Norway's Birk Ruud already has one freeski gold medal to his name at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics in slopestyle, and he'll add another in big air if he can successfully defend his Olympic title from Beijing.

Big air results can be inconsistent due to rapid progression, injury risk, differing ramp styles, and other factors. That means the podium is almost always up for grabs. For Milan Cortina, three skiers in particular appear best positioned to stand in Ruud's way: New Zealand star Luca Harrington and American studs Troy Podmilsak and Mac Forehand.

Podmilsak, or "T-Pod," enters as a top contender — though hardly a lock. The 21-year-old turned heads after winning the world title in 2023, but then struggled, missing the podium in 14 subsequent starts across the next two full seasons (2023-24 and 2024-2025). He told NBC Olympics in December that 2024-25 was the "worst season of [his] life" and that he felt "defeated."

This season, everything has seemingly clicked. After taking the whole summer off to mostly golf, Podmilsak won both World Cup appearances (Secret Garden in November and Steamboat in December). He skipped the Beijing World Cup in between and shut down his season in December after securing a spot on his first U.S. Olympic team.

If there was a bright spot in 2023-24, it was claiming the Winter X Games title in 2024 with a triple cork 2160. Podmilsak told NBC Olympics in December that he doesn't like to use the trick because it's his hardest — and that even if he were losing, he isn't sure he'd pull it out.

Podmilsak's great-grandparents on his dad's side immigrated from Italy, specifically Milan. The Utah native said he considered trying to represent Italy as a teenager but felt it could hurt his long-term development and wouldn't feel as satisfying as making the U.S. team.

"It doesn't even feel like I'm here," Podmilsak said upon arriving in Italy. "It feels like I'm dreaming. I hope in the coming days I'll really feel the Olympic vibe and the presence of all the fans."

Looking to spoil that dream is Harrington, whose consistency this season has been off the charts. The reigning world champion has hit the podium at every major stop in recent months: 3rd at the Secret Garden World Cup in November, 2nd and 3rd at the Beijing and Steamboat World Cups in December, and 2nd to Podmilsak at X Games in January.

Harrington emerged as a true contender about a year ago, posting back-to-back World Cup wins before winning X Games gold in slopestyle and silver in big air, and leading into that world title.

"At first I was scared," Harrington said of his rise. "I was like, 'Oh, my God, I'm competing with my idols. Oh, I don't know if I should be here. I don't think I deserve it yet.' But then, once the results started coming last year and [I] started getting some medals and recognition, it's just kind of fulfilled me and continued to push my self belief."

Harrington's parents are originally from the U.S — his dad, Greg, is from New Hampshire and his mom, Nancy, is from New York. Greg became a coach and began taking trips to New Zealand in that capacity, and he and Nancy relocated there 25 years ago before having their oldest son, Ben Harrington, who is also an Olympian and is making his second Games appearance in the halfpipe.

Lucas, who turns 22 next Thursday, revealed at X Games in January that he's been working on a new trick.

"It's a trick that's never been done — never really been thought of," he said. "It's a really weird trick that goes against everything we've learned in the past.

"We're kind of defying physics a little bit, with stopping our rotation and pulling it back the other way. It's been an absolute pleasure, but an absolute challenge to work and wrap our brains around how to get this trick to work."

Podmilsak's U.S. teammates are also contenders, particularly Forehand, winner of last month's X Games. The 24-year-old Fairfield, Connecticut, native is competing at his second Games and is trying to not press the way he did for Beijing.

"My first time around I was definitely really stressed out and wanted to do really well," he said. "I was young, and maybe skied a little bit too hard, maybe over my ability.

"This time round, I want to know, and I want to do, what I'm capable of and not push it too hard. Play it safe and make it into the final and then go gung-ho in the final and be proud of the run that I really, really like."

Milan Cortina slopestyle silver medalist Alex Hall and Great Divide-area Montanan Konnor Ralph round out the American contingent. Hall has focused on slopestyle lately and hasn't made a World Cup podium in about two years, but can never be counted out. Ralph, meanwhile, was runner-up to Podmilsak at December's Steamboat World Cup. Forehand, Podmilsak and Hall finished 4th though 6th at 2025 Worlds.

As for Ruud, he very much remains in the mix. In addition to his back-to-back slopestyle world titles in 2023 and 2025, he took bronze in big air at both of those championships.

Others to keep your eyes on:

• Matej Svancer of Austria, the 2022 Youth Olympic champion, made his Games debut in 2022 at age 17 and finished 8th in slopestyle and 26th in big air. It took a bit for Svancer to find his rhythm on the senior circuit, but he made four big air World Cup podiums in 2024-25 and appears ready to seize his moment at 21.
• Miro Tabanelli of Italy has finished 3rd overall in big air World Cup standings the last two seasons but has only one top-10 finish this season (6th at Steamboat in December). Tabanelli grew up in the heart of the Apennines watching local legend and five-time medalist Alberto Tomba, who later mentored him and his sister Flora Tabanelli, the women's big air reigning world champion.

Men's freeski big air begins with qualifying on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1:30 p.m. ET. You can watch it live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.