Hirano is the reigning gold medalist in the event. He also took back-to-back silvers in 2014 and 2018. He can't be completely counted out of the medal race either. He won the first halfpipe event on the FIS World Cup circuit this season.

Scotty James, Ayumu Hirano and Cam Melville Ives are among the names to know as men's snowboard halfpipe commences with the qualifying round on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Snowboarding medal events continue at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday, Feb. 13, with the women’s cross final and men’s halfpipe final at Livigno Snow Park.

Keep track of the latest Olympic snowboarding results from the 2026 Winter Games, including an updated medal count by country and full schedule of events.

In the halfpipe, it felt like the American men were outgunned from the start, and especially by the riders from Japan.

Japan’s rise has been systematic, with a deep talent pool, while the United States struggled to find a clear successor to Shaun White.

Scotty James delivered on his title as event favorite in qualifying for the men's snowboard halfpipe final. The Australian produced a score of 94 points on the first of his two runs to top the qualification standings.

A frightening crash during women's halfpipe qualifying at the 2026 Winter Olympics left Chinese snowboarder Jiayu Liu motionless on the snow before she was stretchered off the course.

White isn't competing because he retired from snowboarding at the end of the last Olympic cycle. He announced during the 2022 Olympics that it would be his last time at that level of competition. And after it was over, he formally retired from all snowboard competition.