U.S. freeskier Hunter Hess ended his qualifying run in the Olympics by turning to the camera, flashing an "L" sign with his hand and lifting it to his forehead. But why did he do it?

Bend native Hunter Hess was scheduled to compete in the men's freeski halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina on Thursday, Feb. 19. The event was postponed due to heavy snow in the Levigno area.

LIVIGNO, Italy — He’s a real loser. Bend’s Hunter Hess will even agree if you ask him. At Friday’s Olympic freeski halfpipe prelims, Hess embraced a controversy that’s been brewing for weeks en route to qualifying for the evening’s final,

Want to have better balance? You can learn a thing or two from this Olympic skier.

The qualifiers are now scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20, at 1:30 PST. The final will take place immediately after.

Does anyone really believe the international media cares what Olympic snowboarders and curlers think about President Donald Trump’s ICE raids, or whatever panic de jour is on the menu this week? Of course not.