Known for his creative flair and jaw-dropping stunts, freeskier Alex Hall’s innovative performance on the slopes equally is as unique as his upbringing.

Hall lived in Switzerland from the ages of 1 to 16, and that’s where he put on the skis for the first time. Learning to ski in the Swiss Alps particularly wasa formative for his daring yet technically sound style of competing.

But the mountains weren’t the only backdrop for his training. Hall also enjoyed building rails in his backyard using PVC pipes, wood, and whatever other materials he had on hand. It was there that he was able to embrace his creative spirit and challenge the norms of the sport.

Unlike many other competitive skiers and snowboarders, Hall never was a member of any ski club in his youth, nor did he have a coach. It wasn’t until he moved back to the United States that he was able to seriously pursue a career in skiing under the guidance of the Park City Ski Club. From that point on, Hall immediately skyrocketed to success, beginning his pro career with a silver medal in slopestyle at the 2016 Youth Winter Olympics.

Ten years later, Hall enters the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics with over a dozen podium finishes on the World Cup level, two Crystal Globes, and an Olympic gold medal under his belt.

Read on to learn more about Hall’s background and what has led him to the 2026 Winter Games.

Where is Alex Hall from?

Hall was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, but his family moved to Switzerland when he was 1 year old. He grew up in Zurich, then returned to the United States when he was 16 to train in Park City, Utah, where he still lives today. 

How old is Alex Hall?

Hall is 27 years old and was born on September 21, 1998.

When did Alex Hall start skiing?

Hall began skiing when he was 3 years old and eventually began freeskiing around age of 10, inspired by the tricks that his dad and brother would do for fun when they visited the mountains together. 

What events does Alex Hall compete in?

At the Olympics, Hall competes in the slopestyle and big air events. Earlier in his career, Hall previously competed in halfpipe as well, but he has not done so since his teen years. 

What Olympics has Alex Hall competed at? 

Hall competed in men’s slopestyle at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, then appeared at the 2022 Beijing Olympics to participate in slopestyle and big air. As a teenager, Hall also took part in the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics, placing 2nd in slopestyle and 4th in halfpipe. 

How many X Games medals has Alex Hall won?

Hall has won 12 medals at X Games: six gold, three silver, and three bronze. Most recently, he took home a gold medal in knuckle huck, a non-Olympic discipline, at the 2025 competition in Aspen. 

How has Alex Hall done in World Cup and world championship events?

Hall has a long list of accolades at the World Cup level, including 16 different podium finishes. Ten of those were wins – six in slopestyle and four in big air. He also been awarded two World Cup Crystal Globes, one for big air (2023-24) and one for slopestyle (2024-25).

At the world championships, Hall has a pair of bronze medals, both coming in slopestyle (2021, 2025).

How did Alex Hall perform at the 2022 Beijing Olympics?

Hall was the gold medalist in slopestyle in Beijing, also finishing 8th in big air. That was a significant improvement from his performance at PyeongChang 2018, where he finished 16th overall in slopestyle and missed the final. 

What are Alex Hall’s biggest tricks and signature moves?

While Hall has been the first athlete to land a number of never-done-before tricks throughout his career, he stands out for his innovative and creative use of slopestyle courses.

The trick that catapulted Hall to the top of the podium in 2022 was a right double cork 1080 that he pulled back into a 900, the mid-air equivalent of a “pretzel” that skiers do on the rail sections.

You also can find Hall demonstrating a Buick grab, a move that he pioneered, during many of his runs. During this move, Hall grabs onto his left ski with his left hand, then reaches across to grab the same ski with his right hand to complete the double-handed grip.

What milestones or records has Alex Hall set in skiing?

Hall has made history on multiple stages throughout his career. At the 2022 X Games in Aspen, Hall became the first male skier to win a medal in three different disciplines: He claimed the gold medal in big air, as well as bronze in both slopestyle and knuckle huck. Hall also is the first to win X Games gold in four different ski disciplines, including slopestyle, big air, knuckle huck, and real ski. 

In addition to his X Games accomplishments, Hall landed the first-ever 2160 in a competition, a switch double cork with a Buick grab. This big air maneuver featured six full rotations (and two inverts) mid-air and earned him a first-place finish at X Games in 2022.

In 2016, Hall became the first athlete ever to complete a switch triple cork 1800. In this trick, Hall first entered the jump backward, then completed three full off-axis flips and five lateral spins.

How are Alex Hall’s medal chances for 2026?

Hall is poised to be a top medal contender in both slopestyle and big air. He will be challenged by teammates Colby Stevenson, 2022’s big air silver medalist, and Mac Forehand, who claimed slopestyle silver at the 2025 World Championships, as well as a host of top international skiers. 

What sports did Alex Hall do outside skiing as a kid?

Hall previously has said that his main passion in sports growing up was soccer. As a child, Hall played the position of goalkeeper for a local team in Zurich. 

What languages can Alex Hall speak other than English?

Having grown up internationally, Hall can speak multiple languages besides English. He is fluent in German, one of three official languages of Switzerland, and is conversational in both Italian and French, which are the country’s other two official languages. 

Does Alex Hall have any siblings?

Hall has an older brother named Aldo, who he credits as helping him discover his passion for skiing. Aldo, an avid snowboarder, would watch videos and practice new tricks with Alex, which helped contribute to the inventive nature of his runs. The two enjoyed attending the annual freestyle.ch competition held in Zurich, which had events in freeskiing, snowboarding, FMX, and skateboarding. 

What other ventures is Alex Hall involved in besides skiing?

Paired with his love of freeskiing, Hall also has developed an affinity for filmmaking. He is a founding member of the film brand Magma Ski, which focuses on capturing an artistic and candid portrayal of life on the slopes, alongside friend and halfpipe skier Hunter Hess and filmmaker Owen Dahlberg. Magma just wrapped up an international movie tour showcasing its latest works, featuring viewings in the United States, New Zealand, and Austria. 

Learn more about the freeskiers and snowboarders set to compete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.