Freeski Halfpipe World Cup tour hits Silvaplana for season finale

Australian teenager Indra Brown is in the running to win not one but two Crystal Globe trophies in Silvaplana (SUI) this week as the Freeski Halfpipe specialist wraps up her rookie 2025/26 FIS Freeski Park and Pipe season.

The 16-year-old currently leads the women’s Freeski Halfpipe World Cup standings on 290 points ahead of reigning World Champion Zoe Atkin (GBR) and her 260 points.

With just 30 points between the two ahead of the Freeski Halfpipe World Cup season finale in Silvaplana beginning on Tuesday 24 March, a victory or a second place finish in the women’s event would guarantee Brown her first Globe.

If Brown claims a second career Freeski Halfpipe World Cup victory in Silvaplana, the teenager could also potentially top the overall women’s Freeski Park and Pipe standings where she is currently third on 358 points thanks to her Big Air and Slopestyle results.

Brown is also competing in Freeski Slopestyle in Silvaplana after finishing 14th at the Tignes World Cup last week. The Australian was also fourth in Freeski Big Air in Tignes. Brown recently became the Halfpipe Junior World Champion earlier in March.

Atkin, on the other hand, will resume World Cup competition in Silvaplana off the back of her Milano Cortina 2026 bronze medal in February.

The 23-year-old’s record this World Cup season includes three podiums, including one victory, from three starts.

Atkin shared last season’s Crystal Globe with China’s Li Fanghui, who claimed silver at Milano Cortina 2026 ahead of Atkin. Li is not competing in Silvaplana, and neither is her teammate and two-time Freeski Halfpipe Olympic champion Eileen Gu (CHN).

The women’s field of 15 also features seven U.S. skiers led by Milano Cortina 2026 finalists Kate Gray and Svea Irving, who finished 10th and 11th respectively in Italy.

Other noteworthy names include Canada’s Amy Fraser, who just missed the Olympic podium with fourth place, but comes into Silvaplana fresh off of a second-place finish at last week’s Snow League event.

Estonian up-and-comer Grete-Mia Meentalo comes to Silvaplana after the 17-year-old was third at the FIS Freeski Park and Pipe Junior World Championships. Meentalo is joined by Kelly Sildrau, who did not qualify for the Olympic final in February but previously claimed bronze in Freeski Slopestyle at the Beijing 2022 Games.

In the men’s field of 27, Hunter Hess (USA) is the favorite for the Crystal Globe with standings leader Finley Melville Ives (NZL) out of action as he recovers from the broken collarbone he sustained at Milano Cortina 2026.

Hess is currently second behind the New Zealander’s 280 points on 265, but the U.S. skier is tipped to add to his total after already recording three podium finishes from four starts this World Cup season.

Hess finished 10th at Milano Cortina 2026, but in the lead-up to those Games recorded two runner-up World Cup finishes and one third-place finish at Aspen, Copper and Secret Garden (CHN) respectively.

Milano Cortina 2026 silver medalist Henry Sildaru (FIN) and bronze medalist Brendan Mackay (CAN) will also be on hand in Silvaplana as the pair wrap up a season of mixed performances. Neither Sildaru nor Mackay had finished within the top 10 during the 2025/26 World Cup season before claiming Olympic medals in February.

Other Milano Cortina 2026 finalists competing in Silvaplana include Birk Irving (USA), currently ranked third behind Hess in the season standings on 191 points, and Great Britain’s Gus Kenworthy. Irving and Kenworthy were fifth and sixth respectively at Milano Cortina 2026, and Irving claimed his eighth career World Cup podium in January after finishing third in Calgary.

The top 10 women and top 14 men from Tuesday's qualifications will advance to the finals on Sunday 29 March.

QUICK LINKS

• Silvaplana Freeski Halfpipe World Cup data page (start lists, live scoring)

• 2025/26 FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup standings

• FIS TV