Basalt’s Faulhaber amongst group of X Games athletes who talked to Aspen college students at meeting

X Games week kicked off Tuesday with none corks or fancy grabs, however when 4 celebrity athletes spoke to a big group of native college students inside Aspen Elementary School. This included halfpipe skier Hanna Faulhaber, a 2022 Olympian who graduated from Basalt High School.

Talking alongside fellow Olympian Nick Goepper on stage, Faulhaber went over elements of her journey rising up with the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club and the way she turned an expert halfpipe skier.

“I first started on the moguls team and quickly realized that I only liked the moguls because of the jumps,” the 21-year-old recalled. “I was the only girl amongst a bunch of boys, which was definitely difficult at times, but they pushed me to where I am now and I am forever grateful for that.”

The 31-year-old Goepper, who will compete in his fourth Olympic Games subsequent month in Italy, had a unique upbringing than Faulhaber. Having grown up snowboarding on the tiny hills in Indiana, he would finally transfer to Oregon in highschool to pursue his personal professional ski profession. He’s a three-time Olympic medalist in slopestyle (two silvers, one bronze) however has since transitioned to halfpipe snowboarding after a quick retirement.

“I really fell in love with skiing when I was about 14 or 15 years old,” Goepper informed the scholars. “And I fell so much in love with it that I was determined to make it as a professional one day and get to X Games. At that point, I convinced my mom and dad, who were very supportive of me at the time, to go on this journey and chase my dream.”

Both athletes fielded a handful of questions direct from the scholars, with Faulhaber getting many about overcoming damage. It’s one thing she is aware of all too nicely, as she’s missed a lot of the previous couple of seasons as a result of damage, notably to her knee.

“I’m currently coming back from about two years of knee injury, so hoping to get my feet back under me and just continue pushing,” she mentioned. “This time around, I’ve taken a little bit of a slower process to just really make sure I’m doing it right and making sure I can prevent myself from getting injured again.”

Both Goepper and Faulhaber — who stays on the quick checklist for the 2026 Olympic group that has but to be totally annoucned — plan to compete this week as X Games Aspen returns to Buttermilk Ski Area for the 25^th straight yr. Women’s halfpipe snowboarding is Friday evening, whereas the boys drop in Sunday evening.

Goepper about received booed off stage by the youngsters after bravely saying his favourite ski mountain is Breckenridge, however he did speak about how essential getting his first invite to X Games Aspen was to his life and profession.

“I remember very clearly, I was 16 years old and I had been working so hard and been so focused on skiing for many, many years when I got my first X Games invite,” he mentioned. “It was like a dream come true. It was proof to me that if you believe in yourself and you focus and you practice and practice and practice and never give up, you can really make your dreams come true.”

Goepper is a five-time X Games gold medalist, together with his win in final yr’s halfpipe contest.

Faulhaber — who well mentioned Aspen was her favourite mountain — made her X Games debut in 2022, the place she stunned some by successful bronze. She was fifth in 2023 and eighth in 2025 as accidents have slowed her the previous couple of winters.

“It’s just like riding your bike again,” Faulhaber mentioned of getting back from damage.

She additionally recalled the feelings of getting her first X Games invite.

“I got the email kind of late at night, and I was staying with my parents at the time, and I ran out and told them the news, and we were all just crying happy tears,” she mentioned.

British snowboarder Mia Brookes and New Zealand freeskier Luca Harrington additionally took half in a second meeting later within the afternoon on Tuesday. Both elementary and center faculty college students had been included within the displays.

X Games will get underway at midday Friday with the ladies’s snowboard slopestyle last. Also returning this weekend after a five-year hiatus are the snowmobile athletes, with the freestyle contest capping off the primary day of motion on Friday.

For the whole schedule, go to xgames.com.

[email protected]