LIVIGNO, Italy – Heavy snowfall across the Italian Alps is forcing organizers to reshuffle the schedule for the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, impacting several competitions at the Livigno Snow Park and Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park. The unpredictable weather, which has already disrupted events for two consecutive days, is presenting a significant challenge to athletes and organizers alike as they navigate the conditions and strive to deliver a safe and compelling competition.
The women’s snowboard slopestyle final, originally slated for Tuesday, has been moved to Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Local time. The men’s slopestyle final will now take place earlier that same day, at 11:20 a.m., a shift from its previously scheduled 12:30 p.m. Start. Both the women’s and men’s freestyle aerials qualifications were postponed Tuesday due to visibility concerns and the inability of the air ambulance to operate safely in the conditions. The women’s aerials will now be held Wednesday, with qualifying at 10 a.m. And the final at 1 p.m. Men’s aerials have been pushed to Thursday, with qualifying at 11 a.m. And the final at 1 p.m.
Weather Disruptions Extend to Second Day
This marks the second day of weather-related disruptions at Livigno. On Monday evening, the women’s freeski substantial air final at Livigno Snow Park was delayed by 75 minutes due to a snowstorm, but ultimately concluded with a gold medal win for Canada’s Megan Oldham. Organizers had proactively moved slopestyle qualifying to Sunday from Monday in anticipation of deteriorating weather conditions, a move that proved prescient. The 650-metre slopestyle course at Livigno Snow Park, with its 165-metre vertical drop, is particularly susceptible to the effects of heavy snow, which can unhurried riders and impact jump performance.
Canadian Athletes Prepare for Rescheduled Events
Several Canadian athletes are poised to compete in the rescheduled events. In the women’s slopestyle competition, Laurie Blouin, a silver medalist in 2018 in Pyeongchang and a fourth-place finisher in Beijing four years later, will be joined by Juliette Pelchat in the 12-woman field. Blouin, 29, from Quebec City, brings a wealth of experience to the competition, including two world championship titles (slopestyle in 2017 and big air in 2021) and six medals from the Winter X Games – one gold, one silver, and four bronze. Pelchat, 21, of Whistler, B.C., will be making her Olympic debut.
McMorris and Spalding Lead Canadian Men’s Team
On the men’s side, Canada will be represented by Mark McMorris, a three-time Olympic bronze medalist, and Cameron Spalding in the slopestyle final. Spalding, a 20-year-old from Havelock, Ont., recently achieved a significant milestone, winning the Crystal Globe as the overall FIS World Cup champion for slopestyle in the 2024-25 season. The unique design of Livigno Snow Park, where five different competition areas converge into a single finish zone, allows spectators to view a wide range of action, according to Olympics.com.
Safety Concerns Prompt Aerials Postponement
The postponement of the aerials qualifications wasn’t solely due to visibility. A critical factor was the inability of the air ambulance to fly in the challenging conditions. The presence of a readily available air ambulance is paramount for athlete safety in events involving high-risk maneuvers like aerials, where the potential for injury is significant. Initially, organizers attempted to adjust the schedule, pushing back the start of the women’s aerials qualifying to 1:45 p.m. Local time from its original 11:15 a.m. Start, hoping for an improvement in the weather. Though, the deteriorating conditions ultimately led to the complete postponement of both men’s and women’s aerials qualifications.
The only event still scheduled for Tuesday at Livigno is the men’s freeski big air final, slated for 7:30 p.m. Local time, but its fate remains contingent on the weather. The Livigno Snow Park is a cutting-edge venue, designed to host snowboard and freestyle skiing disciplines including ski cross, halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air, as highlighted by Olympics.com.
Organizers will continue to monitor the weather conditions closely and provide updates as needed. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of the athletes and delivering a successful and exciting competition, even amidst the challenges posed by the unpredictable mountain weather. The next update regarding the men’s freeski big air final is expected Wednesday morning, with a decision based on the latest forecast.
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