Norway's Birk Ruud Dominates Gray Conditions to Claim Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Two-time world champion Birk Ruud unleashed a near-faultless opening run of the men's freestyle skiing slopestyle competition at Milano Cortina 2026 on February 10 to win gold at the Livigno Snow Park. The Norwegian laid down a huge score of 86.28 points in his first run, adding Olympic gold to his world title in the event as eight of the previous 11 skiers fell in challenging conditions.

Ruud's victory came in less-than-ideal circumstances, with gray skies and difficult snow conditions testing the world's best slopestyle skiers. Despite the challenging environment, the Norwegian star put down his best run on his first trip down the mountain, executing his rail section and jumps with precision that his competitors couldn't match. His first of three permitted runs in the final counted as his winning score, demonstrating his ability to deliver under pressure when it mattered most.

Beijing 2022 slopestyle champion Alex Hall of the United States moved into silver medal position with a score of 85.75 on his second run, unable to dethrone Ruud despite his best efforts. Hall's performance was still impressive, earning him his second consecutive Olympic medal in the event. The bronze medal went to Luca Harrington in his Olympic debut, who had been outside the podium places heading into his last run but delivered when it counted with a score of 85.15 to move into third place.

The victory continues Norway's dominance in freestyle skiing at Milano Cortina 2026, adding another gold medal to their impressive haul at these Winter Games. Ruud's performance showcased his technical mastery and mental toughness, as he managed to avoid the falls that plagued many of his competitors in the difficult conditions. His ability to land his tricks cleanly while others struggled highlighted the difference between world-class and Olympic champion level performance.

Ruud now sets his sights on potentially adding another medal in the big air competition later in the Games, where he will again face off against Hall and other top competitors. The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the premier freeskiers in the world, and this Olympic gold cements his legacy in the sport. His performance in Livigno will be remembered as a masterclass in execution under challenging conditions, turning what could have been a difficult day into Olympic glory for Norway.