2026 Olympic Men's Freeski Slopestyle Preview & Prediction
Updated July 9, 2026
The men’s freeski slopestyle competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics will test the best riders in the world with technical rails and massive jump features at Livigno Snow Park. Recent World Cup results and current betting lines are all pointing to a highly competitive competition that could be won by a number of athletes. With the Olympic medals in freeski slopestyle set to be awarded early in the Games, several nations could come out of this event with an early gold medal. Before the action begins, keep reading for my Olympic men's freeski slopestyle prediction.
Below are the current odds for the men’s freeski slopestyle event at the Milano Cortina Games. These lines are subject to change as the competition nears and additional performance data becomes available.
One of the defining storylines in this event is the continuation of American strength in slopestyle. Historically, the United States has placed on the Olympic podium in every edition of this event, a record that feeds confidence in U.S. hopefuls this year. Alex Hall, the Beijing gold medalist, enters Milano Cortina as one of the favorites to add another Olympic medal to his resume. Recent World Cup qualifiers show Hall consistently performing at a high level, with top qualifiers in Aspen demonstrating his ability to handle both jib and jump sections under pressure.
Luca Harrington of New Zealand has flown under the radar for some fans, but recent World Cup results put him near the top of slopestyle standings. A 92.25 qualifying run in Aspen indicates that he has the technical skill and trick difficulty to threaten the established stars. Birk Ruud of Norway, priced as the betting favorite, also has explosive athleticism and the ability to impress across different types of course features, making him a dangerous contender.
Andri Ragettli of Switzerland remains a name to watch. Known more broadly for his aerial prowess in big air events, Ragettli has been sharpening his slopestyle runs in recent competitions, blending amplitude with technical precision. Meanwhile, Mac Forehand’s strong qualifying score at the Aspen World Cup highlights his mix of style and amplitude, a combination that judges often reward at major events.
Emerging names like Troy Podmilsak and Matej Svancer also offer intrigue. Podmilsak’s recent Big Air victory at a World Cup event in China signals that his confidence and aerial execution are peaking. Although slopestyle requires a slightly different approach, that kind of form cannot be ignored. Svancer, representing Austria, could pull off an upset if his trick selection and execution converge on the day of the final.
Pick: Luca Harrington ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
There are several skiiers who could conceivably come away with the gold medal in men's freeski slopestyle. My top pick is Luca Harrington of New Zealand. He's been putting up excellent scores going into this event and he should continue doing so here. At +400, I think that Harrington is an interesting value play, as I have him priced closer to +300.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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