17-Year-Old American Snowboarder Advances to First Olympic Final

Alessandro Barbieri finishes fourth in qualifying, says he has "a lot more in the tank" for the final.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In his Olympic debut, 17-year-old American snowboarder Alessandro Barbieri finished fourth in the men's halfpipe qualifying event, putting him in the 12-man final on February 13. Barbieri, the highest finisher of the three Americans who advanced, said he has "a lot more in the tank" and expects to be near the top after the hard work he's put in. Barbieri will be joined in the final by American teammates Chase Josey and Jake Pates, who finished 11th and 12th respectively to make the cut.

Why it matters

Barbieri's strong Olympic debut is seen as a promising sign for the future of American snowboarding, with the young talent looking to follow in the footsteps of legends like Shaun White. After a period of American dominance, the U.S. team is looking to regain its place atop the podium in the sport.

The details

In the qualifying round, Barbieri posted an 88.50 on his third run, finishing behind Australia's Scotty James (94), Japan's Yuto Totsuka (91.25) and Ryusei Yamada (90.25). Barbieri said he had a "six" run and believes he has a "10" in him, indicating he has more tricks and skill to showcase in the final. On his second run, Barbieri suffered an odd fall after landing a trick. Josey earned a 76.50 on his first run, while Pates fell on his first run but scored a 75.50 on his second to secure the 12th and final spot in the final.

  • The Olympic men's halfpipe qualifying event took place on February 11, 2026.
  • The 12-man Olympic men's halfpipe final will be held on February 13, 2026.

The players

Alessandro Barbieri

A 17-year-old American snowboarder making his Olympic debut, who finished fourth in the qualifying round and is seen as a rising star for the U.S. snowboarding team.

Scotty James

An Australian snowboarder who finished first in the qualifying round with a score of 94.

Yuto Totsuka

A Japanese snowboarder who finished second in the qualifying round with a score of 91.25.

Chase Josey

A 30-year-old American snowboarder who finished 11th in the qualifying round to advance to the final.

Jake Pates

A 27-year-old American snowboarder who finished 12th in the qualifying round to earn the final spot in the Olympic final.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What I really have in my head is a 10. That was more like a six. I have a lot more in the tank. ... I kind of expect myself to be near the top after all this hard work I've put. I'm pleased, but not too shocked.”

— Alessandro Barbieri (USA TODAY)

“Those are the little things that the judges look for, and that's what I've got to do to compete with some of these Japanese guys who are doing triples and really at the top of the game. I'm fighting for this opportunity to be in the finals, but it's nice to see that run get rewarded.”

— Chase Josey (USA TODAY)

“When I was put into 12th. I had a crazy level of anxiety kind of come over me. I'm just excited to be here and to be a part of this.”

— Jake Pates (USA TODAY)

What’s next

The Olympic men's halfpipe final will take place on February 13, 2026, where Barbieri, Josey and Pates will compete for a medal.

The takeaway

Barbieri's strong Olympic debut at just 17 years old signals a promising future for American snowboarding, as the U.S. team looks to regain its dominance in the sport and produce the next generation of stars to follow in the footsteps of legends like Shaun White.