Max Parrot came to X Games ready to win, and to no surprise, he did just that.
The 25-year-old rider snagged the coveted gold medal at The Real Cost Men’s Snowboard Big Air competition on Saturday (January 25) during X Games Aspen 2020 in Aspen, CO. The win marks his sixth gold and ninth medal overall, making him one of the most decorated riders in Big Air at the Games.
“It feels amazing. The last time I won gold in Aspen was in 2018. I had to miss out last year to go through my treatments. And just to be here one year later after I got the diagnosis feels amazing to be riding with my homies and just having fun on the board,” Parrot tells our reporters at the base of Buttermilk Mountain. “This is my favorite event and I’m just really happy to walk out with a gold.”
“When I was younger, it was a dream for me to be in a book of history and to be named the only one in the world doing something, so I started learning tricks that nobody does. And now to be known as the most crowned guy in Big Air feels amazing too.”
X Games Aspen 2020 Day 3 Recap – January 25, 2020
After missing the final in Slopestyle earlier this weekend, Parrot was more than determined to return to the top of the podium. He missed Aspen 2019 (and the entire contest season) after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2018, and, after an aggressive treatment plan including 12 chemo sessions in approximately six months, he returned to take gold at X Games Norway 2019 and again for X Games Aspen 2020.
“I think in life, motivation is really powerful. For me, going through treatments when I was going through really hard times and even when I wanted to just give up everything and not go to the hospital anymore, I was glad to have that motivation to compete in Norway in August two months after the treatments,” he shares. “It was a big challenge and I love big challenges, so this was mine and this was what kept me going to the hospital every time.”
(Photo by Matt Morning / ESPN Images)
Parrot blew minds, throwing down 1620s in three different directions (cab, backside and frontside), and a cab 1800 in run four that helped him hold on to the lead in an extremely close contest.
In silver was Mark McMorris, which tied him with Shaun White for the most winter discipline medals (18). Swedish rider Sven Thorgren joined the two Canadians on the podium with bronze.
Celeb Secrets caught up with Max moments after winning the competition where he talked about his battle with cancer, the runs he executed during Big Air, and more.
Watch the full interview below and make sure to keep up with Max by following him on Instagram on @maxparrot.
