At the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Men’s Freestyle Skiing Big Air event was charged with a display of aerials throwing up speed and danger or high risk tricks. Athletes from across the world competed for Olympic medals in one of the most thrilling snow sport disciplines at the Milano Cortina Games in Italy.
This contest, which followed a series of qualifiers earlier in the Games, was held at the impressive Livigno Snow Park in Valtellina on 17 February. In it there was little doubt that a jump down to the wire would really be chance for athletes to weigh their strengths and limitations.
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Big Air Event Overview Format and Expectations
The Men’s Big Air event is composed of two main stages:
Qualification: Each skier is given three runs, with the top 12 based on their best two scores moving on to the final.
Final: In the final as well, each of the finalists makes three jumps, and his two highest scores are put together for a final ranking that determines how much money and medal he has won.
World Cup leaders and top ranking athletes entered the Games with strong credentials, including reigning world champions and Olympic veterans. Among them were New Zealand’s Luca Harrington (2025 World Champion), Norway’s Birk Ruud (Olympic gold medalist in men’s slopestyle), Mac Forehand of the United States and Troy Podmilsak.
Qualification Round Top Skiers Who Made the Final
The 2026 qualifiers on 15 February saw a fierce competition with a strong field. Athletes executed spectacular combinations of tricks to secure berths in the final. The top 10 qualifiers are as follows:
Rank | Athlete | Country | Total Score
1 | Mac Forehand | USA | 183.00
2 | Matěj Švancer | AUT | 182.25
3 | Birk Ruud | NOR | 181.00
4 | Tormod Frostad | NOR | 180.25
5 | Luca Harrington | NZL | 179.75
6 | Matias Roche | SWE | 178.50
7 | Timothé Sivignon | FRA | 178.00
8 | Ulrik Samnøy | NOR | 176.00
9 | Dylan Deschamps | CAN | 175.50
10 | Troy Podmilsak | USA | 174.00
12 | Konnor Ralph | USA | 171.75
Finals warmup run of magic through the air combined with perfect landings their runs, will high line of competition play out into the duel to come for a medal.
Medal Contenders & The Background Stories Heading Into the Final
As the final approached, several storylines came to the fore:
Birk Ruud (NOR) Having previously experienced Olympic slopestyle and with a good record in skiing, after remarkable performances during these Games he entered this final as a favorite. Luca Harrington (NZL) As the 2025 World Champion of big air, he was so consistent that he should be taken seriously as a medal contender here.
Mac Forehand (USA) or: Matěj Švancer (AUT) Both were the top qualifiers, coming in to the final with the wind at their backs and a lot of confidence. Unsettled weather in the stadium and a treacherous layer of new powder on the snow added a new uncertainty to something that so far had been seen as relatively stable just keeping one’s calm and poise could make all difference for anyone hoping for podium finish in competition.
Who to Watch On & Top Finalists in The Medal Group
While people immediately else on such a moment are the medalists, there is always something elegant that also makes a good nametable skier:
Troy Podmilsak (USA) A top World Cup performer, he had form propelling him to the Olympics. Timothé Sivignon (FRA) In qualifying, a technical jumper who steps off high above the ground at a very late stage. The high quality of these efforts both shows how strong field is, and indicates that Big Air would still be one of the most thrilling freestyle disciplines at future Olympics.
Why Men’s Big Air in 2026 is So Important
The Big Air event is not just one contest for medals; it has become a spectacle championing innovation and daring athleticism. Aerial tricks with an eye popping score are often hybrid combinations:
Lots of height dropping off the jump
Multiple rotations (1440s, 1620s)
Landing smoothly when facing intense pressure
Big Air is an example of how freestyle skiing has developed from an original aerial form into a sport where the brave must win, tactics are crucial and style counts and in the Olympics, it has attracted brand new herd of spectators.
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inal Word What To Expect Next
The medal round of the men ’ s big air competition is scheduled for February 17, 2026, and fans can expect:
A breathtaking final with top qualifiers aiming for Olympic medals.
Potential breakthrough moments from underdog competitors.
Further evolution of aerial trick complexity and performance strategy.
The 2026 Winter Olympics continue through February 22, seventeen thrilling days long Crosby and the Swiss alpine resorts of Kraniska Gora. The lineup of freestyle skiing yet to come gets very exciting: look for men ’ s halfpipe comp team and aerials among other tributes to the organization, only can find snowsport talent deep across many nations.
