Fin Melville Ives found the cure to the pressure of performing.
Over the last year, the 19-year-old skier has emerged as a star of the snow sport scene, claiming a halfpipe World Championship, gold medals at International Ski and Snowboard Federation World Cup events and, most recently, X Games gold.
Reflecting on his successes over the past year, he said it was a shift in mindset that helped him unlock the best of his abilities.
“I think my biggest change is really taking it a little bit more chill, the competition scene. Like, not overthinking things and really just being super happy to be there and just stoked and not getting too worried about results. Because if you’re not too worried and you’re just going to have fun, you’ll ski better,” Melville Ives told the Herald.
“I think in the past I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself, like overthinking competitions and stuff. It’s important just to take it chill and not overthink it and just remember why you’re there. You’re there because it’s the funnest [sic] thing in the world and you wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.”
Melville Ives will be one of 17 athletes to represent New Zealand at the Winter Olympics in Italy later this month – alongside twin brother Cam Melville Ives, who competes in the snowboard halfpipe.
It’s been the goal for Melville Ives since 2022, who set himself that target after watching fellow Kiwi skier Nico Porteous claim gold in the halfpipe in Beijing.
“I’ve always had a plan of going to the Olympics and slowly putting in the steps ever since then really. Watching Nico in 2022 really inspired me to get into the halfpipe competition scene and try and make my way up to where Nico left off at the Olympics. That was really inspiring. So yeah, I’ve had a plan since then pretty much.”
Melville Ives is part of a new wave of talented young Kiwi snow sports athletes now making their mark at the top level, with the 17-strong Olympic contingent being the largest the country has ever sent to a Winter Games.
And after Porteous and snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott ended a 26-year wait between medals when they claimed bronze at the 2018 Games, this year’s group boasts a number of bonafide medal chances.
“I think definitely after with Zoi, Nico and other like names like the Wells boys, the Bilous’s, you know, they really started to push snow sports in New Zealand and it’s ever since then it’s just been go, go, go,” Melville Ives said.
“Like it’s so crazy to see how much it’s progressing really and it’s really such a growing sport in New Zealand and each year it gets even crazier to watch and I can’t believe it. It’s really exciting going into the Games with such an incredible team this year.”
It won’t be Melville Ives’ first Olympic experience. In 2024, he competed at the Youth Games in South Korea where he claimed a silver medal behind fellow Kiwi Luke Harrold. Both athletes are in the team for this year’s Games.
And while he’s sure to draw on the experiences of that competition, Melville Ives expected things to step up a notch when he arrives in Italy.
“I just imagine the Olympics is on a whole another scale [to the Youth Olympics], so definitely hard to compare. But like, you know, just what I said before, just taking it chill and having as much fun and enjoying every moment, you know,” he said.
“I guess it’s four years of my life going into it, but you don’t want to overthink it too much. You’re just going there to have fun and put down the best run you can do. And if you put down the best run, that’s all that matters and be stoked. I would be stoked to come away with a medal, but if I land my run, I’ll be happy either way.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.