Australian skiers have made a strong start to the 2026 Freeski & Snowboard Junior World Championships in Calgary, Canada, with teen sensations Maya Broadbent (13) and Indra Brown (16) delivering impressive performances in the women’s slopestyle event.
Broadbent claimed a bronze medal, while Brown narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in a highly competitive final which featured a finalist from the Olympic slopestyle event.
Fresh off an outstanding fifth-place finish in the halfpipe at the Milano–Cortina Olympic Winter Games, Brown carried her strong form into Calgary, placing fifth in the qualification round, progressing d to the eight-woman final with a best score of 71.6 point. Broadbent also advanced comfortably, qualifying in seventh with 60 points.
In the best-of-two-run final, both Australians put down solid performances under pressure. Broadbent opened with a 77.75 on her first run before lifting her score to 79.75 on her second, securing the bronze medal.
Brown posted 66.75 on her opening run and improved significantly on her second attempt, scoring 76.75. The score left her just three points shy of Broadbent, and agonisingly close to the podium in fourth place.
The gold medal went to American Lainey Steen, who scored 89.50, with Canada’s Hunter Belle Hall taking silver on 82.75.
Australia was also represented in the men’s freeski slopestyle, with Hugo Broadbent 26th, Ryder Shook‑Edwards 29th, Aidan Laing 51st and Toby McIlwaine 56th.
In snowboard slopestyle, James Garth reached the final and finished ninth, Juan George was 22nd, and in the women’s event Marie‑Jeanne Purwanto was 29th.
The Junior World Championships continue for another week in Calgary, with a further three events:
Broadbent claimed a bronze medal, while Brown narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in a highly competitive final which featured a finalist from the Olympic slopestyle event.
Fresh off an outstanding fifth-place finish in the halfpipe at the Milano–Cortina Olympic Winter Games, Brown carried her strong form into Calgary, placing fifth in the qualification round, progressing d to the eight-woman final with a best score of 71.6 point. Broadbent also advanced comfortably, qualifying in seventh with 60 points.
In the best-of-two-run final, both Australians put down solid performances under pressure. Broadbent opened with a 77.75 on her first run before lifting her score to 79.75 on her second, securing the bronze medal.
Brown posted 66.75 on her opening run and improved significantly on her second attempt, scoring 76.75. The score left her just three points shy of Broadbent, and agonisingly close to the podium in fourth place.
The gold medal went to American Lainey Steen, who scored 89.50, with Canada’s Hunter Belle Hall taking silver on 82.75.
Australia was also represented in the men’s freeski slopestyle, with Hugo Broadbent 26th, Ryder Shook‑Edwards 29th, Aidan Laing 51st and Toby McIlwaine 56th.
In snowboard slopestyle, James Garth reached the final and finished ninth, Juan George was 22nd, and in the women’s event Marie‑Jeanne Purwanto was 29th.
The Junior World Championships continue for another week in Calgary, with a further three events:
- Freeski & Snowboard Big Air – March 4
- Freeski & Snowboard Halfpipe – March 5
- Freeski & Snowboard Rail Event – March 6
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