Red Gerard Slams Olympic Big Air Format After Early Exit: What You Need to Know

Red Gerard didn’t mince his words after his disappointing finish in the Men’s Snowboard Big Air qualification at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games on Thursday. The 2018 slopestyle gold medalist, who entered the competition with high expectations, found himself on the outside looking in, finishing 20th in a field where only the top 12 advanced.

But the story isn’t just about a missed final; it’s about Gerard’s blunt critique of how the Olympics handle snowboarding disciplines. His comments have sparked a firestorm of debate across the winter sports world, questioning whether the current setup truly identifies the best riders or simply rewards specific trick specialists.

If you missed the drama at Livigno Snow Park, here is a breakdown of exactly what happened, why he is frustrated, and what this means for the rest of the Olympic run for the American.

The Expectations vs. The Reality

Heading into the 2026 Games, Red Gerard was a name to watch. After his stunning underdog victory in PyeongChang in 2018 and a consistent track record at events like the X Games and World Cups, he was considered a serious medal threat for both slopestyle and big air.

However, the Big Air qualification on February 5 proved to be a stumbling block. The format is brutal: 30 competitors, three runs, best two distinct tricks count, and only 12 tickets to the final.

Gerard put down his runs, but the scoring didn’t go his way. While younger riders and big air specialists threw down massive single maneuvers to secure their spots, Gerard’s combined score left him in 20th place—well below the cut line.

Gerard’s Criticism: It’s About the Format, Not Just the Loss

It’s easy to dismiss an athlete’s complaints as “sour grapes” after a loss, but Gerard’s critique cuts deeper into the mechanics of competitive snowboarding as a whole in general. Immediately following the event, he spoke to the media and took to social platforms to voice his frustrations.

His main argument centers on the disconnect between slopestyle and big air. Gerard believes the current Olympic format disadvantages riders who excel at the flow, creativity, and consistency required in slopestyle. By forcing these athletes into a rigid big air format—often scheduled and judged in ways that prioritize “spin-to-win” over style and technicality—he argues the system fails to reward the most complete snowboarders.

For years, the snowboarding community has wrestled with the “gymnastic-ification” of the sport, where massive rotations often score higher than stylish, controlled, but technically “easier” tricks, which is the main crux of the debate right now in the sport. Gerard’s comments have simply amplified a conversation that has been simmering in the background of every major competition.

The Reaction: Community Divided

The response to Gerard’s comments was immediate. Social media lit up with takes from fans, analysts, and fellow riders in both support and disagreement.

Team Gerard: Many purists and long-time fans have rallied behind him in the last 24 hours. They argue that snowboarding is losing its soul to standardized scoring systems that don’t account for the nuance of the sport. They echoed his sentiment that slopestyle specialists are being forced to adapt to a format that doesn’t play to their strengths.

The Counterpoint: On the other side, some argued that big air and slopestyle are distinct disciplines for a good reason. The argument here is simple: if you want to win Olympic Big Air, you have to play by Big Air rules. They pointed to the rising stars who have tailored their training specifically for the Big Air competition itself.

Event organizers and commentators largely stuck to the script, defending the format as the international standard. They noted the logistical nightmares of scheduling the Olympics—balancing athlete safety, prime-time broadcast windows, and weather windows—implying that the current format is the best compromise available.

What This Means for Slopestyle

The good news for Red Gerard fans? He isn’t done yet.

While the Big Air door has closed, his signature event, Men’s Slopestyle, is still on the schedule. This is where Gerard made his name, and historically, it’s where his creative lines and rail wizardry shine brightest.

The pressure, however, has just dialed up. With the Big Air disappointment in the rearview, the slopestyle competition becomes a redemption arc.

The Bigger Picture

Whether you agree with Gerard or not, his willingness to speak out matters. Athletes at this level rarely criticize the governing bodies during the Games. His comments could force a review of how these events are paired and scored in the future.

If enough top-tier riders agree that the format penalizes consistency and style, we might see changes in how snowboarding is presented at the 2030 Games. For now, all eyes turn to the slopestyle course, where Gerard has a chance to prove his point on his snowboard.

We will keep you updated as the slopestyle qualifiers approach. Stay tuned.