Ruud lands Olympic Slopestyle gold, Hall settles for silver

Birk Ruud (NOR) added Slopestyle gold to his Big Air title from Beijing 2022 on Tuesday, outclassing the field at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

The two-time reigning Slopestyle World Champion laid down an early marker with 86.28 points on his first run after dropping in last at Livigno Snow Park as the top qualifier.

He showed control and technique on the rails before finishing with a nosebutter double 12 for the best first-run score by 7.63 points. And it would not be surpassed.

Hall stands tall

Beijing 2022 Slopestyle champion Alex Hall (USA), this season’s joint-Slopestyle Crystal Globe leader alongside Ruud, took silver on the strength of his second run. His 85.75-point effort ensured that the USA continues to have a medalist at this event at every Games.

A new medalist

New Zealand got its first Olympic Slopestyle medal after Luca Harrington (NZL) received 85.15 points for his third run, propelling him up from 11th in the 12-man final.

The X Games gold medalist showcased a switch double 18 and switch right triple on the jumps to underline his Olympic debut.

"It was kind of a weird moment sitting in the bronze position," said Harrington, who faced a nervous wait before his bronze medal was confirmed. "I was very content and very grateful and very proud of myself for landing a run.

"I think that wave of emotion that actually hit, that I was actually the bronze medallist, came from so deep inside of me. It's come from my whole experience, my whole journey to get here."

There was heartbreak again for Andri Ragettli (SUI), the 2021 Slopestyle World Champion and four-time Slopestyle Crystal Globe winner. The 27-year-old was fourth on 78.65 points, finishing in the same spot as he did at Beijing 2022 after being the top qualifier.

With the gold medal secured, Ruud had the luxury of a victory lap, ending with a backflip.

On the podium, he thought of his father Oivind, who died of cancer in April 2021.

"My dad is watching from somewhere else," the 25-year-old said. "When we played the national anthem, I was thinking of him and just everything that happens in life, and suddenly now I'm here, which is something I was working hard towards. Everybody here has been working towards it, and everybody is dreaming of the gold.

"When you think of all that, it's a lot and I get emotional, which is beautiful. It's a good feeling to have both happy and sad tears at the same time. It's all beautiful."