Olympic Winter Games, World Championships – but then there are the Winter X Games in the ranking of the most important dates in the winter sports calendar. At the Only those who are invited are allowed to take part. For Germany’s snowboard ace Annika Morgan, that’s just one reason why she focuses on the Winter X Games in Aspen (January 23rd to 25th).
“In slopestyle [Abfahrtsdisziplin mit verschiedenen Hindernissen, bei der Originalität und Trickqualität bewertet werden – Anm. d. Red.] only eight women start. There are also three reserve riders, so there are only eleven women,” Morgan told DW. “If you compare it to a World Cup where 30 riders from all over the world compete, being at the X Games is a big deal be.”
The event has been held in Aspen, Colorado, since 2002. The X Games are also a performance showcase for the sponsors. New equipment will be presented and there will be numerous events in the supporting program. It may not be the Olympics, but it is an important event for the snowboarding community.
Medal candidate in Aspen
Morgan is the youngest among five siblings. She began figure skating at the age of two, competed at the age of four, and pursued the sport seriously until she was 15 years old. But then she discovered snowboarding and was already competitive at 16. Morgan won silver at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne in 2020 and qualified for the 2022 Olympic Games. In Beijing she secured both… Big Air – Snowboard jump over a jump (kicker) with a trick in the air and landing as safely as possible – as well as with Slopestyle a place in the top 10.
At the 2024 Morgan is also aiming for a medal at the new edition of the X Games.
Tricks and techno
In contrast to other stars in the scene, the 22-year-old German tries not to define herself solely through snowboarding. “Yes, snowboarding is my life. But if I ever have to stop, I don’t want it to be super depressing for me. I also want to have something else in my life,” says Morgan. “Figure skating is also a big thing for me. And it’s also nice to just let off steam and, for example, perform as a DJ and talk to my brother about it.” In Aspen, Morgan and her brother plan to play music together at an “after party” after the competitions.
In addition to music, Morgan has also worked on the YouTube series “Meet the Morgans,” which is about her family, her snowboarding adventures and her life in Mittenwald in the Bavarian Alps. “I’m very lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful place that is also culturally very interesting. For me, Mittenwald is the perfect place and I feel blessed that I was able to grow up in such a culture,” says Morgan. “This year, for example, we had a big beer tent for the first time in a few years. Everyone wore dirndls or lederhosen. It was just so much fun, this one [bayrische] Express your attitude to life.”
Community and competition
Snowboarding has evolved towards more competition – even if the special attitude to life has remained. “It’s really nice to just hang out together. You’re also happy with your competitors when they land a spectacular jump or are on the podium,” says Morgan. “But the competition has gotten tougher with all the young kids coming in all the time. I feel super old in the snowboard community even though I’m not.”
Morgan is more relaxed than he was four years ago. Even though she wants to win a medal at the X Games and qualify for the 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the 22-year-old lives more in the moment. “I just soak it up,” Morgan says. “I don’t set goals for better or worse and say, ‘Oh yeah, I want to win there.’ Because if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just be disappointed.”
The snowboarder’s schedule is very tight. After the X Games in Aspen, Morgan will dive back into the World Cup circuit and try to get the best out of himself. “You’re just there, floating and your body does what it needs to do,” Morgan answers when asked by DW how it feels for her to be on the snowboard. “I rely on muscle memory and hope it works out. It’s just a matter of doing it and hoping for the best outcome.”
This article was adapted from the English DW original “Annika Morgan ready to float at X Games” adapted.