Seventeen athletes are now confirmed to wear the fern at Milano Cortina 2026, after nine athletes were selected today to join a team gathering real pace ahead of the Olympic Winter Games starting February 6.
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Ben Harrington joins his younger brother Luca in Milano Cortina for the Games
The nine athletes joining the NZ Team are:
Ben Harrington, Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Gustav Legnavsky, Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Mischa Thomas, Women’s Freeski Halfpipe
Lucas Ball, Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Syliva Trotter, Women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Lyon Farrell, Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Dane Menzies, Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Rocco Jamieson, Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Lucia Georgalli, Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Those nine athletes join their eight team mates who were conditionally selected in October last year. All 17 athletes are now unconditionally selected having confirmed Winter Olympic quota spots.
For Freeski Halfpipe athlete, Ben Harrington, selection to the NZ team is a family affair.
“I’m super stoked to join the New Zealand Team for Milano Cortina 2026,” Harrington said.
“It’s also pretty cool to be in the same team as my younger brother, Luca, it’s a really special moment for our family.”
“Having been to Beijing in 2022, I have an idea of what’s coming in terms of the Olympic set up. I’ll be looking to use that experience this time around and hopefully make everyone proud who’s supported me along the way,” he said.
Harrington is joined by Gustav Legnavsky in the Freeski Halfpipe, who, at just 16-years-old, also competed at Beijing 2022.
Mischa Thomas completes the Freeski Halfpipe athletes for this round of selections. She has Olympic experience from Gangwon 2024 as part of the NZ Team at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Thomas has shown strong form in 2025 including winning both the European Cup in Halfpipe in Corvatsch, Switzerland and the European Cup Premium at Laax, Switzerland in Slopestyle.
The selections of Sylvia Trotter and Lucas Ball make a total of five athletes who will compete in the Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air discipline at Milano Cortina 2026.
Trotter finished tenth at the Stubai Freeski Slopestyle World Cup and seventh at the Secret Garden Freeski Big Air World Cup. Both results were Trotter’s debut World Cup events in the discipline.
Lucia Georgalli joins Zoi Sadwoski-Synnott in the NZ Team for the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air competition.
Georgalli can draw on her experiences at the Winter Youth Olympic Games at Gangwon 2024 where she picked up a silver medal in the Snowboard Slopestyle and a bronze in the Big Air.
Three athletes will compete in the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air at Milano Cortina 2026.
Dane Menzies has strong 2025 form behind him, notably placing fourth in the World Cup in Aspen USA in Slopestyle and fifth in the World Cup in Beijing in Big Air. He also picked up a third place in the 2026 World Cup in Snowmass USA in Slopestyle.
Rocco Jamieson established himself on the international stage in 2025 with World Cup podium finishes at Cardrona and Switzerland before making a standout debut at X Games Aspen 2025, securing a bronze medal.
Lyon Farrell completes the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air contingent, a consistent performer who was able to achieve top 10 placings in Big Air in World Cup events in the USA and China.
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO, Nicki Nicol, congratulated the athletes on making the team for Milano Cortina 2026.
“We are delighted to have another nine athletes join the team today for what promises to be an action-packed couple of weeks,” said Nicol.
“Heading to an Olympic Winter Games is a truly special time and I encourage the athletes to soak up the experience, knowing they have the entire country supporting them, as they wear the fern and represent us with pride on the slopes of Italy. They each should be very proud of what they have achieved and I acknowledge all those who have supported these athletes on the road to the Winter Olympics,” said Nicol.
Snow Sports NZ Chief Executive, Nic Cavanagh, said the athletes selected for Milano Cortina represented some of the finest raw talent to emerge in snow sports in New Zealand, now competing at the absolute top of their game.
“In addition to experienced Olympians and World Champions, we are seeing a crop of fearless, young athletes emerge and stamp their mark on the international stage. Their potential is enormous and this is a chance for New Zealanders to watch and cheer from afar as they showcase what they’ve been working on for many years,” he said.
Cavanagh said the future was bright for snow sports in New Zealand.
“This is an illustration of how rich the talent is in the sport right now, and how hard the athletes have worked for selection. Behind them is a community of parents, coaches, supporters, clubs and resorts who have nurtured their development over many years, and who can share in their success. As a community we should be very proud of their accomplishments," he said.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place from 6 - 22 February 2026 across iconic Italian alpine venues.
Full NZ Team athletes selected for Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games (in alphabetical order):
Ruby Star Andrews - Women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Lucas Ball - Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Ben Barclay - Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Lyon Farrell - Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Lucia Georgalli - Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Ben Harrington - Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Luca Harrington - Men’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
Luke Harrold - Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Rocco Jamieson - Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Gustav Legnavsky - Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Cam Melville Ives - Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe
Fin Melville Ives - Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Dane Menzies - Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Alice Robinson - Women’s Alpine Skiing
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott - Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air
Mischa Thomas - Women’s Freeski Halfpipe
Sylvia Trotter - Women’s Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air
(Athletes in bold are those who were named in today’s second selection).
Non-travelling reserves will be announced at a later date.
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