U.S. skier Steen stuns with three Junior World titles in Calgary

Fourteen-year-old Lainey Steen (USA) secured three back-to-back victories at the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Calgary last week to extend her 2026 streak of podium finishes.

The U.S. skier claimed the first title on offer at Calgary's WinSport Canada Olympic Park with victory in the women’s Freeski Slopestyle on 1 March. Steen overtook local favorite Hunter Belle Hall (CAN) in the final with a second-run score of 89.50.

Seventeen-year-old Jonas Larsen of Norway became the men’s Freeski Slopestyle Junior World Champion with a second-run score of 84.75 following a heavy crash in his first attempt.

Steen followed up her Freeski Slopestyle win with an emphatic victory in Freeski Big Air on 4 March. Her 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) finished third behind Lewis to claim her second podium in Calgary after also finishing third in Freeski Slopestyle earlier in the week.

Frank Wahlstroem gave Norway its second title in Calgary after topping the men’s Freeski Big Air final by landing three technically consistent runs.

New Zealand’s Lucas Ball was runner-up behind Wahlstroem and claimed his second podium of the week after also finishing second in Freeski Slopestyle behind Larsen.

Steen came close to another title in Freeski Halfpipe on 5 March but settled for second place as Australia’s Indra Brown claimed the top spot. The Australian’s winning run of 92.00 was the highest score of the day and came after the 16-year-old finished fourth in Slopestyle and fifth in Big Air days earlier.

Alexander Swedenborg (USA) topped the men’s Freeski Halfpipe final to claim his first career victory ahead of team-mate Mack Winterberger.

With two Junior World titles already in her pocket, Steen went on to claim her third victory on 6 March in the women’s Rail event. The 14-year-old wrapped up her FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships campaign with a total of four podiums.

Steen’s Rail victory also marked her 11th consecutive podium finish of 2026.

In the men’s Rail event on 7 March, Sweden’s Melvin Seliberg saved the best until last to become Junior World Champion.

The 15-year-old’s Rail victory follows his 12th place in Big Air and 26th place in Slopestyle earlier in the week. The win marks Seliberg’s second career victory after the teenager claimed his maiden win in Freeski Big Air at a regional FIS event in Klaeppen (SWE) in February.

The Freeski Rail event in Calgary marked the first time it has been contested at the Junior World Championships.

QUICK LINKS

Full results from the 2026 FIS Freeski Park and Pipe Junior World Championships