Silver medallist Lucia Georgalli celebrates on the podium following the Snowboard Women’s Slopestyle at the Welli Hilli Park Ski Resort on 24 January, 2024.
Photo: ANOC Olympic / Jonathan Nackstrand for OIS/IOC
Seventeen athletes have been confirmed for next month’s Milano Cortina Winter Olympics – the biggest snow sports contingent that New Zealand has sent to a Winter Olympics.
Nine athletes were selected on Friday to join their eight team-mates who were conditionally selected in October last year. All 17 athletes are now unconditionally selected having confirmed Winter Olympic quota spots.
For Freeski Halfpipe athlete, Ben Harrington, selection to the New Zealand team is a family affair, younger sibling Luca selected earlier.
“I’m super stoked to join the New Zealand Team for Milano Cortina 2026 … It’s also pretty cool to be in the same team as my younger brother,” Harrington said.
“Having been to Beijing in 2022, I have an idea of what’s coming in terms of the Olympic set up. I’ll be looking to use that experience this time around and hopefully make everyone proud who’s supported me along the way,” he said.
Harrington is joined by Gustav Legnavsky in the Freeski Halfpipe, who, at just 16 years old, also competed at Beijing 2022.
Mischa Thomas completes the Freeski Halfpipe athletes for this round of selections. She has Olympic experience from Gangwon 2024 as part of the NZ Team at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Thomas has shown strong form in 2025 including winning both the European Cup in Halfpipe in Corvatsch, Switzerland and the European Cup Premium at Laax, Switzerland in Slopestyle.
The selections of Sylvia Trotter and Lucas Ball make a total of five athletes who will compete in the Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air discipline at Milano Cortina 2026.
Trotter finished tenth at the Stubai Freeski Slopestyle World Cup and seventh at the Secret Garden Freeski Big Air World Cup. Both results were Trotter’s debut World Cup events in the discipline.
New Zealand slopestyle snowboarder Dane Menzies in action at last year’s Winter Games NZ event
Photo: SUPPLIED / WINTER GAMES NZ / NEIL KERR
Lucia Georgalli joins Zoi Sadwoski-Synnott in the NZ Team for the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air competition.
Georgalli can draw on her experiences at the Winter Youth Olympic Games at Gangwon 2024 where she picked up a silver medal in the Snowboard Slopestyle and a bronze in the Big Air.
Three athletes will compete in the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air at Milano Cortina 2026.
Dane Menzies has strong 2025 form behind him, notably placing fourth in the World Cup in Aspen USA in Slopestyle and fifth in the World Cup in Beijing in Big Air. He also picked up a third place in the 2026 World Cup in Snowmass USA in Slopestyle.
Rocco Jamieson established himself on the international stage in 2025 with World Cup podium finishes at Cardrona and Switzerland before making a standout debut at X Games Aspen 2025, securing a bronze medal.
Lyon Farrell completes the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air contingent, a consistent performer who was able to achieve top 10 placings in Big Air in World Cup events in the USA and China.
Snow Sports NZ chief executive Nic Cavanagh said the athletes selected represented some of the finest talent to emerge in snow sports in New Zealand, now competing at the absolute top of their game.
“In addition to experienced Olympians and World Champions, we are seeing a crop of fearless, young athletes emerge and stamp their mark on the international stage. Their potential is enormous and this is a chance for New Zealanders to watch and cheer from afar as they showcase what they’ve been working on for many years,” he said.
Cavanagh said the future was bright for snow sports in New Zealand.
“This is an illustration of how rich the talent is in the sport right now, and how hard the athletes have worked for selection. Behind them is a community of parents, coaches, supporters, clubs and resorts who have nurtured their development over many years, and who can share in their success. As a community we should be very proud of their accomplishments,” he said.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place from 6-22 February 2026 across iconic Italian alpine venues.
Full NZ Team athletes selected for Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games
Ruby Star Andrews – Women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Lucas Ball – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Ben Barclay – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Lyon Farrell – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Lucia Georgalli – Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Ben Harrington – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Luca Harrington – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Luke Harrold – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Rocco Jamieson – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Gustav Legnavsky – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Cam Melville Ives – Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe
Fin Melville Ives – Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Dane Menzies – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Alice Robinson – Women’s Alpine Skiing
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott – Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Mischa Thomas – Women’s Freeski Halfpipe
Sylvia Trotter – Women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air