Feature
Kiwi freeskier Ben Barclay is no stranger to the Olympic stage. Barclay made his debut at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, competing in both freeski big air and slopestyle.
Finishing 10th-place in slopestyle, the best result by a New Zealander in that discipline. He is now gearing up for his second Olympic appearance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Since Beijing 2022, he has had one World Cup podium finish. This was a historic moment at the 2025 Slopestyle World Cup in Stoneham Canada, where he shared the podium with fellow NZ Team athlete Luca Harrington. This marked the first time two New Zealand freeski athletes had shared a Park & Pipe podium.
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Originally from Auckland, he, discovered his love for skiing at just six years old at Mt Ruapehu. Today, he calls the slopes of Cardrona and Treble Cone near Wānaka home, returning from overseas each NZ winter season to train in the mountains that have become his base.
Reflecting on his journey to Milano Cortina 2026, he says it has been a rewarding experience.
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“It’s been a long process, but one that I’ve looked back on with fondness."
"Compared to last time, it’s been a lot less stressful, and I’ve been more on the front foot, focusing on training and preparation rather than just qualification. It’s a really nice position to be in.”
He says the opportunity to be selected for the New Zealand Team is special.
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"As always, it means alot. We do very individual sports that are subjective, style and creativity based. To be able to wear the fern on your chest and be part of a team is something quite unusual for us, and it’s an honour that doesn’t come around often.”
His Olympic dream began as a child watching the 2014 Sochi Games with his brother in Auckland.
“I probably didn’t know much about the sport back then, I was only nine, but I remember thinking that athletes like the Wells brothers were the coolest people in the world. That inspired me, and it became a goal I chased for a long time. To be in that position again for Milano Cortina is unreal.”
Ben’s passion for free skiing comes from the sport’s originality and creativity.
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Behind every performance is the support of those closest to him.
“There are so many people to thank, but above all, it’s my mum and dad. They’ve been with me through thick and thin, always supporting me, and I’m so grateful for them.”
From the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, where it all began, to the mountains of Wānaka that now feel like home, Ben is ready to chase his Olympic dreams on the world stage.