the 2023 FIS World Champion in Big Air, the young gun brought his A-game to Aspen to claim his first-ever X Games medal – and it was gold!

For his Style Trick, Hasegawa posted a contorted switch method air over the gap for 8 points. Switching gears into high-tech mode, the young Japanese sensation followed up by posting back-to-back bangers by way of switch backside 1980 Indy (36 points) and backside 1980 mute grab (43 points) to claim the top spot with 87 points.

On the fifth and final run, Taiga extended his lead by landing a switch backside 1980 melon for 43 points, securing 94.00 points overall, a solid 11.00 points ahead of the next competitor, earning the gold medal.

“I’m so happy. I can’t believe this happened. I’m so happy I came through tonight!” said Hasegawa upon claiming gold in Men’s Snowboard Big Air at X Games Aspen 2024.

Hasegawa now owns 1 gold medal from X Games.

THAYER MEN’S SKI KNUCKLE HUCK: COLBY STEVENSON CLAIMS GOLD AND MAKES HISTORY

BREAKING THE KNUCKLE JINX: In the history of Men’s Ski Knuckle Huck, no rider had ever won the event twice. That’s a thing of the past, as 26-year-old Colby Stevenson from Park City, Utah, rose all the way to the top on Saturday night. Stevenson won Ski Knuckle Huck at X Games Aspen 2020 as a rookie – and he did it again in one of the most epic sessions the sport has ever seen.

Stoking the party crowd in Aspen, Stevenson posted a nose butter and hand drag double 1260, followed by a switch rightside tail butter nose butter to 1080 mute that sent him to the top of the leaderboard. Maintaining his lead, Stevenson posted a switch left tail butter double 1440 and cemented his win by landing a nose butter 1440 for the gold medal.

“Everyone is so good! You just try and do the tricks that you plan and try some new stuff. That was some of the craziest knuckle stuff I’ve ever seen tonight!” said Stevenson upon winning Men’s Ski Knuckle Huck at X Games Aspen 2024.

Stevenson now owns 5 X Games medals (4 gold, 1 bronze).

A LEGEND RETURNS: Talking about the most innovative freeskiers, the conversation ultimately turns to 32-year-old Henrik Harlaut from Stockholm, Sweden. Dropping in as the oldest rider in the field, Harlaut holds the record for most X Games medals in freeski. His unique trick creations are the stuff of legend and won Harlaut the Knuckle Huck gold medal at Aspen 2021. 

With that said, Harlaut can never be counted out when it’s time to get creative over the knuckle. On Saturday night, the crowd favorite put on a stylish showcase by landing stylish moves such as switch tail butter into bio 900, long butter dragging across knuckle double hand grab 360, switch tail butter double 1080, and his signature nose butter double cork 1260 for second place amid fierce competition.

Harlaut’s record for most X Games freeski medals stands at 14 medals (8 gold, 6 silver). 

Again, congrats to the team for bringing home nine medals (5 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze) in a single day at X Games Aspen 2024.