Goepper Wins in Calgary, Irving Siblings Third
In true Calgary style, the week leading up to the classic Snow Rodeo was cold and snowy, but the weather didn't deter Nick Goepper, who walked away with the win after putting down a flawless second run. Stifel U.S. Ski Team teammate Birk Irving also stood on the podium in third. On the women's side, Svea Irving finished third.
Goepper swapped his classic last-hit bone air for a switch right bio 900 to up the difficulty on his second run, and the judges rewarded him with a 94.80. With the win in Calgary, three-time Olympic medalist Goepper clinched his spot to represent Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games - his first Olympic Games for halfpipe skiing.
Birk Irving also had an unreal second run to finish third, his first podium since 2023. He has been consistent throughout the 2025-26 season, with a top 10 finish at every event thus far. Goepper and Birk Irving were joined on the podium by New Zealand's Finley Melville Ives in second.
On the women's side, Birk Irving's sister Svea Irving also finished third. She performed well under pressure, putting down a smooth run two with a left cork 900 and back-to-back 720s. After a disappointing start to her season in Copper Mountain, Svea Irving was thrilled with the result. She was joined on the podium by Australia's Indra Brown in first and China's Kexin Zhang in second.
It was a great overall day for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team men, with Matt Labaugh taking fourth, just .25 points off the podium. Hunter Hess finished fifth, Aaron Blunck seventh, Dylan Ladd ninth, Evan Wischmeyer 10th and Tristan Feinberg 13th.
Abby Winterberger was the only other American woman who progressed through to the finals, ending the day in ninth. Winterberger is an up-and-coming American to watch, with two top 10 finishes in her first season on the World Cup circuit.
Next up, the World Cup circuit heads to the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen for halfpipe and slopestyle Olympic qualifiers Jan. 7-10, 2026.