New Zealands Menzies Tops Mens Slopestyle Qualifying

New Zealand's Dane Menzies claimed the top spot in men's snowboard slopestyle qualifying Sunday at Livigno Snow Park during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, posting an untouchable score of 86.06 on his first run to advance to Wednesday's final. The event, shifted from Monday due to potential poor weather, saw 30 riders compete over two runs, with the top 12 progressing based on their best effort on the 650-meter course featuring rails, jumps and a 165-meter vertical drop.

Menzies, born in Calgary to a Canadian mother and New Zealand father and raised in Canmore, Alberta, before basing himself in Wanaka, New Zealand, outperformed the field by nearly five points. Norway's Marcus Kleveland secured second place with 81.86 on his second run, while Canada's Mark McMorris landed third at 81.81 from his opening effort. Japan's Ryoma Kimata also broke 80 points to round out the top four. The qualifying highlighted a mix of Olympic veterans and rising talents, with riders judged on the amplitude, originality and execution of their tricks.

McMorris' strong performance marked a remarkable recovery from a serious training crash. On February 4, the 32-year-old from Regina,...