Featured Image: Matt Power | Skier: Indra Brown
That's a wrap on day one of X Games Aspen 2026. In the freeski world, the weekend started off with Women's Knuckle Huck, Women's SuperPipe and Men's Big Air. Clouds gathered early in the day, and by nightfall, the snow was coming down. But with winds staying under control and these skiers hungry to throw down, the show went on!
Below you'll find highlights, recap and podium results for each of the three events that went down on Friday, January 23. Be sure to check out FREESKIER's full X Games Aspen 2026 preview to see which events are on deck for days two and three!
Women's Knuckle Huck
Gray skies loomed overhead as these women prepared to kick off the first freeski event of the weekend. The stacked lineup included Finley Good, Grace Elden, Anni Karava, Jennie Lee Burmansson, Maria Esteban Una, Alais Develay and Marin Hamill. Finland's Anni Karava snagged the bronze medal with a clean 720. The silver medal went to another 1000 Skis rider, Alais Develay, who also stomped a 720 but managed to win over the judges by going larger than Karava. The top spot was claimed by U.S. Freeski Team rider Marin Hamill, who landed a stylish switch right tail butter 720.
PODIUM RESULTS
🥇 Marin Hamill
🥈 Alais Develay
🥉 Anni Karava
Women's SuperPipe
As the sun went down, the storm enveloped the Roaring Fork Valley. But the women here held nothing back and threw DOWN nonetheless. Riders included Svea Irving, Zoe Atkin, Indra Brown, Kelly Sildaru, Hanna Faulhaber, Amy Fraser, Rachael Karker and Cassie Sharpe. The 2025 X Games SuperPipe champ Sharpe was composed as ever and took the bronze with a run that included both a right and left 1080 as well as a styled out switch mute 360. Silver went to the 15-year-old rookie Indra Brown, who looked ready for the bright lights and was just four points away from winning.
Gold was claimed by Zoe Atkin, a dominant force in women's halfpipe skiing. Atkin started her run with a massive boost, coasting 16 feet out of the pipe and showing off her insane bag of tricks. This was one of the best runs we've seen Atkin put down in competition, hands down.
Photo: Matt Power | Skier: Indra Brown
PODIUM RESULTS
🥇 Zoe Atkin
🥈 Indra Brown
🥉 Cassie Sharpe
Men's Big Air
By 7 PM, the snow continued to hammer at Buttermilk. High winds can often delay big air competitions, but the winds remained calm, allowing Elias Syrja, Mac Forehand, Luca Harrington, Hunter Henderson, Konnor Ralph, Ben Barclay, Birk Ruud, Tormod Frostad and Dylan Deschamps to step up to the plate. It was Deschamps who took home the bronze, who locked down a wild quad in his third run. Silver was taken by the Kiwi phenom Luca Harrington. He effortlessly secured a 94 on his second run... in a damn T-shirt. Legend.
But it was Mac Forehand who stole the show and won gold. Forehand was last in the competition going into his second run, but he pulled out a switch triple cork 2160 to get the crowd fired up. Congrats to all on a stellar first day of X Games Aspen 2026!
Photo: Matt Power | Skier: Mac Forehand, Luca Harrington
PODIUM RESULTS
🥇 Mac Forehand
🥈 Luca Harrington
🥉 Dylan Deschamps
