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Cortina & Livigno to Host Freestyle Skiing

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, January 28th 2026 at 19:59 GMT by NBC Connecticut
      Locale: ITALY

A Dual Venue Spectacle: Cortina d'Ampezzo and Livigno

The stunning Italian resorts of Cortina d'Ampezzo and Livigno will play host to the freestyle skiing competitions. Cortina, a historic Olympic venue, will be the primary hub, while Livigno will offer a unique backdrop for select events. This distribution of events allows for optimal course design and spectator experience. The schedule is tightly packed with action:

• February 9-11: Moguls - kicking off the freestyle program with a test of precision and power.
• February 12-14: Aerials - showcasing gravity-defying acrobatics and aerial artistry.
• February 16-18: Slopestyle - a creative blend of tricks and technical skill on a course filled with rails and jumps.
• February 19-21: Halfpipe - riders carving and soaring in the iconic U-shaped course.
• February 22-24: Big Air - a single, massive jump providing a platform for the most spectacular tricks.
• February 25-26: Ski Cross - a fast-paced, head-to-head battle racing down a challenging course.

Disciplines Defined: A Look at the Six Events

Each of the six freestyle skiing disciplines demands a unique skillset and offers a different spectacle for audiences. Let's delve into each:

Moguls: Often considered the most technically demanding, moguls require skiers to navigate a steep, bumpy course with speed and grace. Athletes are judged on their ability to absorb the impact of the moguls, maintain a fluid rhythm, and execute impressive aerial maneuvers. Turns, air control, and overall speed contribute to the final score.

Aerials: This discipline is all about taking flight. Skiers launch from a ramp, performing complex flips and twists before landing cleanly. Difficulty is a key factor in scoring, with more challenging tricks earning higher points. However, execution is paramount; a perfectly executed simpler trick will often outperform a flawed attempt at a more difficult one.

Slopestyle: Slopestyle is the epitome of freestyle creativity. Skiers ride a course featuring a variety of rails, jumps, and other obstacles, combining technical skill with artistic expression. Judges evaluate the difficulty, originality, and execution of each trick, as well as the overall flow and style of the run.

Halfpipe: The halfpipe is a classic freestyle event. Skiers ride the walls of a U-shaped pipe, performing tricks above the coping. Amplitude (height), difficulty of tricks, and the quality of execution are crucial scoring components. The best halfpipe skiers can string together multiple complex tricks in a single run.

Big Air: Big Air is a spectacle of sheer scale. Skiers launch off a massive jump, attempting a single, standout trick. The difficulty, execution, and overall impression of the trick determine the score. It's a discipline that rewards boldness and innovation.

Ski Cross: Unlike the other events, ski cross is a direct competition. Four skiers race head-to-head down a course filled with jumps, rollers, and banked turns. The first skier to cross the finish line wins. Strategic positioning, aggressive racing, and the ability to navigate the course quickly are essential for success.

Medal Count and Scoring Nuances

A total of 12 medal events will be awarded in freestyle skiing - six for men and six for women. The scoring systems, as detailed above, reflect the unique characteristics of each discipline. Moguls and Aerials rely heavily on judges' assessments of technical skill and artistry. Slopestyle and Halfpipe combine judging criteria with a scoring system based on trick difficulty. Big Air is purely judged on a single trick, while Ski Cross is a straightforward race to the finish.

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics promises to be a thrilling showcase of freestyle skiing talent. With a captivating schedule, diverse disciplines, and a refined scoring system, the event is set to deliver unforgettable moments for athletes and spectators alike.