Quick Read
- Japan’s Kira Kimura won the Men’s Snowboard Big Air gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 7.
- Kimura executed two 1980-degree rotations, setting a new standard for difficulty in the event.
- American teen Oliver Martin finished fourth in Men’s Big Air; Red Gerard focused on upcoming Slopestyle.
- Two-time gold medalist Chloe Kim is set to compete in the Women’s Halfpipe, aiming for a third consecutive gold.
- Snowboarding events continue through February 18, with various finals scheduled.
LIVIGNO, ITALY (Azat TV) – Japan’s Kira Kimura captured the gold medal in the men’s Snowboard Big Air competition on Saturday, February 7, at the Livigno Snow Park in Valtellina, Italy, as the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games snowboarding events intensify. Kimura’s dominant performance, marked by two unprecedented 1980-degree rotations, set a new benchmark for the sport, signaling a dramatic increase in technical difficulty at the Olympic level. The victory comes amidst a busy schedule of snowboarding finals, with top athletes vying for medals and global attention.
Kimura Claims Men’s Big Air Gold with Record-Setting Performance
The men’s Snowboard Big Air final saw 21-year-old Kira Kimura of Japan deliver a masterful display, executing a switch backside 1980 weddle and a backside 1980 melon to secure a combined score of 179.50 points. This achievement pushed the boundaries of the sport, with program director for the U.S. Snowboard Team, Rick Bower, describing Kimura’s execution as “flawless.” The silver medal went to fellow Japanese athlete Ryoma Kimata with 171.50 points, while China’s Yiming Su, the event’s defending gold medalist, earned the bronze with 168.50 points, also completing two 1980s.
American teen sensation Oliver Martin, at just 17 years old, showcased remarkable talent, finishing fourth with 163.00 points. Martin, who is the youngest snowboarder to ever land a 2160 (six rotations), demonstrated his potential as a rising star in the sport, competing fiercely against a field of seasoned veterans. Other American hopefuls, Jake Canter and Sean FitzSimons, did not advance past the qualifying rounds.
The progression in Big Air is starkly evident; the event’s debut at the 2018 Olympics saw Sebastien Toutant win with two 1620s. By 2022, Yiming Su needed two 1800s for gold. Now, in 2026, 1980s are becoming the standard for medal contention, as reported by The New York Times.
Team USA’s Snowboarding Prospects and Athlete Perspectives
While Oliver Martin made a strong showing, another prominent American snowboarder, Red Gerard, did not qualify for the Big Air finals. Gerard, a 25-year-old who won slopestyle gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and multiple X Games titles, openly expressed his disinterest in the Big Air discipline. “I am not a fan of big air at all,” Gerard stated after his qualifying run in Livigno, according to The New York Times. He highlighted a long-standing issue in Olympic snowboarding where slopestyle and big air are often tethered, forcing athletes who specialize in one to compete in the other. Gerard, along with Canter and FitzSimons, is now turning his focus to the men’s slopestyle event, which begins on February 16.
Looking ahead, all eyes are on two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, who is aiming for a historic third consecutive gold in the women’s halfpipe. Kim, who has also secured three World Championship titles and ten X Games medals in the halfpipe, is a dominant force in her discipline. Despite suffering a shoulder injury during training in January, she confirmed she is “good to go” for the Olympics, as reported by Bleacher Report. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Kim’s boyfriend, is expected to travel to Italy to support her quest for a three-peat. The Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final is scheduled for February 12.
Upcoming Snowboarding Finals and Global Viewer Access
The action at the 2026 Winter Olympics continues with a packed snowboarding schedule over the coming days. Key upcoming finals include the Women’s and Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom on February 8, the Women’s Snowboard Big Air Final on February 9, and the Mixed Team Snowboard Cross Finals on February 15. The women’s and men’s Slopestyle Finals will round out the competitions on February 17 and 18, respectively.
Fans worldwide have various options to watch the remaining events. In the United States, coverage is available on Peacock, USA Network, and NBC, with live streams and re-airs scheduled throughout the day. Peacock offers both ad-supported and ad-free subscription tiers for comprehensive access. For international viewers, free live streams are available on services such as Australia’s 9Now, Canada’s CBC Gem, and the UK’s BBC iPlayer. These geo-restricted services can be accessed globally using a virtual private network (VPN), as detailed by Mashable.
The 2026 Winter Olympics snowboarding competitions underscore a relentless push for innovation and athletic prowess, with athletes continually redefining what is possible on the snow. While some, like Red Gerard, express reservations about the combined event structure, the sheer spectacle and increasing technical demands of events like Big Air captivate audiences and demonstrate the evolving landscape of elite winter sports.