Sixteen-year-old Wānaka resident Gustav Legnavsky has taken out the top spot at the prestigious freeski halfpipe Junior World Championships in Leysin, Switzerland overnight (March 9).  

Just three weeks ago Gustav was competing at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games as the youngest athlete in the field; following this up with a win of this scale is a “fantastic result,” a Snowsports NZ representative said.

Gustav provided tough competition throughout all three runs, but it was his second run - where he laced together three different double corks, a switch left double 1080, a left double cork 1260 and a left alley oop double 900 - that scored him the unbeatable 96.00 score from the judges.

“This was the first time Legnavsky has landed the left alley oop double 900 in competition,” a Snowsports NZ representative said.

Gustav Legnavsky in action in Leysin, where he finished with a huge 96.00 score. 

Watch Gustav’s winning run at the 1hr 50min mark here.

Gustav is an emerging Wānaka talent. He has achieved numerous podium finishes at FIS and European Cup halfpipe events, and in January 2022 achieved an eighth place finish at the Mammoth Mountain Halfpipe World Cup. He placed 19th in Beijing earlier this season.

Snowsports is in Gustav’s blood: He is coached by his father Pete Legnavsky, and his mother Bridget was general manager for Cardrona before being promoted last year to Wayfare’s chief experience officer.

At the Junior World Championships, USA athletes Matthew Labaugh and Ben Fethke rounded out the podium in second and third respectively. 

Another young Wānaka snowsports star - Fin Melville Ives, 15 - dropped in alongside Gustav in the freeski halfpipe finals, finishing in seventh place. 

Brothers Fin and Cam Melville Ives, who made the finals in the freeski and halfpipe respectively and each finished in seventh place.

His twin brother Cam Melville Ives was the sole Kiwi to make the snowboard halfpipe finals, also finishing in seventh place.  

PHOTOS: Martin Steffen / Leysin 22