'Honoured to be here': Harrington 6th in big air final

Wānaka's Luca Harrington has finished sixth in the men’s freeski big air final at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

The 21-year-old skier produced two massive jumps through challenging conditions to finish with an overall score of 160.50 this morning (NZ time).

It was a massive final - which was delayed due to poor weather and snow pelted the Livigno Snowpark throughout the event – with the top seven scoring in the 90s across their three runs.

Norwegian Tormod Frostad won gold, American Mac Forehand took silver and Austrian Matej Svancer rounded out with bronze.

Luca Harrington in action during his second round. Photo: Reuters

Commentators called it the final “undoubtedly the biggest big air competition we have ever seen,’’ with Frostad and Forehand scoring 98.50 and 98.25, respectively, on their final jumps.

Dropping in eighth, Harrington jumped to the top of the standings showing beautiful control to land a switch right triple double grab with a score of 94 in his first run.

But he crashed his landing on the second, scoring 25.75.

Scores are taken from skiers best two of three runs - meaning Harrington needed a big score in the final run to jump into medal contention.

He just skidded his landing on his right triple 19 on the final run for a score of 66.50 to finish outside of podium contention.

Luca Harrington shows his joy after nailing his first run that scored 94 points. Photo: Getty Images

"Unfortunately couldn't put down the second trick the way I wanted to tonight, that's how it goes and I'm still proud of my skiing," Harrington told Sky Sport after the event.

"We had a plan and we wanted to stick with it. I came out here with the goal to do these two tricks and I really wanted to make myself proud to do that and execute it the way I wanted to and it is a shame when it doesn't go to plan. I'm still proud of myself for giving it everything.

"It's usually a time like this where I'll feel really sad and bummed that I didn't perform my best but I'm so honoured to be here and be a part of that event tonight and for putting it all out on the line.

"I've had a crazy journey to get here and I walked away with one medal, (I) was getting greedy looking for two, but to get a medal is pretty incredible."

Harrington, who is the 2025 big air world champion, already won bronze in the men’s freeski slopestyle at Milano Cortina.