The third snowboard halfpipe World Cup of the 2025/26 season took place under the lights in Calgary on 3 January, as riders competed for crucial Olympic qualification points ahead of Milano Cortina 2026.
Several top-ranked snowboarders, including the Japanese team, opted to skip the event, opening the door for new contenders to step onto the podium.
Australia’s Valentino Guseli qualified first and finished on top, to earn his second career halfpipe World Cup win. This marks Guseli’s first win after coming back from a knee injury that saw him miss the 2024/25 World Cup season. He previously finished third at the Copper Mountain World Cup in December.
Guseli took control from his opening run and never relinquished the lead. His winning run featured a massive backside alley-oop 360 into a Cab double cork 1080, followed by a frontside 1260 into a backside 720, and a switch backside 900 to close.
Switzerland’s David Hableutzel earned his first ever World Cup podium, finishing with a score of 80.00. Veteran rider Patrick Burgener claimed third with a 79.25, earning his eighth World Cup podium, and his first representing Brazil.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Milano Cortina 2026.
Canada’s Elizabeth Hosking claims her first World Cup victory
In the women’s competition, Canada’s Elizabeth Hosking captured her first-ever World Cup win, making it even more momentous, doing so on home snow.
The 24-year-old, who had previously earned three World Cup podiums dating back to 2022, secured the win with a dominant first run. Hosking started with a frontside 720 into a Haakon Flip 720, followed by back-to-back 540s and a frontside 900, earning a top score of 82.50.
The People’s Republic of China’s Wu Shaotong finished second with a score of 77.25, while Switzerland’s Isabelle Loetscher rounded out the podium with a 76.00.
Two-time Olympic halfpipe champion Chloe Kim was among several top-ranked riders absent from the women’s field, creating an opportunity for new winners to emerge.
Snowboard halfpipe World Cup competition continues next at Aspen Snowmass, Colorado (7–9 January), offering one of the final opportunities for snowboarders to secure Olympic qualification ahead of Milano Cortina 2026.
2025/26 Snowboarding World Cup halfpipe at Calgary results
Men’s
- Valentino Guseli (AUS) 87.75
- David Habluetzel (SUI) 80.00
- Patrick Burgener (BRA) 79.26
Women’s
- Elizabeth Hosking (CAN) 82.50
- Wu Shaotong (CHN) 77.25
- Isabelle Loetscher (SUI) 76.00