Zeb Powell
Zeb Powell – Artist or Snowboarder?
Answer: Both.
Creative. It’s the best way to describe Zeb Powell (23 years young). With every trick, stunt and spin, he exemplifies what it means to be creative. Looking back on his snowboarding roots, Zeb says, “I hit that one box my first night [at Cataloochee Ski Area], and I think I was hooked from there on.” Zeb’s passion for boarding is both evident and contagious. Whether riding off a tree branch, grabbing onto a rail, or winning 1st place at the 2020 Red Bull Knuckle Huck event, Zeb’s moves are constructing a new style within the snowboarding arena.
Zeb Powell is a Natural Born Athlete
Zeb’s connection to snowboarding was clear from the get-go. At just five weeks old, Powell was adopted by Carl and Valerie Powell from Waynesville, North Carolina and instantly his new parents saw wicked potential in his athletic capabilities. His mother, Valerie, proudly says, “there was always a zig or a zag or a jump or a flip. I think it was just in his DNA.” Indeed with his creative DNA and a little encouragement from his parents, Powell began to frequent the slopes of the neighboring city’s local ski hill known as Maggie Valley.
Despite being years younger, Zeb immediately began snowboarding with local teenagers and college kids because he was pulling off tricks kids his age were not doing. No matter the conditions, Powell’s love for the sport powered him through the stormy days, allowing him to maximize his time on snow. He hated to leave it.
“HE JUST LOVED TO SNOWBOARD. IT COULD BE RAINING, THE ICIEST DAY EVER, OR HORRIBLE CONDITIONS. FOR ZEB, NO MATTER THE WORST DAY OF SNOWBOARDING, IT WAS BETTER THAN JUST NOT SNOWBOARDING.” -JACOB SUTTON (CHILDHOOD FRIEND).
This grit and determination gave his parents the spark to send him to Woodward in Copper Mountain, Colorado. This was his destined next step to leveling up in snowboarding, action sports, and life stoke ensued. Zeb was immersed in one of the epicenters of snowboarding’s international culture, stimulating his passion even more.
Gaining Traction
Zeb won 1st place in the 2016 Red Bull All-Snow at Corinth Parks at 15 years old, which surprised his parents. This was not a surprise for Zeb. He knew it was only the beginning.
As he considers his future, the first-ever African-American XGames snowboard gold medalist doesn’t worry much. He is confident in who he is and where he’s going. He’s also committed to two simple goals – to evolve the snowboarding community and never stop having fun.
“SNOWBOARDING HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH. AND I’M PREPARED TO CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK TO SNOWBOARDING. OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY SPECIAL, BUT IT CAN GET BETTER. IT CAN GET BIGGER. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP BUILDING, AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP IT FUN NO MATTER WHAT.” -ZEB POWELL
Dying to keep up with Zeb? Head over to his bio and learn what he’s been up to!