Park & Pipe Update - January 2026
Published Thu 15 Jan 2026
Happy New Year Park & Pipe Community!
This month is full of exciting events in the lead up to the highly anticipated 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games including World Cups, X Games, and Team Selection Announcements!
Looking back at the last 6 weeks, here is an overview of some of the top performances by our Australian athletes.
Our young and mighty Freeski Athlete Indra Brown shocked us all with an incredible debut in Freeski Halfpipe in Secret Garden, China in December. Not only did she make finals in her first event but finished on the podium in 3rd. First World Cup and first podium! WOWWY!
Also at Secret Garden, our Snowboard Halfpipe athletes began their World Cup campaign with Scotty James making finals and finishing in 10th place and Emily Arthur placing best in the Women’s, finishing in 22nd.
Steamboat, USA hosted the next Park & Pipe World Cup event with Big Air. Snowboarders Ally Hickman and Mela Stalker both made finals with Mela finishing in 7th, and Ally achieving her first World Cup podium, finishing in 3rd place.
Also in the USA, Copper Mountain hosted the second Halfpipe event of the season with fantastic results from our Aussie athletes. Highlighted by 15 year old Indra Brown’s second place in just her second World Cup competition (can anyone see Indra’s pattern coming on? 3rd, 2nd, …). In Snowboard, Valentino Guseli made his return to Halfpipe competition following last seasons injury with a 3rd place, and Amelie Haskell was best placed in the women’s Snowboard competition with a 19th.
Our Halfpipers travelled to Calgary for the next event with our athletes once again leaving their mark. Valentino Guseli’s successful return to halfpipe competition continued, making the podium again! This time, rising to the top, finishing in 1st place! Let’s Go Val!
And, in case you missed it, Indra Brown’s pattern of success continued. In only her third World Cup start, she came away with her first World Cup win! Stomping her way to the top! Congratulations Indra!
In Aspen, Valentino Guseli and Indra Brown’s strong performances in halfpipe continued with both athletes finishing fourth in the snowboard and freeski events respectively. Amelie Haskell was best of the women in snowboard halfpipe making her first final and achieving a personal best 8th place. In slopestyle, snowboarder Mela Stalker was the best of the women with a personal best 5th place, followed by Tess Coady in 6th. Josh Robertson-Hahn was the best of the men finishing 26th.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s action, the Halfpipe and Slopestyle Laax Open is on!
Look out for Scotty James, Valentino Guseli, Jesse Parkinson, Josh Robertson-Hahn, Mela Stalker, Ally Hickman, Indra Brown, and Joey Elliss, as they continue to add to their already fantastic season!
This weekend will also see Freeski athlete Daisy Thomas making her way back to World Cup competition post some rest and recovery here in Australia, and Snowboard athlete Jess McGregor making her debut, dropping in at her first Slopestyle World Cup!
Be sure to check out SnowLive so you don’t miss a minute of the action!
Following the Laax Open, Scotty James will make his return to Aspen X Games aiming to claim that Gold Medal once again, and Indra Brown will make her X Games debut.
On behalf of Snow Australia we wish all athletes the best of luck in their upcoming events! Let’s Go Aussies!
Park & Pipe National Discipline Committee
Included in this update:
- Up next on SnowLive
- Indra Brown makes her World Cup Debut!
- Ally Hickman - 16 Year Old Snowboard Star
- Gold for Indra Brown!
- Valentino Guseli takes the Win in Calgary Halfpipe WC
- Freeride World Championships Team Announcements
- 2026 Milano Cortina - Watch Party EOI
- 2026 Snow Australia Awards - Save the Date
- Thank You Michael Kennedy!
