The Final Push to the Games
Momentum doesn’t slow this close to the Olympic start gates. It builds. Over the past two weeks, Canada’s snowboard teams have been stacking podiums, having breakthrough performances, and statement results across Europe, Asia, and North America. From Para Snowboard opening 2026 with authority to X Games history and World Cup hardware, the team is hitting its stride at exactly the right time.
Statement Start to 2026
PHILIPPE NADREAU | PHOTO: FIS
The Para snowboard team opened 2026 with confidence, delivering results across Austria and Switzerland that set the tone for the season.
In Kühtai, Tyler Turner stepped onto the podium on back to back days at the Banked Slalom World Cups, finishing second on day one and third on day two.
The following weekend in Lenk, Switzerland, Philippe Nadreau charged to third place in the LL2 Para Snowboardcross, earning the first World Cup podium of his career. Sandrine Hamel finished fourth in the women’s LL2 race, while Chase Nicklin placed seventh in LL1.
Next, the Para team heads home to Canada for the Welcome to Paradise FIS Para Snowboard World Cup at Big White. Running from January 27 to February 4, the event will bring world class racing to the Okanagan. The competition is free to watch, and fans in the area are encouraged to come out and support the team.
Career Best in Bansko
ARNAUD GAUDET | PHOTO: FIS
Arnaud Gaudet delivered the strongest performance of his career at the Bansko Parallel Giant Slalom World Cup, locking in a massive second place finish.
Gaudet topped qualifications and stayed flat out through finals, earning his place in the big final after a standout day of racing.
“I am really happy. It was a good day for me. I qualified first and all my final runs were going so well and then the big final was my worst run of the day. I made plenty of mistakes and tried to catch up at the end but it was not enough. I am still happy with second place.”
Bansko hosted back to back PGS races on January 17 and 18. Gaudet followed his podium finish with an 11th place result on day two. Aurélie Moisan finished sixth in the opening race and tenth the following day, while Kaylie Buck placed 15th on day one.
The team then moved on to Simonhöhe, Austria, for racing on January 23 and 24. Ben Heldman finished ninth in the individual PGS, while Moisan also placed ninth and Buck finished 15th. The weekend closed with a team event, where Heldman and Moisan finished ninth, Buck placed tenth, and Megan Farrell rounded out the Canadian results in 16th.
WE IN X Games Mode
JASMINE BAIRD | PHOTO: X GAMES
The slopestyle team split in mid January, with some riders training at jump camp in Whistler while others competed at the Laax Open. Juliette Pelchat led the way in Switzerland with a 15th place finish.
Attention then shifted to Aspen, where Mark McMorris delivered another historic X Games performance. McMorris claimed his 12th career X Games gold in slopestyle, extending his records to eight gold medals and 16 total medals in the discipline. He now holds 25 total X Games medals, the most of any winter athlete and the third most overall.
Jasmine Baird earned her first X Games medal with a bronze in Knuckle Huck. Eli Bouchard and Cam Spalding also made their X Games debuts, gaining valuable experience on one of the sport’s biggest stages as competition unfolded across January 23, 24, and 25.
Snowboard cross Takes on China
ÉLIOT GRONDIN AND THE SNOWBOARD CROSS TEAM |
Snowboard cross continued its World Cup season with a weekend double header in Dongbeiya, China, on January 17 and 18.
Éliot Grondin led the field in qualifying and battled to a second place finish on day one, followed by fifth place the next day. Audrey McManiman finished 18th and 12th across the two races, while Meryeta O’Dine returned to World Cup competition following injury, placing 17th and 24th.
Momentum Builds in Laax
ELIZABETH HOSKING | PHOTO: FIS
The Halfpipe team was back in action at the Laax Open, one of the most iconic stops on the calendar. Elizabeth Hosking finished sixth against a deep international field, continuing to build consistency as the season tightens.
With each start, the stakes rise as the Olympic window narrows.
What’s Next: All Eyes on Milano Cortina
The Olympic teams are announced and their bags are packed. With athletes firing at the right moment, everything now points to Milano Cortina. Catch the full Canadian Olympic snowboard team announcement here and get ready. The biggest stage in the sport is just ahead.
