Victory for Gu as New Zealand dominate men’s Halfpipe season opener in Secret Garden

China’s Eileen Gu is back and better than ever, with the reigning Olympic champion winning the first Halfpipe World Cup of the 2025/26 season in Secret Garden on Saturday, to claim her 19th World Cup win in the same pipe where she won Olympic gold almost four years ago.

On the men’s side, 19-year-old reigning World Champion Finley Melville Ives claimed his second World Cup career victory on Saturday to show he may be the man to beat going into the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Gu secured Saturday’s win with an exceptional final run amid challenging weather conditions in Secret Garden which affected the speed and amplitude of multiple skiers.

Before Gu’s last-ditch attempt, it was Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin who looked to be in the driver’s seat of the competition after Atkin scored a 90.25 in her first run of the final, putting her fully five points ahead of Gu’s run one score of 85.25.

With her back against the wall, Gu did not hold back in her final run, leading with her signature right cork 900 buick, into a left cork 900 blunt, then a switch indy 720 Japan, a left alley oop flatspin 540 mute, and a right alley oop flatspin 540 critical grab on the final hit for a winning score of 91.75.

“That was not easy. I’ve been struggling with speed all of training,” said the 22-year-old.

“I actually almost didn’t compete because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do my tricks at the amplitude I was at. That was the first full run that I’ve landed all day. It was such a mental battle.”

Australia’s Indra Brown finished third behind Atkin on 82.00 to claim her first World Cup podium in what was the 15-year-old’s World Cup debut in Secret Garden.

Gu’s win on Saturday follows a 2024/25 season in which the Olympic champion battled multiple injuries, and comes just a week after Gu won the inaugural Snow League Freeski competition.

Australia’s Indra Brown finished third behind Atkin on 82.00 to claim her first World Cup podium in what was the 15-year-old’s World Cup debut in Secret Garden.

Gu’s win on Saturday follows a 2024/25 season in which the Olympic champion battled multiple injuries, and comes just a week after Gu won the inaugural Snow League Freeski competition.

“So I’ve been training so much, I’ve been working so hard and every single time I stay the extra hour, do the extra run, it’s proof to myself, it’s evidence to myself that I’m a winner and I deserve to win. So just building back confidence, slowly.”

With a record 19 World Cup wins and three Olympic medals to her name, Gu said training has always been the secret to her success.

“I train like I’ve never won, and I compete like I’ve never lost,” she said.

With her victory on Saturday, Gu has still never lost in the Secret Garden halfpipe.

For men’s World Champion Finley Melville Ives, his win on Saturday was unexpected for the 19-year-old as he initially did not believe he would qualify for the final.

Saturday’s windy conditions and falling snow in the pipe also pushed many skiers to their limits as they struggled to maintain speed in the people.

“It was such tricky conditions today and everyone skied so well,” said the teenager.

“It was really gnarly and I was just holding on for dear life … it was sick.”

Melville Ives took the win after posting a score of 90.00 in his first and second runs, which featured a switch right 900 Japan, a switch left dub 1080 Japan, then a right dub 1620 safety, a left dub 1620 mute, followed by a left alley oop double flatspin 900 mute

Runner-up Luke Harrold gave New Zealand its second podium of the day with 89.00 as the USA’s Hunter Hess was third on 86.25.

Melville Ives said Saturday’s win is a mental boost as he looks ahead to the four remaining World Cup events.

“It definitely helps a little (with confidence),” he said.

“It’s really exciting, I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The USA’s Birk Irving was fourth, while double Olympic Halfpipe champion and Beijing 2022 silver medalist David Wise finished 12th in the 14-man final. Wise and Irving were among nine U.S. skiers in the men’s final.

The next Freeski Halfpipe World Cup will take place in Copper (USA) between 18 and 20 December.