Goepper Second, Ferreira Third in World Champs Halfpipe
Freeski halfpipe finals marked the of end of an exciting two weeks in Engadin, Switzerland, for the 2025 FIS Ski Freestyle World Championships. Nick Goepper walked away with his first halfpipe World Champs medal, finishing second, and Alex Ferreira finished third.
Goepper is not a stranger to the pressure of World Champs, with two previous slopestyle podiums in 2013 and 2019. However, this result was Goepper's first in the halfpipe discipline and his highest World Champs finish ever. Goepper finished the day with a 94.00 on run 2, after a crash score on his first run. He impressed the judges with back-to-back double cork 1620s and finishing the run with his signature bone air 900. Ferreira finished third, tying his best result at a World Champs (he was also third in Bakuriani 2023), with a 92.50 on run one. He capped his run off with the classic double cork 1620 blunt and celebratory pole swings that got the crowd going. The Kiwi phenom, Finley Melville-Ives took home the gold after scoring a 96.00. Hunter Hess also had a great performance, finishing fifth, and impressing the crowd and judges alike with his left misty 720 mute. David Wise finished 11th, unable to put down a clean run in finals.
On the women's side, Svea Irving was the top finisher for the U.S. women in fifth. Irving put down two clean runs, highlighted by her left 1080 safety on her last hit. Kate Gray finished tenth, putting down the first bone air by a woman in competition. Great Britain's Zoe Atkin secured her first World Championship gold, with China's Fanghui Li in second and Canada's Cassie Sharpe in third.
The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team is now officially on summer vacation. They are looking forward to enjoying their off season with training camps, time in the gym, and even more skiing.
