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In how many forms may life be memorialized? Seemingly arbitrary and minute actions like a tiny stroke of ink on paper, or the redirection of light through glass, can capture the most pivotal life moments our brains will forever fail to retain. To Zeb Powell, life is best viewed through the lens of a camera. The 21-year-old snowboarder’s cinematic approach to living, does not stem from a desire to go viral, to be idolized, or even to be watched. Powell has simply never wanted to do the same thing twice. In his mind’s eye, a camera is constantly rolling, filming every trick, every event, every milestone in his blossoming career—mastering new tricks, touring, and merging the worlds of fashion and music with snowboarding. And along the way, Powell is recording every second. 

Through his web series and his own journal, Powell marks the moments he feels are most sentimental and significant. Upon reflection, the scenes that make up Powell’s journey appear almost predestined—leaving home to study at the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont, meeting his hero and mentor Torstein Horgmo on the slopes, and working with rapper A$AP Ferg—having collectively formed him into the young snowboarder and creative he is today. 

Since his days back at the Olympic training school, Powell has been on an upward trajectory. The precious memories are many: going on tour with Red Bull, working with inner-city advocacy group Hoods to Woods, and connecting with the late fashion icon and Powell’s personal fan, Virgil Abloh, are just a few he holds most dear. In outlets such as his web series, Powell offers a view through his mind’s lens—a vivid, cinematic montage of memory and feeling. The story of this young man, who we had the privilege to catch while he was popping through LA, is one not to be forgotten. 

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When did you first find an affinity for snowboarding?

It was funny—the first time I went, it was just a bad learning experience. It was with my family, and I got set up backwards, and I did not like it at all. So, I went with a friend who knew what was good, and I was comfortable with it. I think I hit a feature, a box, the first night and I was hooked. But, I never really thought of it as something to pursue. I think my family thought that, but I just always thought it was fun. So, my parents sat me down. They said, ‘Hey, if you want to get serious, then we need to check this school out.’ I did that for seventh and eighth grade, and the ball was really rolling by then, so I started going full term. 

How do you find a balance between both physical and mental health?

I’m always trying to grow, so in order to do that, I journal a lot. I’ll date everything so I can look back and see what I was thinking then. Depending on how impactful that day or instance was, I will mark them so I can go back and think, ‘Damn, that was cool.’ I would say the mental part is where I’m working to grow the most outside of snowboarding. A general motto for me—a way I have always been trying to live life—is to ‘keep growing.’ It kind of stems from this filming perspective. When you film, you don’t want to do the same trick twice. If you put the same trick in your video twice, people will ask why. So, for me, I always want to try something new. I think it keeps me growing. Writing and talking to myself. 

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In March, you were on the Red Bull Slide-In Tour. Tell us about that?  

It felt like taking a break and looking back on all I’ve done and seeing the impact of it. Also, seeing what it could be like moving forward. It’s been cool to start doing sessions with the community and linking up with organizations to create a space for people to learn. I think the most impactful one was in Mountain Creek, New Jersey, at the place called Hoods to Woods. It’s this organization that brings people from the hoods of New York City and takes them not only snowboarding, but also teaches them about the system of ski resorts, and where they can work, and how they operate, and how they can grow through this community.

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How has snowboarding brought you into the world of fashion? Have you always been drawn to fashion? 

Growing up, I was never really a hype-beast, but I thought some of it was super dope. Being a skater and tapped into that world, you have areas like Supreme and Palace and Dime—brands like that, who work closely with skateboarding and are fueled by it. I would say that’s where I got my taste. In the last few years, the music world has also really tapped into snowboarding. I linked up with A$AP Ferg two years ago, and that’s where it all started. We got to know him and his crew, and it naturally pointed me towards the fashion world. That’s how I got introduced to Kwasi as well—he’s A$AP Ferg’s stylist, so it all kind of comes full circle.

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What do you hope to offer the world through snowboarding in the future? 

Making it more accessible. I know there are a lot of Black people who don’t even know that we snowboard. And I am reminded of that every day because I will see a Black person who is like, ‘Yo! I remember seeing you on my Instagram!’ It’s super cool to see. I want to make it seem not as far-fetched. And additionally, bringing more culture into it, whether that be fashion or music. It started with Virgil Abloh. I wasn’t too aware of his work until about three years ago when he started following me. He started messaging me, and he was hyped about my snowboarding. And one day, he randomly sent me a pair of Off-Whites that he drew on. So, now I have this touch of Virgil that keeps me going and keeps me inspired. It’s kind of like the ‘Virgil Was Here’ touch is in me. It keeps me going, after his death, of course. That’s one really important part.

That’s really beautiful. Do you ever wear the shoes or can they never be touched?

I wore one pair, but the ones that he wrote on I’m never touching again. The pair I wore are only for certain occasions, though. The shoes are just too sick to not pull out once in a while.

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Photographed by Danielle DeGrasse-Alston

‍Styled by Mui-Hai Chu

‍Grooming by Jenna Nelson at The Wall Group using Chantecaille