Team Monster Energy Claims 27 Medals at X Games Aspen 2026
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The Return of Snowmobile to X Games Aspen 2026 Featured Monster Energy's Willie Elam Take Gold and Brett Turcotte Claim Silver in Snowmobile Speed & Style, with Turcotte Also Winning gold in Snowmobile Freestyle.
The 25th anniversary of the Winter X Games at Buttermilk Mountain didn't just meet expectations; it rewrote the history books. As the dust, and snow, settled on X Games Aspen 2026, Monster Energy emerged as the undisputed titan of the mountain, with its world-class team of freeski, snowmobile, and snowboard athletes claiming a staggering 27 medals.
Over three high-octane days, the team secured 10 gold, 11 silver, and 6 bronze medals, fueled by "never-been-done" (NBD) tricks and a series of historic podium sweeps.
Breaking the Physics of Snowboarding
This year's competition was defined by tricks that were previously thought impossible. Cocomo Murase made history in the Women’s Snowboard Big Air final, landing a backside triple cork 1620 Weddle grab, a trick never before seen in women’s competition. Her performance led a full podium sweep for the team, joined by Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (silver) and Mia Brookes (bronze).
The innovation continued in the Knuckle Huck events. Freeski pioneer Alex Hall took gold in the Men’s Ski Knuckle Huck with a switch left tailbutter 1080 to nose slap, matching the record for the most overall men’s freeski medals in X Games history at 14. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Jessica Perlmutter stunned the world by claiming gold in her X Games debut during the Women's Snowboard Knuckle Huck.
A Golden Standard
Monster Energy’s dominance was perhaps most apparent in the Slopestyle events, where the team locked down the top three spots across multiple disciplines:
Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle: Mia Brookes (Gold), Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Silver), and Cocomo Murase (Bronze) secured the sweep for the second year in a row.
Men’s Ski Slopestyle: Luca Harrington claimed back-to-back gold, followed by Colby Stevenson (Silver) and Alex Hall (Bronze).
Snowmobile’s Big Comeback
After a five-year hiatus, snowmobiling returned to Aspen with a vengeance. The veterans of Team Monster Energy proved that age is just a number. Brett Turcotte, 37, took home gold in Snowmobile Freestyle, while 39-year-old Willie Elam claimed his first career gold medal in a head-to-head Speed & Style duel against teammate Turcotte.
The "Athletic-Advocacy" Model
In 2026, the partnership between a brand and an athlete is no longer just about a logo on a jersey, it’s about Athletic Advocacy. Monster Energy’s success in Aspen is a masterclass in how to build a "Collective Moat" around a brand.
By supporting athletes across disciplines, from 16-year-old rookies like Rise Kudo to 39-year-old icons like Willie Elam, Monster Energy has created a self-sustaining ecosystem of innovation. For brands in any sector, the lesson is clear: when you invest in the progression of the sport, you don't just win medals, you win the narrative. In the Performance Economy, the most valuable asset is being the brand that makes the "impossible" look routine.
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