Helena Native Ralph Places 5th in Big Air Finals with Hometown Crowd Behind Him

Konnor Ralph skied into the Olympic men's freeski big air final and finished fifth in a field of 12 at the Milan-Cortina Games in Livigno, Italy.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Montana's capital city of Helena had plenty to cheer about as local native Konnor Ralph skied into the Olympic men's freeski big air final and finished fifth in a field of 12 at the Milan-Cortina Games in Livigno, Italy. Ralph posted a three-round total of 178.00, highlighted by a 91.50 on his final jump after a missed landing on his second attempt.

Why it matters

Ralph's run to the Olympics has turned into a community event in Helena, where he first learned the sport at the local Great Divide ski area. The town has gone out of its way to support Ralph, hosting watch parties and celebrating his accomplishments as a hometown athlete competing on the world's biggest stage.

The details

Norway's Tormod Frostad won gold with 195.50, edging American Mac Forehand (193.25) in a late lead change, while Austria's Matej Svancer took bronze with 191.25. U.S. teammate Troy Podmilsak finished fourth at 184.50, just ahead of Ralph. Ralph entered the big air final after a tight qualification that left him as the 12th and last skier through, totaling 171.75 in qualifying. He's also competing in his first Olympics and placed ninth in men's freeski slopestyle earlier in the Games.

  • On Tuesday, Konnor Ralph competed in the Olympic men's freeski big air final in Livigno, Italy.

The players

Konnor Ralph

A Helena, Montana native who competed in the Olympic men's freeski big air final, finishing fifth.

Tormod Frostad

The Norwegian skier who won gold in the Olympic men's freeski big air final.

Mac Forehand

The American skier who won silver in the Olympic men's freeski big air final.

Matej Svancer

The Austrian skier who won bronze in the Olympic men's freeski big air final.

Troy Podmilsak

The American skier who finished fourth in the Olympic men's freeski big air final, just ahead of Konnor Ralph.

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What they’re saying

“It's not every day you get to cheer on the kid who grew up in your community on the world's biggest stage. We need to encourage our local athletes to do well, especially on the international stage.”

— Betsy Allen, Helena local (nbcmontana.com)

“We did a watch party last week for his pre-ride. That was at 4:30 in the morning. We did that over at the airport -- we had over 80 people for that.”

— Travis Crawford, General Manager, Great Divide Montana (nbcmontana.com)

“The Ralph family has been a staple at Great Divide since Konnor was a little kid. They moved here when he was small -- him and his brother -- they grew up on the mountain. His parents were staples of the mountain, so they've all been around us for a very long time.”

— Travis Crawford, General Manager, Great Divide Montana (nbcmontana.com)

“Local hometown kid, and he took fifth in the world. I mean, this is the Olympics. It's as big as it gets.”

— Travis Crawford, General Manager, Great Divide Montana (nbcmontana.com)

The takeaway

Konnor Ralph's fifth-place finish in the Olympic men's freeski big air final has become a source of community pride in his hometown of Helena, Montana, where he first learned the sport at the local Great Divide ski area. His accomplishment on the world's biggest stage has inspired the town to rally behind their hometown athlete and recognize the potential for local skiers to excel at the highest levels of competition.