Fin Melville Ives

Profile and significance

Fin Melville Ives is a New Zealand freeskiing talent who emerged from the Wānaka region and swiftly ascended into elite halfpipe company. Born 6 July 2006 in Dunedin and raised in Wānaka, he burst onto the global scene by winning the men’s halfpipe title at the 2025 FIS Freeski World Championships in Engadin–St. Moritz, and claimed his first World Cup victory just weeks earlier in Calgary. That leap from junior standout to world champion in a single season marks him as one of the sport’s most exciting young halfpipe riders.

Competitive arc and key venues

Fin’s path includes early exposure to freeskiing through his family’s winter lifestyle, followed by national-development programs at Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand. He made his World Cup debut in December 2022 and by February 2025 he stood atop a World Cup podium in Calgary with a win in halfpipe competition. Shortly after, he dominated the 2025 Worlds: he qualified first with a 97.00 score, then claimed gold. These achievements came at prominent venues: Calgary for its halfpipe World Cup, and Engadin’s long, high-exposure halfpipe for the Worlds. The speed, altitude, and reputation of those settings underline the competitiveness of his results.

How they ski: what to watch for

Fin skis with a confident, tall take-in, precise edge control, and a focus on grab clarity and amplitude. In halfpipe runs he demonstrates late rotation initiation, which keeps his silhouette clean in the air and his axes tight. You’ll notice his ability to link big spins with solid grabs rather than relying purely on rotation count. His run structure often builds through solid foundational tricks before mounting a front-side or switch-side double cork with amplitude, making the final run feel inevitable yet polished rather than frantic.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Although still early in his career, Fin’s surge in 2024-25 shows both maturity and composure under pressure: stepping into a World Cup and Worlds context and delivering medalled performances. Beyond contests, he presents himself strongly on social platforms, showcasing his freeskiing identity along with sponsors, and positions himself as part of a new wave of Kiwi riders alongside peers from Wānaka. His twin brother Campbell (a snowboarder) provides a parallel progression story. Fin’s trajectory signals to up-and-coming skiers that rapid ascent is possible with focused development, a strong training setting, and adaptability.

Geography that built the toolkit

Fin’s base in Wānaka and early training at Cardrona Alpine Resort provided him with regular access to well-shaped halfpipes, consistent park terrain, and a local community of high-level freeski athletes. The southern-hemisphere winters allowed for extended training blocks, and his northern-hemisphere competition exposure in venues such as Calgary and Engadin gave him contrasting conditions—altitude, wind, varied snow—that sharpened his toolset. That mix of repeatable home-base refinement and high-stakes global tests has underpinned his quick adaptation to elite competition.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Fin is associated with sponsors including Monster Energy and ski partner Völkl Skis, aligning him with brands that support freeski halfpipe athletes. From a progression standpoint, the takeaway is to prioritize gear that delivers consistent pop and edge-control for the halfpipe, mount setups symmetrically to maintain switch-side confidence, and treat training terrain (home pipe) as seriously as competition runs. For young skiers, emulate his model: spend seasons shaping fundamentals before escalating difficulty, build both-way spin competence, and focus on execution and amplitude rather than only degree count.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fin Melville Ives represents the future of freeski halfpipe: youthful, technically strong, stylistically clean, and mentally ready for big-stage pressure. His rise from national development to world champion within a couple of years means he’s already a benchmark for emerging skiers. For fans, his runs offer both spectacle and substance—amplitude plus execution. For progressing athletes, his path suggests that with the right environment, coaching, gear, and mindset you can bridge junior promise and elite success quicker than might be assumed. He’s a rider to watch closely as freeski halfpipe continues evolving.