Freeski Slopestyle stars back in action in Aspen with Milano Cortina on the mind
Jan 05, 2026·Freeski Park & Pipe
After a six-week break from World Cup competition, the world’s best Slopestyle skiers are back in action in Aspen (USA) this week for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix.
The Aspen World Cup beginning on Wednesday 7 January marks the second Slopestyle event of the 2025/26 FIS Freeski Park & Pipe World Cup after the Stubai (AUT) season opener in November – and less than 30 days to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games beginning in February.
For the men’s field, Aspen will be the first time they will be able to compete this season after the men's competition in Stubai was cancelled due to wind conditions. And for the women, hopes are high for a true finals showdown in Aspen after the women’s results in Stubai were based on the qualification results there.
Reigning Olympic Slopestyle champion Alex Hall (USA) leads the field of 61 men in Aspen, with the 27-year-old among 14 U.S. skiers contesting the event.
Hall won the previous World Cup in Aspen in 2025 on his way to winning the discipline Crystal Globe, while teammate Colby Stevenson was runner-up.
Norway’s Birk Ruud was third last season at the Grand Prix, but the 25-year-old is not competing in Aspen – which could pave the way for Andri Ragettli (SUI) to move into the top-three after Ragettli finished fourth here last season. With 24 Slopestyle World Cup podium finishes to his name, Ragettli has more FIS Freeski podiums than any other athlete in World Cup history.
The USA is also well placed to deliver a podium sweep in Aspen considering Stevenson won the inaugural Freeski Slopestyle Aspen World Cup in 2021 ahead of Mac Forehand. The latter claimed silver at the Engadin 2025 FIS Freeski World Championships ahead of Hall with bronze. For U.S. skiers, Aspen is also a key qualifying event for Milano Cortina 2026 with a maximum of four spots per nation per gender in the combined Slopestyle and Big Air quota. Given Hall has already qualified for Milano Cortina based on his results from the 2024/25 season – and teammate Troy Podmilsak booked his Olympic spot after winning the Steamboat Big Air World Cup in December – there are now just two U.S. men’s spots open for the remaining 13 U.S. skiers.
While the men’s field will be officially starting their Slopestyle season in Aspen, many of the field also contested the Steamboat Big Air World Cup before the Christmas break. Ralph Konnor (USA) comes to Aspen after he was runner-up in Steamboat behind Podmilsak, while Big Air World Champion Luca Harrington (NZL) was third. Harrington rolls into Aspen with three podiums already this season after securing third and second place in Big Air at Secret Garden and Beijing respectively in December.
Norway’s Ulrik Samnoey beat Harrington in Beijing and will be keen to emulate that success this week in Aspen. His 15-year-old teammate Frank Wahlstroem is also on hand, making his first Slopestyle World Cup start in Aspen after he was fourth in Big Air in Beijing, his best result from three World Cup starts since making his debut in November.
On the women’s side, Great Britain's Kirsty Muir is among a field of 27 women in Aspen as the 21-year-old begins her Slopestyle campaign after skipping the Stubai season opener. Muir began her 2025/26 season with a Big Air victory in Secret Garden in December, followed by fourth place in Beijing and ninth in Steamboat before the Christmas break.
Canada’s Naomi Urness will be hoping to continue her 2025/26 podium streak in Aspen after the 21-year-old secured three consecutive Big Air podium finishes in December, including her maiden World Cup victory in Steamboat. Urness now boasts a success rate of three top-three finishes from four World Cup starts and leads the women’s overall Park & Pipe standings on 260 points, an amazing feat considering Urness was 13th at her World Cup debut in Stubai in November.
Other Canadians to watch are Oliva Asselin and Megan Oldham. Asselin was second at the Stubai season opener, while Odham narrowly missed out on the podium in fourth place. Oldham was runner-up in Aspen last season and also won the Big Air contest here in 2025.
Finland’s Anni Karava was third in Stubai and comes to Aspen buoyed by her maiden World Cup victory at Big Air Beijing. With two-time World Champion and Beijing 20222 Olympic Slopestyle gold medalist Mathilde Gremaud (SUI) not competing in Aspen – and with Tess Ledeux (FRA) and last season’s overall Park & Pipe Crystal Globe winner Flora Tabanelli (ITA) also absent – Karava will be hoping to secure a second career Slopestyle podium this week.
Freeski Slopestyle competition in Aspen will begin with women’s qualification at 9:00 Mountain Standard Time (MST) on Wednesday 7 January.
The top eight women and top 16 men from Wednesday’s qualifications will progress to the finals beginning at 9:30 MST on Friday 9 January.
)
)
