Luca Harrington goes back-to-back as Kiwis claim three X Games medals

Kiwi gold medalist Luca Harrington during the medal ceremony for the men’s Ski Slopestyle on day two of the X Games Aspen 2026. Photo / Getty Images

Luca Harrington is the back-to-back champion in the men’s ski slopestyle at the X Games in Aspen in a day in which New Zealand claimed three medals in in Aspen, Colorado.

The 21-year-old, who will compete at next month’s Olympics, scored a 94.33 to defend his title from his rookie season.

Harrington went into the lead at the end of round one, landing two triples off the bat. Momentarily dropping off the leaderboard, he then scored a 94.33 to scoop the gold in round two. Only two skiers prior have won back-to-back golds in the event.

Nineteen-year-old Rocco Jamieson claimed silver in the men’s snowboard Big Air while Zoi Sadowski-Synnott took silver in slopestyle.

Snow Sports NZ head coach high performance park and pipe Tom Willmott said Aspen was a struggle on many fronts with fresh snow, a slow course and multiple delays.

“Luca kept in the hunt, made the most of training, and just smashed it, scoring the highest in the first run, getting bumped down as conditions improved, only to step right up in his second run to claim the title going back-to-back following his win as a rookie last year.”

Sadowski-Synnott had a fantastic Snowboard Big Air final, going almost orbital with her second run backside triple 1440 scoring a 94.66, yet was bested in an extraordinary show by Cocomo Murase, who landed a never-been-done backside triple cork 1620 to win the gold with a score of 96.66.

“Zoi landed a flawless back triple 14 first run and was able to improve on the second. Given she has been out of action for a while, it was incredible [although true to form] for her to build right back to her best level of riding,” Willmott said.

In the men’s Snowboard Big Air, Jamieson saved the best for last across his three runs, landing a backside 2160 to score 90.66 and a silver medal.

“Rocco has been gunning for the back 21 for a while but this was his first opportunity to land this behemoth of a trick on snow,” said Willmott.