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X-Video games gold medalist snowboarder Zeb Powell is useless set on bringing hip-hop tradition to the mountaintop.
Interview: Joey Echevarria
Editor’s Notice: This story seems within the Summer season 2025 challenge of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and obtainable on the market on the XXL web site.

World-class snowboarder Zeb Powell is simply as captivated with hip-hop as he’s concerning the world of utmost sports activities. In truth, the athlete usually dubbed as essentially the most inventive man on a snowboard describes rap music as one thing he can’t dwell with out.

In 2020, Zeb Powell grew to become the first Black snowboarder to win a gold medal on the Winter X-Video games, the game’s premier competitors occasion. The Waynesville, N.C. native takes immense satisfaction in breaking down that barrier and makes use of hip-hop as a conduit so as to add extra variety to his
sport.

Zeb tapped in with XXL through Zoom throughout a springtime snowboarding journey to Colorado. Right here,
he tells tales of shredding the slopes with top-notch hip-hop artists, the tracks he vibes to, his
prime 5 rappers and extra.

XXL: How would you describe your relationship with hip-hop?

Zeb Powell: Nicely, sh*t, I can’t actually dwell with out it. Half my life is simply hip-hop, whether or not it’s mellow or energetic. Rap music is so influential to everybody. Whether or not it’s relatable through what they’re saying, what they’re rapping about or simply the power within the music. Everybody can relate to a minimum of one rap music.

Do you’ve a prime 5 favourite rapper record?

I’ve a reasonably outstanding prime 5. Off the bat, Mac Miller might be first, simply because he covers so many genres. Not simply his celebration music, however all of his music and all the things. His producing, I believe that sh*t’s so sick. He simply matches each vibe that I’ve. Then, I acquired Freddie Gibbs, Travis Scott, Don Toliver. However oh, my God, the record goes on. Isaiah Rashad. That’s a giant one for me.

What have been your most memorable experiences with rappers?

We acquired the chance to take A$AP Ferg snowboarding. That’s actually once I noticed a special
power on the mountain. I actually didn’t know the best way to introduce myself or introduce this complete snowboarding factor to him, however I put it into perspective by saying that there’s solely been two fellow Black [pro] snowboarders. Russell Winfield and Stevie Bell had been the primary to do it. [Ferg]
actually resonated with it. Simply to see him strategy the mountain, that’s when it actually was like, Oh, my God. That is such a special power. It’s so cool, and it was captured superbly.

I linked up with Isaiah Rashad. The way in which that we kick it after we are in entrance of our audiences could be very comparable. It’s simply mad real. I used to be with Bia the opposite week. She pulled as much as our occasion, Purple Bull Heavy Metallic in Boston and he or she’s from Boston. She popped out and I acquired to kick it along with her. She’s mad cool.

Have you ever ever snowboarded with a rapper who stunned you with their abilities?

I snowboarded with Travis Scott. He was fairly good that day. I believe he was recovering from his knee damage, so he was a bit rusty, however he FaceTimed me from Aspen just a few weeks in the past with my homie. I noticed the clips of him boarding and he’s mobbing them. He was following my good friend off the X-Video games jumps. He wasn’t hitting them, however he was filming them and people rollers, it’s such as you’re dropping off a constructing. So, it positively takes some ability to go down that. He’s within the combine, for positive.

What songs are in your playlist if you journey?

Off the rip, SahBabii. The music “On Movie.” I acquired “Skinny Suge” by Freddie Gibbs. “ILMB,” Sheck Wes and Travis Scott. Dude, that’s hearth. That’s been on repeat in the mean time. “That’s Not Gangsta,” Younger Nudy is one other one on my prime, no matter. “Good N Gradual” by Money Cobain. That sh*t’s addicting proper now. “Imagine It” by SahBabii. “Olympian” by Playboi Carti. I’ve been bumpin’ that one so much.

What would you want to perform that will strengthen the connection between hip-hop and excessive sports activities much more?

I wish to do a pageant that simply clashes my world with the hip-hop world. We’re positively heading in the right direction. I’m simply getting all of the issues in place, constructing my staff, dwelling and studying from occasions. One thing like that’s on the best way. I’m making these connections with these rappers. Simply making an attempt to be intentional with them and construct power.

Realizing the place I’m and the impression I’ve, I’ve been making an attempt to get the snowboard world and sponsors to let me break into this world of tradition as an alternative of simply absolutely doing the snowboard factor. I wish to do these neighborhood occasions that convey power and connecting the rappers to do them, that’s the subsequent step.

Watch XXL‘s Interview With Zeb Powell

Watch Zeb Powell’s Snowboarding Highlights

The summer time 2025 challenge of XXL journal that includes Zeb Powell’s interview is offered to buy right here. The difficulty additionally contains interviews with all 12 members of the 2025 Freshman Class and producer Cardo Received Wings, in addition to conversations with Key Glock, Larry June, Aminé, Monaleo, Nardo Wick, Tech N9ne and extra, plus a glance again at what the 2024 XXL Freshman Class has been doing and a deep dive into who’s the greatest and greatest XXL Freshman ever.

See the 2025 XXL Freshman Class Artists and Producer