At 33, Anna Gasser stands atop the snowboarding world, not just as a competitor but as a trailblazer redefining what’s possible in women’s big air. The Austrian snowboarder, a two-time Olympic champion and five-time X Games gold medalist, continues to push the boundaries of the sport in 2025 with her technical prowess, fearless innovation, and infectious passion. From landing the first-ever female cab double cork 900 in 2013 to stomping a switch triple cork 1260 at X Games Aspen 2025, Gasser’s career is a testament to her role in revolutionizing big air snowboarding. This article explores how Gasser’s technical mastery, competitive spirit, and mentorship are driving the sport forward as she prepares for her final competitive chapter at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
A Legacy of Firsts: Redefining Technical Excellence
Anna Gasser’s journey in snowboarding began at 18, a late start compared to many అతని peers who often hit the slopes as children. Yet, her background in gymnastics, where she competed on the Austrian national team until age 15, gave her a unique edge in mastering aerial tricks. In 2013, at just 22, she became the first woman to land a cab double cork 900—a trick involving two back somersaults and a half-turn spin—setting a new standard for women’s snowboarding. By 2018, she landed a cab triple underflip on Austria’s Stubai Glacier, and in 2022, she clinched Olympic gold in Beijing with a cab double cork 1260, a trick she perfected under pressure to defend her 2018 title.
In 2025, Gasser raised the bar again at X Games Aspen on January 23, landing a switch triple cork 1260 truck driver grab—a trick involving three inverts and three-and-a-half spins—to secure her fifth big air gold medal, breaking Barrett Christy’s record for the most in the discipline’s history. This victory, at age 33, underscored her ability to compete with a younger generation pushing 1440s and triple corks. “The level of the girls is just so great right now, and to still be able to keep up with my younger competitors—it’s such a great time for me,” Gasser said after her win, highlighting her commitment to progression. Her first competitive triple cork at Big Air Kreischberg on January 11, 2025, scored 93.00 points, earning her a record 10th World Cup big air victory and cementing her status as the oldest winner in FIS Snowboard World Cup history at 33.
Driving the Women’s Snowboarding Revolution
Gasser’s impact extends beyond her personal achievements. Her pioneering tricks have inspired a generation of female snowboarders to push technical boundaries. In 2010, when Gasser began competing, men like Shaun White were landing double McTwist 1260s, while women’s big air was less advanced. Gasser changed that narrative. By 2022, she noted that women were landing tricks in Olympic qualifiers that would have won medals in PyeongChang 2018, a testament to the sport’s rapid evolution. “Women are here, women are hungry, and they are not holding back anymore,” she said, celebrating the collective progress she’s helped catalyze.
Her competitive camaraderie fosters this growth. At X Games Aspen 2025, Gasser cheered for Japan’s Reira Iwabuchi, who attempted a frontside 1440 double tail grab, and praised Zoi Sadowski-Synnott’s backside triple cork 1440, which earned bronze. Gasser’s encouragement of younger athletes like 17-year-old Mia Brookes, who took third at Kreischberg, reflects her commitment to the sport’s future. “I hope I’ve inspired some of the young women for sure,” she told reporters, emphasizing the tight-knit community she’s helped build.
The 2025 Season: A Masterclass in Resilience
The 2024/25 FIS Snowboard World Cup season showcased Gasser’s resilience despite a challenging start. At the season opener in Chur, Switzerland, on October 20, 2024, she failed to qualify for the big air final for the first time in her career, crashing twice on a backside double cork 1080 melon. “I know what to do,” she said post-event, focusing on accumulating more snow days. Her comeback was swift. By December 2024 in Beijing, she secured third place, and by January 2025 at Kreischberg, she clinched her 10th World Cup big air win before dominating X Games Aspen.
Gasser’s ability to bounce back at 33, against competitors like 20-year-old Sadowski-Synnott and 17-year-old Brookes, highlights her mental and physical fortitude. Her training regimen, rooted in her gymnastics background, emphasizes precision and power, enabling her to execute high-amplitude tricks with style. At Aspen, despite single-digit temperatures, she shed her jacket for extra speed, landing her triple cork with “style and confidence,” as described by Olympics.com. This adaptability and focus under pressure define her 2025 season.
A Vision for Style and Sustainability
In recent years, Gasser has shifted her focus toward style, aiming to blend technical difficulty with aesthetic flair. “Before, I was super focused on results and doing the hardest tricks,” she told Olympics.com at the 2025 Snowboard World Championships in Engadin. “Now, I try to get a little more style in my riding and be proud of what I’m doing.” Her cab triple 1260 truck driver at X Games Aspen, noted for its “oozing style,” exemplifies this evolution, earning her high scores for execution and amplitude.
Off the slopes, Gasser is advocating for sustainability in snowboarding, a sport vulnerable to climate change. While specific initiatives are less documented, her platform as a global star amplifies her potential to promote eco-friendly gear and practices, as hinted in discussions about the environmental challenges facing winter sports. Her influence could drive the industry toward greener solutions, ensuring the sport’s longevity.
The Road to Milano Cortina 2026
Gasser has confirmed that the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, just half an hour from her home in southern Austria, will likely mark her final competition. “It would be such a perfect ending to celebrate my career with my friends and family,” she said. As she prepares, Gasser is focused on refining her tricks, potentially unveiling a new one to cap her legacy. Her goal is not just another medal but to “show my snowboarding,” as she did in Beijing, where she prioritized performance over results.
Her preparation includes competing in the final 2024/25 World Cup event in Aspen on February 5–6, 2025, and the Snowboard World Championships in Engadin, where she’s chasing a third global big air title. Despite the pressure of younger competitors and her own high standards, Gasser’s love for the sport remains her driving force. “I’m just relieved, happy, and it’s kind of proof I’m still on the right path,” she said after Kreischberg.
Challenges and Competition
Gasser faces fierce competition from rising stars. Iwabuchi’s 1440s and Brookes’ technical skills challenge her dominance, while Sadowski-Synnott’s versatility—she won slopestyle gold in Beijing 2022—keeps the podium tight. Gasser’s failure to qualify in Chur highlighted the sport’s unpredictability, where a single fall can shift outcomes. Yet, her experience and mental clarity give her an edge. “I was just trying to trust myself,” she said of her triple cork at Kreischberg, a mindset that will carry her into 2026.
The Gasser Effect: A Lasting Legacy
Anna Gasser’s big air revolution in 2025 is not just about her medals—13 World Cup wins, 31 podiums, and five X Games golds—but about her transformative impact. She’s elevated women’s snowboarding from a niche discipline to a global spectacle, with tricks once exclusive to men now standard in women’s competitions. Her mentorship, style, and sustainability advocacy ensure her influence will endure beyond her retirement.
As she approaches Milano Cortina 2026, Gasser remains a symbol of progression, proving age is no barrier to innovation. Whether she lands a triple cork or a new trick, her final Olympic run will be a celebration of a career that redefined big air. “I’m still having fun,” she says, and that passion continues to inspire fans, athletes, and the snowboarding world.
Last Updated on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 11:04 am by Munnuru Sai Karthik
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