Brendan Mackay

Biography

Brendan Mackay made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 where he qualified for the men’s ski halfpipe final and finished ninth overall. He ended the 2021-22 season as the Crystal Globe winner for men’s ski halfpipe. A year later, he became a world champion, winning gold at the 2023 FIS World Championships after putting down some of the biggest tricks he has ever done.

Mackay made his FIS World Cup debut in early 2013 and competed on the circuit for a couple of seasons before he suffered two concussions, limiting him to one event in 2014-15 and forcing him to sit out the 2015-16 season. 

After returning to full health, Mackay achieved an early career highlight in his debut at the FIS World Championships in 2017. He had the then-best run of his career in the final to finish seventh overall. That season he also posted his first top five finish on the World Cup circuit in Tignes, France. 

Mackay had more success in 2018-19 when he earned two World Cup top five finishes and broke into the top 10 in the overall World Cup halfpipe standings for the first time. 

During the 2019-20 season, Mackay finally earned his first career World Cup podium, finishing second in Calgary in February. That helped him finish fourth overall in the World Cup halfpipe standings. He also won his first X Games medal in 2020, taking the bronze in Aspen.  

In a pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, Mackay finished second in the only halfpipe World Cup of the season in Aspen. That came just after another seventh-place finish at the world championships, where he had been the top qualifier for the final. He just missed the podium at the 2021 Winter X Games in Aspen, placing fourth. 

Mackay reached the podium in all three halfpipe World Cups in 2021-22, starting with a third-place finish in Copper Mountain before capturing back-to-back victories in Calgary to help him finish first in the overall halfpipe standings. He

Mackay finished second in the World Cup standings for the 2022-23 season after placing second in three of the four World Cup events. With one more podium in 2023-24 and then two more in 2024-25, Mackay brought his career total to 11 World Cup podiums, including three victories.

A Little More About Brendan

Getting into the Sport: Made the switch from ski racing to freestyle when he was 10… Racing felt too restrictive and he wanted a sport in which he could properly express himself… Outside Interests: Graduated from the University of Calgary in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science (physics major, math minor)… Pursuing a Master of Science in Physics at the University of Calgary; researching experimental physics in the field of quantum technology… Enjoys rock climbing, playing guitar, photography, hiking, camping, surfing… Like to spend his summers skiing on glaciers… Odds and Ends: Has always been inspired by older brother Aaron who he followed into freestyle skiing; Aaron competed at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games…