Freeski halfpipe will be the final set of park and pipe competitions at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, with qualifying for the men’s and women’s contests both set to take place on Thursday, Feb. 19 in Livigno, Italy.

On the men’s side, momentum has been building toward what could be an incredible final. The only thing that can be stated with certainty is that this event will have a new Olympic champion, as the only two skiers to ever win gold — the United States’ David Wise (2014, 2018) and New Zealand’s Nico Porteous (2022) — are not in the field.

Will this be the year that Alex Ferreira stands atop the podium? The American, now 31, has been a stalwart of this event for the last decade but is still looking for his first gold. After earning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022, Ferreira changed the lock screen on his phone to a photo of himself at the Olympics alongside a list of goals. One of those goals: “Win the 2026 Winter Olympics.”

Two seasons ago, Ferreira won all seven halfpipe events he entered and looked like he would steamroll into Livigno as the gold medal favorite. But the landscape has evolved, and two other consistent podium finishers have emerged.

First was Nick Goepper, a U.S. skier who made the last three Olympic teams as a slopestyle athlete. After the last Winter Games, Goepper was experiencing burnout and decided to retire from competition. Less than a year later, though, he felt the passion return and decided to reinvent himself as a halfpipe skier.

It took a little time, but Goepper had a breakthrough season last year and is now entrenched as a legitimate contender in his new discipline. He’s won a medal in slopestyle (two silver, one bronze) at each Winter Olympics he’s competed in but, like Ferreira, is still seeking his first gold.

Then came the emergence of Fin Melville Ives, a 19-year-old from New Zealand who has become one of the sport’s breakout stars. Melville Ives won gold at the 2025 World Championships and 2026 X Games, and often joins veterans Ferreira and Goepper on contest podiums.

Another New Zealander, 17-year-old Luke Harrold, has taken a major leap this season and could be on the verge of joining that upper echelon of contenders. Other skiers who could challenge for the podium include Americans Hunter Hess and Birk Irving, and Canadian Brendan Mackay.

On the women’s side, Eileen Gu is the heavy favorite to defend her title. The U.S.-born skier, who competes for China, has a pair of silver medals (in slopestyle and big air) so far in Livigno, but halfpipe has been the discipline she’s primarily focused on throughout this Olympic cycle. Since the 2022 Games, she’s won 10 of the 11 halfpipe contests she’s entered on the World Cup circuit.

Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin has been Gu’s top challenger this season and enters as the reigning world champion. Australia’s Indra Brown, who turned 16 last month, has been this season’s biggest breakthrough skier. Canada’s Cassie Sharpe (the 2018 Olympic champion) and China’s Li Fanghui could also compete for a spot on the podium.

The U.S. will be represented by Svea Irving, Abby Winterberger, Riley Jacobs and Kate Gray.

The men's freeski halfpipe final is scheduled for Friday, with the women's final to follow on Saturday.