Exciting flights, speed and thrilling battles to conquer first place. This alone would be enough to define why snowboarding has been one of the most spectacular sports at the Olympic Games since its introduction at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Regulations and equipment have changed a lot over the years, but what has never changed is the spirit of the snowboarders and the way they live and interpret the mountains.
But which events will be present at Milano Cortina 2026? What about the rules? Fear not, Fan26 comes to the rescue.
One Sport, Eleven Events
As was the case in Beijing 2022, in Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games there will be no less than 11 snowboarding events:
- Parallel giant slalom (men and women)
- Snowboard cross (male and female)
- Halfpipe (male and female)
- Slopestyle (male and female)
- Big air (male and female)
- Mixed team snowboard cross
At the last Winter Olympics, we enjoyed a series of competitions full of spectacular flights in big air, halfpipe and slopestyle, and top speed combined with tremendous brilliance on the snowboard cross and parallel giant slalom courses. But, of course, the eyes of the world were on the mixed team snowboard cross competition which, at its historic début, amazed the world with its great spectacle. Italian fans in particular were able to cheer, thanks to the silver medal won by the pair made up of Michela Moioli and Omar Visintin.
Max Parrot (CAN). (David Ramos/Getty Images)
Basic Rules
As the events are very different, the regulations of the individual disciplines also vary greatly:
- In the halfpipe, competitors perform a series of evolutions as they descend down a slope in the shape of a half-cylinder, which are evaluated based on the amplitude and difficulty of the jumps.
- In the parallel giant slalom, two snowboarders ski down two parallel tracks at the same time. During the qualifying rounds, each competitor descends the two tracks (blue and red) once. The two times are summed up and the 16 best cumulative times will advance to the elimination round. The best of each race qualifies for the next one until the final.
- In snowboard cross, after a timed qualifying round that determines the best 16, the competition takes place in head-to-head battles between four athletes per race, who ski simultaneously on a slope studded with jumps, bumps and wide curves. Each race ranks the best two for the next round until the final.
- In big air, the athletes descend down a slope with a ramp, which is used to perform a jump during which various aerial evolutions are performed.
- In slopestyle, athletes ski down a course that includes a variety of structures (rails/jumps), while being evaluated for the amplitude, originality and quality of their stunts.
Livigno: the Cradle of Snowboarding in Milano Cortina 2026
A much-loved destination for freeskiers and snowboarders thanks to its numerous Snowparks, Livigno offers adrenaline, hospitality and beauty in abundance: these are just some of the reasons why it has been named European Municipality of Sport in 2019 and will be the venue for the snowboarding and freestyle events at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
Always the home of top athletes thanks to its high altitude and state-of-the-art facilities, Livigno offers optimal training conditions.
Milano Cortina 2026 is a dream come true for the Italian "Little Tibet", as well as a source of pride for the entire Valtellina. The local community is preparing to welcome athletes from all over the world in a vibrant atmosphere of Olympic energy and Italian spirit. Livigno, already known for its natural beauty and warm welcome, is preparing to shine in the spotlight of the Olympics, at the centre of the world stage.
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