Source: Radio New Zealand
Luca Harrington of New Zealand at the Winter Olympics, 2026. www.photosport.nz
Wānaka freeskier Luca Harrington has qualified for the final of the big air at the Winter Olympics.
Harrington finished fifth after three rounds of qualifying, with the top 12 from the 29 entrants progressing through to Wednesday’s final.
The 2025 big air world champion was in 12th place after the first run with a score of 84.25 after completing a right double cork 1440 and back with a 1260 with safety grab.
The 21-year-old followed that up with a switch right triple cork 1800 with a two handed grab in his second run to score 92.00 and move up to fifth overall.
He then finished with a right-side triple cork 1980 safety grab in his third run to score 87.75.
His combined two best runs scored 179.75 while American Mac Forehand finished top with 183.00.
“Felt really good, came in with a plan and executed the plan,” Harrington told Sky Sports afterwards.
“I’ve been really working hard on that first trick I put down and it didn’t get rewarded the way I wanted it to. It’s been one of the hardest tricks I’ve ever worked through so that was a bit of a shame to see.”
Harrington admitted his bronze in the slopestyle last week did affect him.
“It was hard to mentally get back into the swing of things and focus up to work my hardest in big air, but by the third night of training I was feeling really good again.
“No matter how this goes I’m just so honoured to be here and hopefully put down a good show in finals as well.”
Fellow New Zealanders Ben Barclay finished 19th and Lucas Ball 24th in qualifying.
Earlier on Monday Queenstown skier Alice Robinson finished eighth in the giant slalom.
And Dane Menzies and Zoi Sadowski-Synnot topped their respective snowboarding slopestyle qualifying.
The women’s slopestyle final is scheduled for 1am Wednesday morning (NZT) with the men’s on Thursday at 12:30am (NZT).
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand