Eileen Gu and Birk Ruud claimed victories in the women’s and men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle finals at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in Laax, Switzerland, on Saturday, 17 January, closing out the third slopestyle event of the 2025–26 season ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Gu, the reigning Olympic big air champion and slopestyle silver medallist, struck early in the women’s event. The skier from the People’s Republic of China locked up the win with her opening run, which stood as the top score of the final, before crashing on her second attempt while pushing for more, already safe in the knowledge that she would win.
Mairn Hamill of the United States finished second, with Austria’s Lara Wolf completing the podium.
After the competition, an interviewer informed Gu that the victory marked the 20th World Cup win of her career, making her the first freestyle skier in history to reach the milestone.
“I didn’t even think of that,” Gu said with a wide smile. “It’s my twentieth win, that’s so special. First of all, I can’t believe it’s been that many, and secondly, each one gets harder. People sometimes take it for granted, but with every win, it becomes exponentially more difficult. I’m really proud of the consistency I’ve shown.”
“I don’t really like taking victory laps,” she added of the crash on her second run. “I just wanted to do something to keep pushing and show my best out here. But that’s the sport, sometimes you fall.”
In the men’s final, Norway’s reigning freeski world champion Ruud secured the first-place position for the third year in a row at Laax, describing the moment as both emotional and freeing.
“To be able to ski this beautiful course and just flow through it, to be fully in the moment and feel free as a bird, that’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Ruud said. “Skiing is a sport where I can truly be present, and that makes days like this very special.”
Ruud also spoke openly about the emotions he carried into the final. “I was a little sad yesterday and today for some reason, and that’s OK,” he said. “It means you can also be happy. Landing that first run today was a great relief, and now I feel really present in this moment. I’m super hyped and very thankful.”
He was joined by Austria’s Matej Svancer in second and Canada’s Evan McEachran in third.
The Laax Open, held from 15–17 January, marked the final opportunity to earn points towards qualification ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, adding extra pressure on the iconic Swiss event.
Freestyle skiing slopestyle will be contested at Milano Cortina 2026 at the Livigno Snow Park from 7–9 February.