An 18-year-old skier from New Zealand, Finley Melville Ives, has won the men’s halfpipe world title in Switzerland.
He earned the gold medal with a standout first run that scored 96.00, making him the top performer of the day.
“I am honestly in shock,” Melville Ives said after his win. “I can’t believe I landed my run. The pipe is so good and I am so thankful the weather is good.” His strong performance came early in the competition and held up against some of the best riders in the world.
American skier Nick Goepper, a three-time Olympic medallist in slopestyle, took the silver medal with a second-run score of 94.00. Close behind was Alex Ferreira, who earned bronze with a score of 92.50.
The women’s halfpipe event was just as exciting. Britain’s Zoe Atkin won her first world title with a score of 93.50 in her second run. She celebrated in a fun way, saying, “I’m going to eat all the Swiss chocolate I have in my bedroom.”
Both competitions were held in great weather conditions, helping the skiers give their best.
