HICKMAN’S OLYMPIC DREAM ONE STEP CLOSER AFTER BRONZE MEDAL IN SNOWBOARD
Published Sun 14 Dec 2025
16 year old snowboard rising star Ally Hickman won her first ever FIS World Cup medal in snowboard big air at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, taking home the bronze.
It was a breakout performance from the Sydney sider, laying down the highest score of anyone in the first of her three runs, with a frontside 1080 with mute and tail grabs earning her 88.00 points.
With the best two of her three runs counting for the overall score, Hickman made two attempts at a backside 720 with melon grab, the second of which earned her 74.25 points to claim the bronze.
The youngster couldn’t quite believe it as her name was called out for the presentation.
“OMG the feeling right now is just insane, this a dream come true,” said an elated Hickman.
“I dropped in for my first run, in the air I thought I needed to land this and when I did… just wow.
“After the first run I tried to forget about it and focus on the next two runs.
“The highlight of the World Cup was competing against [two-time Olympic champion] Jamie Anderson, who made her come back after having two children. She has been a hero of mine growing up,” said Hickman.
Since a young age Hickman has had Olympic aspirations, which now could be a reality come Milan-Cortina in 2026.
“It has always been a massive dream of mine growing up in Malabar, Sydney ever since I started snowboarding at Perisher when I was five years old to go to the Olympic Games.
“I can’t believe the dream could potentially be a reality in a few months,” she said.
The moment made even more special for Hickman, who was able to share it with her dad who has supported her journey from the outset.
“Standing at the top of the jump with my dad, who introduced me to snowboarding, and my coach was pretty special.
“We are now heading to Switzerland to chill out and then heading to Aspen early in the New Year,” she said.
Also competing in the women’s final for Australia was 21-year-old Meila Stalker, in seventh place on 145 points in her second finals appearance of the season.
Hickman’s podium finish moves her to fourth overall in the final World Cup Big Air standings, Stalker is seventh and 2018 Olympic slopestyle bronze medallist Tess Coady sits in 12th. Coady did not compete in Steamboat, opting for training in Europe.
In the men’s event, Australians Jesse Parkinson (27th), Joshua Robertson-Hahn (33rd) and Valentino Guseli (46th) missed the finals.
The focus now shifts to the slopestyle discipline and the final World Cup and Olympic qualification events, kicking off the new year in Aspen with the next competition on January 10.
