BOSTON — Zeb Powell is reaching new heights in more ways than one.
In January, just before the pandemic hit, the 20-year-old snowboarder became the first Black athlete to ever capture a gold medal at the Winter X Games.
“Just seeing the feedback from other people of color saying what an inspiration. So winning the X Games set me up to have this platform to use and I definitely want to use it for good in the future,” Powell said while promoting the sport in Boston.
Powell was born and raised in North Carolina and now lives and trains in Vermont.
He said he embraces and understands the responsibility of being a trailblazer and making history.
He said his goal now is loftier than winning gold.
“I didn’t set out to win the X Games, but now that I’m here, seeing the feedback, I want to step up to this role helping more people of color into the sport and showing them they can do it, too,” Powell said.
Powell wants to diversify the sport by adding clinics for inner-city kids to expose them to snowboarding and give them a chance to hit the slopes.
“It would be sick to go into the city and snowboard for them and let them get to snowboard and see if they like it. Get them into something new,” he said.
Powell said if he can have another big year, competing in the Winter Olympics could then be on the horizon.
Cox Media Group
