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Fernski halfpipe final in Livigno decided by experience and bold runs
The men’s freeski halfpipe final at Livigno Snow Park boiled down to two things: nerve and ambition. Alex Ferreira of the United States walked away with gold after a near-flawless last run scored 93.75. Just behind him, 19‑year‑old Henry Sildaru of Estonia announced himself with a brilliant Olympic debut, finishing silver on 93.00. Canada’s Brendan MacKay climbed onto the podium with a gutsy comeback, nailing a high-risk final run for 91.00 and bronze.
A whiteout shortened the day: heavy snowfall forced qualifying into the same day as the final, compressing the schedule and giving riders little time to rest, recalibrate skis, or rethink tactics. That squeeze was especially unforgiving for debutants such as Canadians Andrew Longino and Dylan Marineau, who had to cope with Olympic pressure and mounting fatigue in one long, relentless day.
How the final played out
The leaderboard swung wildly as athletes alternated between conservative lineups and everything-on-the-line attempts. Ferreira bided his time, saving his best for the third run. He produced huge amplitude, tight rotations and clean landings—technical mastery married to power—and the judges rewarded him with the day’s top mark.
Sildaru matched Ferreira on difficulty and rarely looked out of place for a teenager at his first Games. The difference came down to execution: his tricks carried comparable risk, but a tiny gap in cleanliness left him 0.75 short of gold. That sliver of difference underscored how razor‑thin margins decide podium spots in this discipline.
MacKay’s comeback and the Canadian contingent
MacKay, 28 and the reigning 2026 FIS World Champion, began the final as the top qualifier but faltered on his early runs. He answered like a veteran on his third attempt—cranking up difficulty and landing with purpose to secure 91.00 and Canada’s first Olympic halfpipe medal of the Games. After a ninth-place finish in his previous Olympics, this podium feels like vindication: timing his risk paid off.
Canada’s depth was visible beyond MacKay. Rachel Karker, MacKay’s fiancée and one of the nation’s standout halfpipe skiers, symbolizes the strong pipeline Canada has built in the event.
Promising flashes from Longino and Marineau
Andrew Longino and Dylan Marineau both made the final and left Livigno with useful experience. Longino opened with his best score, 76.50, and held seventh place after a day of solid but unspectacular runs. Marineau thrilled the crowd with nearly six metres of air on one hit—his amplitude is undeniable—but inconsistent landings saw him finish 11th. Both skiers showed the raw ingredients for future success and were reminded how steep the learning curve is at this level.
The Goepper gamble
Nick Goepper tried to push the sport’s boundaries with a switch double misty on his final run—a trick not yet landed in competition. He came up short, slid out of the pipe and was checked by medics, but walked away smiling. His daring attempt captured the essence of halfpipe skiing: the slim line between legendary feats and near-misses. Goepper had been within striking distance of a medal until MacKay’s late surge bumped him to fourth.
What this final says about modern halfpipe skiing
Today’s showdown reinforced what judges reward: bold trick selection paired with tidy execution and mental toughness. Ferreira’s gold fills out his Olympic collection and cements his status among the sport’s elite. Sildaru’s silver is a sensational introduction to the Olympic stage for an Estonian teenager, and MacKay’s bronze is a reminder that well-timed risk and composure under pressure can change a career.
Looking ahead
Athletes and coaches will likely revisit run strategies and pacing after Livigno. The takeaway is clear: landing high-difficulty tricks cleanly, not just attempting them, separates champions from the rest. With young talents like Sildaru emerging and experienced competitors still pushing the envelope, future competitions promise even tighter, more electrifying battles in the pipe.