The freestyle skiing arena at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games is braced for its most gravity-defying spectacle yet. On Tuesday, February 17, the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Freeski Big Air final takes center stage at the Livigno Snow Park. After a qualification round defined by “triple corks” and historic scores, the world’s top 12 skiers are ready to fight for Olympic gold.
The Road to the Big Air Final
The journey to the final has already rewritten the record books. During the qualifiers held on February 15, the progression of the sport was on full display as 11 athletes breached the 90-point mark. The high-stakes nature of the event was underscored by the shock elimination of veterans like Alex Hall and Andri Ragettli, proving that in Big Air, one missed landing can end a podium dream.
2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Freeski Big Air Final: India Timings
For fans in India, the action unfolds late into the night. The final follows a three-run format where the best two scores from different tricks are combined.
| Event Component | IST (Indian Standard Time) | CET (Local Italy Time) |
| Final – Run 1 | 12:00 AM (Feb 18) | 7:30 PM (Feb 17) |
| Final – Run 2 | 12:23 AM (Feb 18) | 7:53 PM (Feb 17) |
| Final – Run 3 | 12:47 AM (Feb 18) | 8:17 PM (Feb 17) |
How to Watch the Big Air Final in India and Globally
In India, JioHotstar holds the exclusive digital broadcast rights for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Viewers can stream the final live on the JioHotstar app and website starting at midnight. On television, Sports18 will provide coverage, including highlights and key moments from the Livigno Snow Park.
Global audiences can tune in via the following networks:
- USA: NBC and Peacock
- UK: BBC Sport and Discovery+
- Europe: Eurosport (Warner Bros. Discovery)
- Australia: Nine and 9Now
Athletes to Watch: Favorites for the Podium
The final features a mix of defending champions and young disruptors. Birk Ruud of Norway remains the man to beat. Having already secured Slopestyle gold in these Games, Ruud is looking to defend his Big Air title. However, he qualified third, trailing behind American sensation Mac Forehand.
Forehand dominated the qualifiers with a switch left triple cork 1980 and has hinted at a “never-before-seen” trick saved specifically for the final. New Zealand’s Luca Harrington, the reigning world champion, also looms large as a threat after qualifying comfortably in fifth place.
The Dark Horses and Scoring Format
Keep an eye on Tormod Frostad of Norway, who notched the highest single-trick score (96.25) during qualifications. The American duo of Troy Podmilsak and Konnor Ralph also remain dangerous; despite qualifying lower in the pack, they possess the technical rotation capacity to leapfrog into medal positions if they land cleanly.
Judges will evaluate the three runs based on four pillars: Difficulty, Execution, Amplitude (height), and Landing. With the “best two-out-of-three” rule, athletes are encouraged to take massive risks on at least one of their jumps to push the technical boundaries of the sport.
As the sun sets over the Italian Alps, the lights at Livigno Snow Park will shine on a final that promises to be a historic chapter in freestyle skiing.
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