Matt Labaugh is On The Rise

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team member Matt Labaugh is on the rise this season. The Rye, NY native ended the 2023-24 season sitting 14th in the world. Labaugh finished last season with three top twelve finishes (out of the five events in the season) and his career-best fifth place finish at Mammoth Mountain for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix. We chatted with Matt to discuss his passion for halfpipe skiing and what inspires him.

Q: What initially drew you to halfpipe skiing?

Matt Labaugh: I grew up skiing slopestyle on the East Coast before moving to Vail, where everyone skied both slope and halfpipe. I started halfpipe as well, so I could be like everybody else and wanted to prove I could do it too. I really fell in love with the process of working through tricks in the pipe, and here we are years later.

Q: What are your biggest goals around halfpipe skiing? What about beyond skiing?

ML: The Olympics have always been my number one goal. After that, I want to make the X Games, compete under those lights, and find sponsors I really connect with. Outside of skiing, I want to make sure I graduate from college and one day I would really like to own a home.

Q: What is one thing that you’re most proud of in your career so far?

ML: One of my proudest moments was during the FIS Freeski Junior World Championships in Leysin, France, in 2022. I took home second in both halfpipe and slopestyle, which felt huge. I also walked away with a fifth in big air. Since Junior Worlds, I’ve been competing mainly on the World Cup circuit, which is serious competition. Last season, I feel like things really clicked for me, and I am proud of the drive I found to work hard and push myself, even on tough days.

Q: Are there any moments that you’ve experienced in your career that didn’t seem real?

ML: I was on the alternate list for the 2022 Beijing Olympics and that felt pretty crazy. I never thought that would happen. Also every single time a brand sends me skis...that never gets old.

Q: Who were the athletes that you looked up to when you were younger, or who are they now?

When I was younger, I always looked up to Tom Wallisch and Bobby Brown. One year, Smith sent me Bobby Brown’s pro model goggles. I was riding Breckenridge one day, and both of them were there. I was the weird little kid following them. I finally got on the lift with them, and Bobby was like, “Oh, sick goggles,” and it made my whole year. These days, Alex Hall is definitely someone I look up to; he has such a great perspective on skiing and building runs in general. Outside of skiing, I have always admired Tiger Woods and his grit. 

Follow Matt on Instagram here