Winter Olympics 2026: Hunter Hess' career stats, Team USA journey, and life beyond skiing

Hunter Hess has quietly become one of the most steady names in men’s halfpipe skiing. Born on October 1, 1998, in Bend, Oregon, the American freestyle skier keeps showing up on big podiums. From FIS World Cups to X Games medals, his results speak clearly. Here is a simple look at Hunter Hess’ career stats, recent results, and how he built his name in halfpipe.Hunter Hess started skiing at just three years old. His mother, Anno Hess, introduced him to the sport at Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. He grew up in Bend, a town known for outdoor sports. He attended Summit High School, where he first played soccer.At age nine, he joined the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation program after competing in a USASA event called Enter the Dragon. That step changed everything. From there, halfpipe became his focus.Hunter Hess earned his first FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup podium in 2018, finishing third. Since then, he has stayed consistent.In the 2023 to 2024 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup season, he finished second overall in the halfpipe standings with 265 points and three podium finishes, according to official FIS results.In the ongoing 2025 to 2026 season, he has already added strong results. He placed second in Aspen on January 10, 2026. He finished second at Copper Mountain on December 20, 2025, with a score of 89.00. Earlier that month, he stood on the podium again in Secret Garden, China, scoring 86.25.He also placed second in Silvaplana in March 2025 and third in Mammoth in January 2025. At the 2025 World Championships, he finished fifth in halfpipe with a score of 89.75.Hunter Hess has built a strong X Games record. He won bronze at X Games Aspen in 2024 with a score of 92. In 2025, he earned another bronze with 85.66 in SuperPipe. As of early 2026, he has seven career X Games podiums.A big recent moment came when he qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. This was special because he fought through injuries, including an MCL tear and appendicitis, before earning his spot.Hess still calls Bend home. He enjoys running, surfing, and spending time outdoors. He also co-founded the MAGMA ski film series, which has won awards in the ski film community.From his first World Cup podium in 2018 to his Olympic qualification in 2026, Hunter Hess has built a steady and strong halfpipe career. His numbers show progress, but his story shows resilience.