Finley Melville Ives, the 19-year-old New Zealand halfpipe prodigy, was stretchered off the Livigno Snow Park after a violent crash during men’s freeski halfpipe qualification at the Milano–Cortina Olympics. The impact left him briefly unmoving on the pipe and dropped the packed venue into stunned silence as medical staff sprinted to his side. Teammates and spectators watched in visible distress while medics worked on the snow.
According to NBC Chicago, Ives landed hard on the exit of a trick in his second run, fell face first and was treated on the slope for several minutes before being carried from the course on a stretcher. Commentators later reported that he was conscious, in stable condition and surrounded by family as he was taken away for evaluation. The crash halted qualifications and prompted several competitors to dedicate their runs to him.
Ives' credentials and what was at stake
Ives arrived in Livigno as the reigning FIS world champion and the season leader in World Cup points, which made him one of the clear favorites in the halfpipe, per FIS. He had also just claimed superpipe gold at the X Games in Aspen last month, according to RNZ. Taken together, those results had him firmly in the medal conversation before Friday’s qualifying runs.
Teammates rally on and off the hill
Ben Harrington dedicated his run to Ives on live television, telling cameras, "Finley, this one's for you brother," then proceeded to nudge his way into the final, according to NBC Chicago. Several team members were visibly shaken in the athlete area while coaches and medical staff conferred near the halfpipe. The raw reaction underlined how quickly a title favorite can be knocked out of contention in a single high risk run.
Event impact and safety context
FIS lists the men's halfpipe final as scheduled for 19:30 CET in Livigno after bad weather forced timetable changes, which left athletes and officials with only a few hours to process the crash before night competition. The incident comes in the same week as other high profile freeski and snowboard crashes at Milano–Cortina that outlets including Eurosport have been tracking. Organizers and team doctors said standard medical protocols were in place as athletes prepared for the evening session.
Team New Zealand told international media that Ives "took a heavy knock" but was conscious and that "everything stable and positive," and that he had been "talking to his mum" while receiving care, according to Channel NewsAsia. No full medical bulletin was issued immediately, and teams said they would provide further updates once scans and tests are completed. We will update this story as official medical information becomes available.
