Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand’s Luca Harrington competes in the men’s freeski slopestyle qualification run 1 at Milano Cortina 2026 Livigno Snow Park. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV
Two New Zealanders have advanced in freeski slopestyle, qualifying to keep their Winter Olympic dreams alive at Milano Cortina 2026.
Ben Barclay – who served as New Zealand’s flagbearer alongside Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at the opening ceremony – finished seventh. And defending X Games gold medalist Luca Harrington placed ninth in Italy overnight.
The top qualifier was double world champion Birk Ruud from Norway.
Defending Olympic champion Alex Hall of the United States had a bit more of an uncomfortable time to secure 8th place.
Kiwi teenager Lucas Ball finished 20th, missing out on a place in the final.
In slopestyle, athletes navigate a course with a variety of obstacles and are judged on the breadth, originality and quality of their stunts.
Barclay, who was born in Auckland and is now based in Wanaka, sounded relieved after securing his spot in next week’s final.
“Qualifying is always a lot scarier,” Barclay said. “To get through the first phase is a weight off my shoulders. It’s kind of a surreal feeling to look down at the course and say, ‘I guess we’re doing this now.'”
Norway’s Ruud, the first men’s rider of the day, executed a flawless performance and finished at the top of the pack on Saturday.
“I was just all-in on the first one,” the 25-year-old said. “I was focused as if it was my only chance. It felt awesome.”
In the women’s freeski slopestyle qualifying, New Zealand’s Ruby Star Andrews placed 17th and Sylvia Trotter 20th, both missing out on a spot in the final.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand