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Sport Nation
Live sport on SN this weekendKiwi trio fly through to big air final in Milano opener
Sport Nation • February 6th, 2026 10:35 am
Dane Menzies qualified 11th | Photo: Photosport
New Zealand’s Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic campaign has burst into life in Livigno, with Rocco Jamieson, Lyon Farrell and Dane Menzies all qualifying for the men’s snowboard big air final after a dramatic opening day at Livigno Snow Park.
The trio delivered under pressure, each finishing inside the top 12 to ensure a full Kiwi presence in Sunday’s final.
Menzies set the early tone. The Wānaka-based rider opened with a frontside 1980 and tidy tail grab, earning 77.75 despite a brief hand touch on landing.
He stepped it up on his second run, throwing a committed backside 1800 that scored 86.25 and briefly vaulted him into the lead.
His combined total of 164.00 proved enough to stay safely inside the cut, even after a heavy crash on his final attempt.
Jamieson matched him run for run. The 19-year-old from Wānaka looked right at home on the Olympic stage, opening with a stylish backside 1800 for 82.00 before backing it up with a frontside 1800 to post 83.50. With the pressure on late, Jamieson responded again, landing a backside 1980 with a nose grab.
The 84.75 lifted his combined score to 168.25 and locked him into the final.
Farrell’s route was the most tense.
After a fall on his opening run left him deep in the field, the American-born, Hawaii-raised Kiwi needed something special. He delivered with an 88.50 on his second jump to surge back into contention, then sealed the job with a composed frontside 1800 on his final run.
The 81.50 gave him a combined score of 170.00 and sparked a raw celebration at the bottom of the course.
By the end of qualifying, all three New Zealanders were through, marking a flawless start to the Milano Cortina 2026 campaign and setting the stage for a strong showing in Sunday’s big air final.
