Industry News
In a season defined by high-stakes competition and relentless pursuit of excellence, Alex Ferreira once again proved why he remains one of the most dominant forces in Halfpipe skiing. The 29-year-old American capped off the 2024-25 FIS Freeski World Cup season with a third-place finish at the Snow Rodeo in Calgary, Canada, securing his second consecutive Halfpipe Small Crystal Globe and the third of his career, after first winning it in 2017-18.
Despite frigid temperatures that plunged to -5°F, Ferreira set the tone early with a blistering first run, scoring 91.75 points. The performance was enough to land him on the podium alongside teammate Nick Goepper and New Zealand’s Finley Melville-Ives, who claimed his first World Cup victory with a 92.75-point run. Ferreira’s result, however, did not impact his overall standing, as he had already amassed an insurmountable 360 FIS points over the season. “This season I had a bullseye on my back, everyone’s coming after me,” Ferreira said. “To be expected, it was going to be a little more difficult, and I’m glad it is. They keep pushing me and making me a better person.”
Ferreira has consistently demonstrated resilience and a relentless work ethic throughout the season, which he credits for his sustained success. “I just keep working harder and harder. I just keep putting my nose to the grindstone and getting it done. I love the training and it’s fun, it gives me a lot of purpose,” he added.
With the best four performances from five events factoring into the final rankings, Ferreira’s consistency across the season kept him ahead of the field. His primary competitor, Nick Goepper, put up a strong fight and finished second overall in the standings, followed by Canada’s Brendan Mackay in third.
Ferreira’s latest triumph further cements his status as one of the most decorated halfpipe skiers of his generation. Last season, Ferreira claimed the Big Crystal Globe for Park & Pipe despite only competing in one event: the Halfpipe. The winner of the Big Crystal Globe for Park & Pipe can collect points in not only Halfpipe but also Slopestyle as well as Big Air. During the 2023-24 season, Ferreira claimed five consecutive victories, earning him a total of 500 points for the season. It was the first time a male freeskier had won every single Halfpipe event in a World Cup season. The previous men’s World Cup Halfpipe win streak was set by Finland’s Kalle Leinonen, who had claimed three consecutive wins from the 05/06 season across into the 06/07 season.
The women’s Halfpipe Crystal Globe was shared between Britain’s Zoe Atkin and China’s Li Fanghui, who won the Globe 5 points ahead of Eileen Gu. Gu did not compete in Calgary and Aspen after three back-to-back halfpipe World Cup victories earlier in the season.
As Ferreira takes a well-earned break before gearing up for the FIS Freestyle World Championships in Engadin St. Moritz, Switzerland, in March, his mindset remains unwavering—work hard, stay focused, and keep pushing the limits of the sport. The American could still win the Overall Park & Pipe Big Crystal Globe for the 2024-25 season, leading the men’s rankings with 420 points, while 17-year-old Flora Tabanelli leads the women’s overall rankings with 450 points, 50 points ahead of Gu. Tabanelli debuted on the World Cup circuit in 2023 and has also won the Junior World Championships in Big Air in Livigno, Italy, and the Slopestyle as well as the Big Air event at the Youth Olympics in Gangwon, Korea, last year.
