Brown turns Olympic experience into Halfpipe Junior World title as Swedenborg claims maiden victory

Australia’s Indra Brown stormed to Freeski Halfpipe victory at the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Calgary on Thursday, while U.S. skier Alexander Swedenborg dominated the men’s final to claim his first career victory.

Brown topped the women’s final at WinSport Canada Olympic Park after judges awarded her 92.00 for a clean top-to-bottom second run featuring a right cork 900 tail grab, a left side 720, a switch right 540, switch left 720, and an alley oop 540 on the last hit.

The 16-year-old was already leading the eight-woman final after posting a first-run score of 88.50 before Brown cleaned up her run in her second attempt to record the highest score of the day.

Recently crowned Freeski Big Air and Freeski Slopestyle Junior World Champion Lainey Steen (USA) settled for second place with her best score of 86.75. Estonia’s Greta-Mia Meentalo was third on 80.25.

Brown’s Halfpipe victory comes after the Australian finished just outside of the Freeski Big Air and Freeski Slopestyle podiums earlier this week in fifth and fourth place respectively.

The teenager also arrived in Calgary as the current women’s overall Freeski Park and Pipe World Cup leader, as well as the Freeski Halfpipe leader, after claiming three podium finishes in her rookie 2025/26 World Cup season.

This includes her maiden World Cup victory in Calgary in January, on top of third place at her World Cup debut in Secret Garden (CHN) in December. Brown also wrapped up her Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games debut in February with fifth place.

Fourteen-year-old Steen’s second-place finish on Thursday marks her 10th consecutive podium finish in 2026. For third-placed Meentalo, Thursday’s result marks her first top-three finish outside of Europe.

In the men’s final, 17-year-old Alexander Swedenborg (USA) bettered his qualification performance by one spot to become Halfpipe Junior World Champion.

Swedenborg took an early lead with his first-run score of 88.50 for his switch double, a right cork 900, a left 720 blunt, a switch right 720 lead mute, and a left side dub 1260 on the last hit.

Team-mate Mack Winterberger (USA) was runner-up on 86.25 while top qualifier Cooper Breen (NZL) claimed the last podium spot with his third-run score of 84.25.

Swedenborg’s win in Calgary is his first career victory. Since joining the World Cup circuit in 2024, Swedenborg’s best result was 16th place in Buttermilk (USA) in January. The last time Swedenborg competed at WinSport Canada Olympic Park in January, he was runner-up at the Nor-Am Cup.

The Rails competition beginning on Friday 6 March will be the last opportunity for skiers to claim a podium at the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships.

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FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships (results, start lists, live scoring)