Freestyle Skiing at Milano-Cortina 2026: The Ultimate Fan Guide
As we look toward Milano-Cortina 2026, interest in freestyle skiing is surging. Top athletes are returning from standout World Cup seasons, and the program is expanding with new, high-stakes formats. However, with so many different events under one umbrella, it can be confusing to keep track of the rules. One moment you are watching a race to the finish line, and the next, athletes are being judged on “amplitude” and “style.”
This guide breaks down every event, the scoring systems, and where you can catch all the action when the torch lights up in Italy.
What is Freestyle Skiing?
Think of freestyle skiing as the “X Games” of the Olympics. Unlike traditional Alpine skiing, where the only goal is to get down the mountain as fast as possible, freestyle rewards creativity, aerial awareness, and technical skill.
The discipline is split into judged events—where a panel decides the winner based on performance criteria—and timed racing events. This variety makes it one of the most spectator-friendly programs on the schedule, offering something for every type of sports fan.
The Judged Events: Style Over Speed
The majority of freestyle events focus on tricks. Here, the stopwatch doesn’t matter nearly as much as the scorecard.
Slopestyle
In Slopestyle, the mountain becomes a skatepark. Skiers navigate a course filled with rails, jumps, and other obstacles. They aren’t just trying to survive the run; they have to perform complex tricks on every feature. Judges score athletes on difficulty, execution, amplitude (how high they go), variety, and flow. The goal is a seamless, mistake-free run that looks effortless.
Big Air
This event is exactly what it sounds like. Athletes launch themselves off a single, massive jump to perform one spectacular trick. It’s a highlight-reel event where skiers are judged on the difficulty of the trick and the cleanliness of the landing. Finals typically take the best two or three scored jumps, so consistency is key.
Halfpipe
Skiers drop into a massive U-shaped pipe, gaining speed to launch themselves above the lip of the walls. They perform a sequence of tricks while traveling down the pipe. Judges are looking for height (amplitude), technical difficulty of the rotations, and how cleanly the skier lands back on the transition.
Aerials
If you like gymnastics, you will love Aerials. Skiers ski off steep, near-vertical ramps that launch them high into the air. Once airborne, they perform multiple flips and twists before landing on a steep hill. Judges assign scores based on the takeoff, form in the air, and the landing.
The Hybrids and Racers
Not every freestyle event is purely about style. Some require a need for speed and direct competition.
Moguls and Dual Moguls
Moguls is a brutal test of knee strength and rhythm. Skiers must navigate a steep course covered in large bumps (moguls) as fast as possible, while also performing two aerial tricks off jumps located along the course. Scoring is a unique mix: part timed, part judged on turn technique, and part judged on the air tricks.
New for 2026: Dual Moguls is joining the Olympic program. This format pits two skiers against each other on parallel courses in an elimination bracket. It adds a direct head-to-head competitive element that traditional moguls lacks.
Ski Cross
This is the only freestyle event decided purely by who crosses the finish line first. Ski Cross features four to six skiers racing simultaneously down a course filled with jumps, banked turns, and rollers. It is chaotic, physical, and fast. The first across the line advances through heats to the final. Strategy and contact play a huge role here—being the fastest doesn’t matter if you get boxed out on a turn.
Where and How to Watch
For the 2026 Games, the freestyle action will be concentrated at the Livigno Snow Park and the Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park. These venues are set to host the world’s best as they push the boundaries of what is possible on snow.
For U.S. viewers, NBC and Peacock will be the home for live coverage, replays, and highlights. Because of the time difference between Italy and the United States, expect the live windows to be in the early morning, with primetime recaps airing in the evenings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which freestyle events are judged versus raced?
Most events are judged: Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air, Moguls, and Aerials all rely on scoring panels. Ski Cross is the only event that is purely raced, where the first person across the finish line wins.
How are moguls scored?
Moguls scoring is a hybrid system. The final score is a combination of the time it takes to complete the course, points for the quality of the turns through the bumps, and points for the two aerial tricks performed.
Why You Should Tune In
Freestyle skiing is where the sport evolves. It is where new tricks are invented and where a single flawless run can vault an underdog onto the podium. With the addition of Dual Moguls and the constant “arms race” to increase rotation and flip counts in Big Air and Aerials, Milano-Cortina 2026 promises to be a showcase of athletic risk and reward.
