The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are off to a roaring start, and snowboarding fans around the globe are in for a thrilling two-week ride. After the opening ceremony festivities wrapped up, the snowboarding action wasted no time heating up at Livigno Snow Park, nestled in the Italian Alps. Thursday, February 5, saw the first athletes drop in for Big Air qualifying runs, setting the stage for a packed schedule of medal events, qualification heats, and high-flying drama through February 18.
Saturday, February 7, marks the first major medal showdown, as the Men’s Big Air final takes center stage at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time (or 12:30 p.m. Central Time) on USA Network. The anticipation is palpable, with fans eager to see which riders will stomp their runs and who might crash out under the Olympic spotlight. The action is only set to intensify from here, with a full slate of events lined up for the coming days.
Sunday, February 8, promises to be a blockbuster day for snowboarding, especially for Canadian fans. Juliette Pelchat, making her Olympic debut, is set to compete in the Women’s Snowboard Big Air qualification round. She’s coming off a career-best fourth-place finish at a World Cup event in Steamboat back in December 2025, and expectations are high for the young Canadian. Later that day, Kaylie Buck and Arnaud Gaudet will look to capitalize on their recent World Cup podiums as they tackle the Women’s and Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom Finals, scheduled for 8:26 a.m. Eastern Time. Buck’s second place at Cortina d’Ampezzo and Gaudet’s runner-up finish in Bansko are fresh in the minds of Canadian supporters.
For those wondering how to catch all the Olympic snowboarding action, there’s no shortage of options. In the United States, fans can tune in to NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, with select events also available on Sling and NBCOlympics.com. Many events air live in the early morning hours, but key competitions will be re-broadcast in the afternoons for those not keen on setting their alarms. For cord-cutters, a free trial from DirecTV offers a chance to catch select events online, while a monthly Peacock subscription at $10.99 unlocks every run, jump, and trick from Livigno Snow Park.
International viewers have a buffet of broadcast and streaming choices: CBC, Bell Media, and Rogers Media are carrying the Games in Canada, while Warner Bros Discovery and Eurosport cover much of Europe. The Olympic Channel via Olympics.com is also streaming live coverage in select regions, making it easier than ever to follow your favorite athletes from anywhere in the world.
Nick Baumgartner, a stalwart of Team USA, is making headlines as he enters his fifth Winter Olympics. Fresh off a gold medal performance at the previous Games, Baumgartner is hungry for more hardware and eager to inspire the next generation of American snowboarders. "Every time I put on the Team USA uniform, it’s an honor," Baumgartner told reporters earlier this week. "I’m here to give it everything I’ve got." His experience and determination make him one to watch in the Men’s Snowboard Cross, with seeding runs set for Thursday, February 12, at 4 a.m. Eastern and finals later that morning.
Chloe Kim, the reigning queen of the halfpipe, is back for her third Olympics and aiming for a third consecutive gold medal in the Women’s Halfpipe event. Kim’s dominance in 2018 and 2022 is the stuff of legend, and her return has sent a buzz through the snowboarding world. The Women’s Halfpipe Final is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, with qualification runs kicking off the day before at 4:30 a.m. Eastern. As always, Kim’s runs are expected to push the limits of what’s possible in the pipe.
Snowboarding at Milano Cortina isn’t just about the big names, though. Rising stars like Juliette Pelchat and Kaylie Buck are eager to make their mark, while veterans such as Arnaud Gaudet are looking to turn recent World Cup success into Olympic glory. The schedule is jam-packed: from the Parallel Giant Slalom and Big Air to the adrenaline-pumping Snowboard Cross and the creative spectacle of Slopestyle, there’s something for every snowboarding fan.
The Women’s Big Air medal event is set for Monday, February 9, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern (12:30 p.m. Central), with more qualifying runs and finals sprinkled throughout the week. The Men’s and Women’s Halfpipe and Snowboard Cross events follow, with both individual and mixed team competitions promising plenty of excitement. The Mixed Team Snowboard Cross Finals, a crowd favorite, are slated for Sunday, February 15, at 7:30 a.m. Central on NBC.
Slopestyle fans won’t want to miss the Women’s Final on Tuesday, February 17, at 6 a.m. Central (7 a.m. Eastern), and the Men’s Final the next day at 5:30 a.m. Central (6:30 a.m. Eastern), both airing on USA Network. With so many disciplines and formats, the medal count is very much up for grabs, and surprises are all but guaranteed.
Canada’s snowboarding contingent is especially strong this year, with Juliette Pelchat and Kaylie Buck spearheading the women’s squad and Arnaud Gaudet anchoring the men’s side. Their recent World Cup performances have raised hopes for a podium finish, and the Olympic spotlight offers the perfect stage to turn potential into achievement.
As the snowboarding competitions unfold, fans can expect a mix of seasoned champions and hungry newcomers battling it out on one of the sport’s biggest stages. With live coverage, streaming options, and replays available across multiple platforms, there’s no excuse to miss a moment of the action—no matter where you are or what time zone you’re in.
With the opening weekend drawing to a close and the first medals soon to be awarded, all eyes remain fixed on Livigno Snow Park. The next two weeks promise jaw-dropping tricks, dramatic finishes, and the kind of Olympic magic that keeps fans coming back every four years. Whether it’s Chloe Kim’s quest for history, Nick Baumgartner’s veteran grit, or the emergence of new stars like Pelchat and Buck, the 2026 Winter Olympics snowboarding competition is already shaping up to be one for the ages.