Calgary, Canada (4 January 2026) – Finley Melville Ives (Wānaka, 19) has continued his momentum, claiming his second World Cup podium of the season with a standout second-place finish at the third stop of the FIS Halfpipe World Cup Tour in Calgary this morning.
Melville Ives was thrilled with his result, saying; I’m so stoked, I can’t believe it – it’s been an incredible start to the World Cup season. To be up there on the podium with Nick [Goepper], I am so grateful.”
Athletes were tested by challenging conditions at Calgary Olympic Park, with flat light reducing visibility and temperatures sitting around -10 degrees Celsius impacting speed in the pipe.
Despite the less that ideal conditions, Melville Ives putdown a career first trick in competition, landing a switch left double corked 1440 safety grab on the second hit of his second finals run, explaining; “The conditions were pretty tricky today, but managed to put my run down and land a trick I’d never done before in competition [the switch 1440], so I am pretty hyped to tick that one off!”
The reigning World Champion topped qualification from his heat, earning the advantage of dropping second to last in both finals runs. He wasted no time making his mark in run one, delivering a near-flawless top-to-bottom performance to take the early lead.
With several athletes unable to put down clean first runs, the intensity ramped up for the second run of finals. USA’s Nick Goepper responded with a highly technical run, posting a score of 94.80 to move into the lead and apply pressure heading into the final few drops.
Showing trademark composure, Melville Ives focused on his skiing rather than the scores and was determined to raise the bar. He attacked the pipe with intent, and put down his career first 1440, looking for every ounce of amplitude. Unfortunately, a couple of small bobbles on two of his landings saw his second run fall just short of improving on his opening score, which remained his best score of the day.
Melville Ives finished in second place, with Goepper taking the win and American teammate Birk Irving completing the podium in third.
Fellow Wānaka athlete Ben Harrington also impressed, advancing to finals and securing his best result of the season with an eighth-place finish.
The FIS Halfpipe World Cup Tour continues next weekend in Aspen, where New Zealand’s slopestyle athletes will also return to competition as the winter season gathers momentum with just 33 days until the opening ceremony of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
