Steen secures second Junior World title in Calgary with Freeski Big Air victory

Fourteen-year-old Lainey Steen (USA) claimed her second title at the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Calgary after dominating the women’s Freeski Big Air final on Wednesday.

It comes just days after the U.S. skier won the women’s Freeski Slopestyle final on the weekend.

Steen battled flat light conditions at WinSport Canada Olympic Park to take an early lead on Wednesday after posting an opening score of 74.25 for a right cork 900 mute grab in her first run, followed by a switch 900 mute grab in her third run which earned her a score of 80.25 from the judges.

Steen’s winning total of 154.50 was more than 11 points clear of runner-up Emilie Lewis (FRA) and her score of 143.25.

Thirteen-year-old Maya Broadbent (AUS) was third on 134.25 as the Australian claimed her second podium of the Junior World Championships after also finishing third in Freeski Slopestyle on the weekend.

Steen’s win on Wednesday is her sixth victory of 2026 and her ninth consecutive podium of the year.

Before the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Calgary, Steen was runner-up in Freeski Halfpipe and Freeski Slopestyle at the Nor-Am Cup at Copper Mountain in January.

But her last outright victory before these Championships was in April 2025 when she topped the Freeski Slopestyle podium at the U.S. national championships.

Steen is also scheduled to compete in Freeski Halfpipe on Thursday after qualifying for the eight-woman final in second place.

In the men’s Freeski Big Air, Norway’s Frank Wahlstroem became Junior World Champion on Wednesday after he dominated the 21-man final by landing three consistent runs.

The 15-year-old took an early lead with his first-run score of 94.75 for his technically impressive switch nose butter double 1800 lead Japan.

The 15-year-old then posted a 90.00 in his second run before his third-run score of 90.50 – for his switch indy tail butter double 1620 Japan grab – gave him a winning total of 185.25.

New Zealand’s Lucas Ball was runner-up behind Wahlstroem on 184.75, which marks the 17-year-old’s second podium at the Junior World Championships after also finishing second in Freeski Slopestyle on Saturday.

Canada’s Jude Oliver was third on 173.50 as the 16-year-old claimed his third podium finish on home snow. The teenager was third in Stoneham at the 2026 Nor-Am Cup in February and previously claimed runner-up honors in Whistler Blackcomb in 2025.

Wahlstroem’s victory on Wednesday follows his 10th place finish in Freeski Slopestyle on the weekend. Meanwhile, fellow Norwegian and recently crowned Freeski Slopestyle Junior World Champion Jonas Larsen finished fifth in Wednesday’s final.

Wahlstroem previously topped the Freeski Slopestyle podium at the 2024 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Livigno (ITA). He made his FIS Freeski Park and Pipe World Cup debut at the 2025/26 Freeski Big Air season opener in Secret Garden (CHN) in December. Of his five World Cup starts, his best result was fourth place in Freeski Big Air in Beijing.

The FIS Freeski Park & Pipe Junior World Championships will resume on Thursday 5 March with Freeski Halfpipe finals from 14:30 local time. The Freeski Rail competition begins on Friday 6 March.