Laax Snowboard Results 2026 Olympics Predictions
In a given Winter Olympics cycle, the Laax Open, the annual snowboarding (and, more recently, freestyle skiing) World Cup competition held in Switzerland each January, is typically the final qualifying event ahead of the Games.
And while it isn’t necessarily a blueprint for how the Olympics will go down, it can reveal plenty of hints as to who might land on the podium.
Take the Beijing 2022 Games. Five snowboarders who made the podium at that year’s Laax Open found themselves standing atop it once again in Beijing. American Chloe Kim won the Laax Open women’s snowboard halfpipe final, and would go on to win her second consecutive gold medal in Beijing. Spain’s Queralt Castellet earned Olympic silver after finishing in third at the Laax Open.
On the men’s halfpipe side, Japan’s Ayumu Hirano, like Kim, followed up a Laax Open victory with Olympic gold. Olympic bronze medalist Jan Scherrer of Switzerland had finished in second in his home country weeks earlier.
In women’s snowboard slopestyle, Australia’s Tess Coady took bronze at the Olympics after having earned the victory in Laax.
Of course, not everyone who competes at the Laax Open will compete at the Olympics, and vice versa. But there are a handful of trends and results from this year’s event, which concluded on sunday, that might tell us what to expect at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.
The 2026 Laax Open men’s halfpipe podium was composed entirely of riders from Australia (Scotty James and Valentino Guseli) or New Zealand (Cam Melville Ives).
Men’s Halfpipe: Oceania Dominates
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At the Laax Open, all three athletes who finished atop the men’s halfpipe podium hailed from OceanU.S. men, Red Gerard (third) and jake Canter (sixth), have already qualified for the U.S. Olympic snowboarding team and sat out the events in Laax to train at home. In fact, men’s slopestyle is arguably the United States’ strongest snowboarding discipline; there are more riders ranked in the top 10 (five) than Team USA can bring to Italy.
Halfpipe
in men’s halfpipe, veteran Chase Josey finished highest among the Americans, landing just off the podium in fourth place. Still, it was a crucial finish for the two-time Olympian, who was ranked No. 4 among the Americans heading into Laax. The 500-plus FIS points he claimed help him make his case for being included on the Olympic roster when it’s announced on January 23.
Alessandro Barbieri, who is the top American in the world rankings (No. 8), finished in ninth.
Among the women, one name was conspicuously absent from the start list. Chloe Kim, who has already qualified for Milano Cortina 2026 and will attempt to extend her Olympic gold medal streak to three, sat out the Laax Open as she recovers from a torn labrum she suffered in a training run earlier this month.
Maddie Mastro, who came in second at the 2025 Laax Open, was the only American woman to make this year’s halfpipe final. After an uncharacteristic fall on her first run, she did enough on her second to finish in ninth place, still earning valuable qualification points as she looks to qualify for her third consecutive Olympics.
Gaon choi of South Korea celebrates after winning the Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe Finals during the toyota US Grand Prix 2025 at Copper Mountain on December 19,2025 in Copper Mountain,Colorado.
Olympic Podiums Coudl Include Multiple Rookies
Gaon Choi. Cam Melville Ives. Mia Brookes. Rise Kudo. Romain Allemand. Oyvind Kirkhus.
Remember those names, because these snowboarders making their oly
Snowboarder James expressed excitement and competitive anticipation regarding an upcoming halfpipe competition, stating he looks forward to challenging his fellow athletes.The quote originates from a source identified only by an Instagram embed, and requires self-reliant verification.
James: A Rising Competitor in Snowboarding
james is an athlete competing in snowboarding’s halfpipe discipline,and recently voiced his enthusiasm for an upcoming event. He anticipates a challenging competition against other skilled snowboarders.
As of January 19, 2026, specific details regarding James’ full name, nationality, and competitive record remain unverified due to the limited source information. further research is needed to establish his standing within the professional snowboarding circuit.
The Halfpipe Discipline
The halfpipe is a snowboarding event where athletes perform tricks while moving back and forth on a U-shaped snow structure. the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) governs the sport internationally, establishing rules and overseeing competitions.
Judging in halfpipe competitions considers amplitude (height above the lip of the pipe), difficulty of tricks, and execution. Athletes are scored on a scale of 0-100, with the highest score winning.
Such as, at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing,Ayumu Hirano of Japan won the gold medal in the men’s halfpipe with a score of 96.25.
Competition and Rivalry
james’ statement highlights the competitive nature of halfpipe snowboarding.He anticipates a “battle” with other athletes, indicating a high level of skill and a desire to win.
The FIS maintains rankings for snowboarders based on their performance in World cup and championship events. FIS Rankings provide a snapshot of the current competitive landscape.
As of January 19, 2026, the specific competitors James referenced remain unidentified, requiring further examination to determine the field of athletes participating in the event.