X-Games Gold! T-Pod comes swinging at his second ever X-Games, Style, rotations, and a never before done trick at Xgames puts him on top the podium

STYLE MATTERS: For X Games Aspen 2024, official rules changed to put an emphasis on stylish execution in the Big Air eivent. For that reason, every rider started their contest by dropping a Style Trick for a maximum of 10 points attributed to their maximal 100-point score. The remaining 90 points were earned via two ‘regular’ trick attempts, each worth a maximum 45 points. Turns out, Monster Energy riders had the style and tech tricks to sweep all three medals off the podium!

DOWN TO THE WIRE: With Alex Hall dominating the top spot, 19-year-old Monster Army rider Troy Podmilsak (https://www.monsterarmy.com/news/battle-ready-tpod/) from Park City, Utah, found himself outside of podium contention until the last run. Earlier, he put down a massive rightside double cork 1080 blunt for 7 points as his Style Trick. But after a miss, he landed a switch right double cork bio 1980 safety grab for 36 points on Run 4 but had to put it all on the line on his final run.

In a moment of X Games history (and destiny), Podmilsak jumped from the bottom all the way up on Run 5: Risking it all, the upstart landed a forward right triple cork 2160 mute, a trick never landed at X Games for 43 points for an overall score of 86 points and the gold medal. And the stoke knew no limits!

“I just want to win, that’s all it came down to! It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m doing it for the win,” said Podmilsak. “I don't even know what's going on right now. I told my agent last year I was going to win, so I'm glad I kept my promise and won today!”

Podmilsak now owns one X Games medal. He also won the 2023 FIS World Championships with a triple 2160.