Park & Pipe Community Update - January 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 

Check Out SnowLive and the Upcoming Action!

Don't miss a minute of the World Cup action with SnowLive.

Date

Category

Location

Event/s

15-18 Jan WC Laax, SUI SS, HP
23-25 Jan XG Aspen, USA SS, BA, HP
5-15 Feb OWG Milano Cortina, ITA SS, BA, HP
7-8 Mar WC Ban-K, JPN  SNB - HP
17-20 Mar WC Tignes, FRA FS - SS, BA
19-21 Mar WC Flachau, AUT SNB - SS
25-29 Mar WC Silvaplana, SUI SS, HP

 

WC = World Cup, XG = X Games, OWG = Olympic Winter Games

SNB = Snowboard Only Event, FS = Freeski Only Event

Indra Brown makes her World Cup Debut!

Teenage sensation Indra Brown has delivered a historic debut performance for Australian winter sports, claiming a bronze medal in the freeski halfpipe at Secret Garden, China. At just 15 years of age, Brown becomes the youngest Australian ever to secure a World Cup podium finish.

read more >
All Hickman - 16 Year Old Snowboard Star

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.

read more >
Gold for Indra Brown!

Australian teenager Indra Brown secured her maiden Freeski Halfpipe World Cup victory in Calgary on Saturday to claim her third consecutive podium since the 15-year-old made her tour debut in December.

Brown was the first skier to secure victory on Saturday after the Australian took an early lead with a run one score of 85.20 that no other skier was able to match.

read more >
Valentino Guseli takes the Win in Calgary Halfpipe WC
Australian snowboard star Valentino Guseli has claimed his first World Cup victory since February 2024, delivering a gold medal performance in Calgary, Canada.
 
The 20-year-old from the NSW South Coast now boasts three World Cup wins, all on Canadian snow, two in Calgary’s halfpipe and one in big air at Edmonton.
read more >
Freeride World Championships Team Announcements

Snow Australia has named six athletes to represent the country at the 2026 YETI FIS Freeride Junior World Championships Kappl and the FIS Freeride World Championships in Andorra. 

read more >
2026 Milano Cortina - Watch Party

Calling all Families, Friends, Staff, Coaches, and Winter Olympic Enthusiasts!

Come and cheer on your Aussie Athletes as they bring the heat in the World's most prestigious Winter Competition!

Register your interest via the link below: 

Winter Olympics Watch Parties - Expression of Interest

2026 Snow Australia Awards - Save the Date

The highly anticipated 2026 Snow Awards are here!

An incredible night celebrating our talented athletes and their 2025/26 seasons, and the conclusion of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. 

Save the Date!

2026 SNOW AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Thursday 23rd April 2026

Ticket Information Coming Soon - be sure to secure your tickets early so you don't miss out! 

Thank You Michael Kennedy!

After more than two decades at the helm of Snow Australia, Michael Kennedy has advised the Board that he will step down as Chief Executive Officer following the Snow Australia Awards in April 2026.

Michael is the longest-serving National Sporting Organisation (NSO) CEO in Australian sport history. Over his 23-year tenure, he has overseen a transformational era for Australian snow sports,  uniting the sport under a single national body, partnering to deliver sustained Olympic and Paralympic success, and leading major infrastructure projects including the landmark $13 million National Snowsports Training Centre in Jindabyne.

read more >
Follow us on social media!

Facebook Twitter Instagram

#SNOWAUST

Powered by  revolutioniseSPORT