Having debuted at PyeongChang 2018, big air is the newest discipline on the Olympic snowboarding program. This high-flying event is a breeding ground for progression, as riders constantly are pushing the limits of physics in pursuit of never-been-done tricks. With the men's and women's fields both continuing to produce mind-boggling tricks in recent years, the stage is set for an incredible spectacle at Milan Cortina 2026.

Read on to learn nearly everything there is to know about snowboard big air, including the unique competition format, judging criteria, and top tricks that might be seen at Livigno Snow Park.

What to know about other disciplines: Halfpipe | Slopestyle | Snowboard Cross | Parallel Giant Slalom

What is the schedule for snowboard big air at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Snowboard big air competition will take place on the following days at the Milan Cortina Games:

• Thursday, Feb. 5 (Day -1): Men’s qualifying
• Saturday, Feb. 7 (Day 1): Men’s final
• Sunday, Feb. 8 (Day 2): Women’s qualifying
• Monday, Feb. 9 (Day 3): Women’s final

What are the quota limits for men’s and women’s snowboard big air at the Olympics?

There are 30 quota spots each for men and women. Slopestyle and big air are treated as one event for qualification purposes, and athletes who qualify for Milan Cortina 2026 are eligible to compete in both disciplines.

What are the rules for snowboard big air at the Olympics?

Each competitor drops into the ramp and executes one single trick while in the air. A panel of judges assess the trick and assign a score to it.

For any rounds that utilize a “best two out of three runs” format, the scores from each competitor's two best runs are added together to get the final results, but athletes must perform different tricks (based on either rotation or direction) during those two runs. This particular rule is explained in more detail below.

What are the Olympic big air course specifications?

According to FIS specifications, the drop-in ramp for the big air course must be at least 30 meters (98.4 feet) long, the jump must have a takeoff angle of at least 25 degrees, and the distance from takeoff to landing must be at least 15 meters (32.8 feet). However, the actual course specs can vary, and details for the Milan Cortina course are not yet available.

At the 2022 Beijing Games, the Big Air Shougang course was 525 feet long in totality, and the drop-in point was situated 155 feet above the ground at the venue.

What is the competition format for snowboard big air at the Olympics?

There are two rounds of competition at the Milan Cortina Games: the qualifying round and the final.

How does the qualifying round work, and how many riders advance to the final?

The qualifying round consists of three runs. Each rider’s top two scores from different tricks are added together to get their total score.

The top 12 riders from the qualification round advance to the final. If the organizers choose to divide the qualification field into separate heats, then a certain number of riders from each heat would advance to the final, but the total number of riders advancing to the final would still be 12.

Scores from the qualifying round do not carry over to the final.

How does the snowboard big air final work?

The final consists of three runs. Each rider’s top two scores from different tricks are added together to get their total score.

How are combined scores calculated in snowboard big air contests?

In any round of competition that uses a “best two out of three” format, each rider’s top two scores from different tricks are added together to get their total score.

So, what counts as a “different trick?” This is determined by the direction that the rider spins when initiating a trick, and there are two different formats that a contest can use:

• Clockwise vs. counterclockwise: Simply put, the rider must spin one of their tricks in a clockwise direction, and the other in a counterclockwise direction.
• Two of four directions: There are four different directions that a rider can spin: frontside, backside, switch frontside (also known as “cab”) and switch backside. In this format, riders can spin their two tricks in any of those directions as long as they are different from each other. Whether the rotation is clockwise or counterclockwise is irrelevant.

If a rider performs the same rotation more than once, then only the highest score is counted.

How is the start order determined for the snowboard big air final?

The start order for Run 1 and Run 2 is the inverse of the results from the qualification round, so the athlete with the lowest score in qualifying goes first and the athlete with the best score goes last.

For Run 3, the order changes and is the inverse of the current standings, so the athlete in 12th place goes first and the athlete with the lead goes last.

How many judges score each big air run at the Olympics?

Each big air run is scored by a team of at least six judges. After dropping the highest and lowest scores, the remaining scores are averaged together for each run.

How does Olympic snowboard big air scoring and judging work?

All judges score the runs based on overall impression, with each judge giving a score ranging from 0-100. In giving their marks, judges consider several different criteria, including:

• Difficulty: The technical difficulty of tricks is assessed. Generally speaking, tricks with more rotations and/or more inverts are considered more technically difficult and will be rewarded as such. But there are other ways riders can increase the difficulty of a particular trick. For example, an athlete may decide to take off or land switch when executing a trick, spin a frontside rotation off their toes instead of their heels, or do a more challenging grab to differentiate themselves from other riders in the field.
• Execution: Control should be maintained throughout the whole trick from takeoff to landing. Grabs should be held properly and for as long as possible.
• Amplitude: In big air, amplitude is not just about how "big" the athlete goes, but also landing the trick in the decided "sweet spot." To have too much or too little amplitude can be dangerous and will be taken into account by the judges.
• Landing: Riders must land with full control, with the trick already completed (i.e. no reverts, no hand drags).
• Progression: Riders are rewarded for introducing new tricks or doing tricks that few other riders can do.

What are the most difficult tricks in snowboard big air?

At X Games Aspen 2025, Hiroto Ogiwara became the first snowboarder to land a 2340 (six and a half rotations) in a big air contest.

On the women’s side, triple corks now are among the most difficult tricks being done.

What are the differences between big air and slopestyle snowboarding?

A typical slopestyle course features three rail sections and three jump sections. Take one of those jump sections, make it larger, and you basically have big air.

Aside from that, the biggest difference is in the competition format. Slopestyle forces riders to put together one well-rounded run, while big air only requires riders to land one trick at a time but still emphasizes consistency and variety due to its best-two-of-three format.

The skills used for slopestyle and big air largely are transferrable, so athletes who qualify will compete in both at the Winter Olympics. However, there are many athletes who specialize in one more so than the other.