Livigno’s Snow Globe Thriller: Frostad’s Last-Second Magic Steals Big Air Gold

On a night where the snowflakes were nearly as big as the tricks, the Men’s Olympic Big Air final didn't just crown a champion; it redefined the ceiling of freeskiing.

Under the bright lights and with the world watching, the men’s Olympic Big Air final delivered a spectacle worthy of the sport’s biggest stage. In a night defined by amplitude, technical precision, and nerves of steel, Birk Ruud Frostad claimed the gold medal, edging out a fiercely competitive field. Luca Forehand took silver, while Matej Svancer secured bronze after a dramatic final round shake-up.

From his first drop, Frostad made his intentions clear. Launching high above the massive Big Air jump, he stomped a switch left double cork 1800 with a safety grab that drew immediate roars from the crowd. The execution was clinical—clean takeoff, controlled rotation, and a rock-solid landing that set the tone for the evening.

But it was his final run that sealed the deal. Needing a score in the mid-90s to overtake the leaders, Frostad delivered under pressure, uncorking a flawless right triple cork 1620 with a mute grab. The landing was buttery smooth, skis locked in as he rode away without a hint of hesitation. When his score dropped into first place, he threw his arms skyward, knowing he had likely done enough.

“I just wanted to ski my run and trust my training,” Frostad said afterward, gold medal draped around his neck. “To land both tricks the way I did—at the Olympics—it’s unreal.”

Forehand pushed the pace throughout the final, showcasing his signature amplitude and technical creativity. His opening run—a towering left triple cork 1800—momentarily put him at the top of the standings. The American looked poised to take gold after backing it up with a stylish switch 1620 that blended difficulty and flow.

In the end, however, he fell just short of Frostad’s combined score. Still, the silver medal marked a breakthrough Olympic performance and confirmed his place among the sport’s elite.

“I gave it everything I had,” Forehand said. “Big Air is about going all in, and tonight we all did that.” 

"I knew I had to one-up one of the tricks and I deliberated with my coaches for like five minutes at the top about what I should do,” Forehand said. “We talked about that trick for a while, and I just had to finally ski away and be OK and be alive.

Frostad, who had the best score in each of the first two runs, responded with an almost-never-been-done right nose-butter double bio 1620 safety grab with his final hit of the night, earning himself a near-perfect score 98.50 points. Frostad himself is the only freeskier ever to land the trick, which he did just a few weeks ago at the X Games, though with less precision.

Frostad’s two-run total of 195.50 earned him the biggest title of his career. Coming into the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Frostad had just two Big Air World Cup podium finishes — a first place and a runner-up result from 2024 at Beijing and Chur respectively.

“The last run, I'm already super happy with my own run, and I'm still a bit shocked. I did it for fun, and it worked out just fine, and I'm very happy," he said. "I'm beyond happy to land three runs, and that it took me to the top spot.

Mac Forehand put together three incredible runs in the finals to lead Team USA to another medal, taking home silver in men's big air at the Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy on Tuesday night.

Forehand delivered standout performances on the big air jump in both the qualifying round and the finals. He secured the top score in Sunday night’s qualifiers and carried that momentum into the finals. The silver marks the Connecticut natives' first Olympic medal in his second Olympic appearance. He competed at the 2022 Games, where he finished 11th in the big air.

"I'm just happy to walk away alive from that event," said Forehand. "It was super heavy and people were going crazy so I'm just happy to walk away and be okay and with a silver medal is pretty cool as well."

Svancer, known for his explosive style and fearless approach, battled back after a shaky first attempt. With little margin for error, he delivered a massive final jump that electrified the crowd—a technical masterpiece featuring a high-difficulty triple cork with impeccable grab control. 

Svancer’s score would have been good enough for Beijing 2022 gold. Defending Olympic champion Birk Ruud (NOR), who finished eighth on 118.25 on Tuesday, had a total of 187.75 points in the final four years ago.

"It was kind of unexpected,” Svancer said. “I'm pretty stoked about it. Everything worked out tonight, which was crazy.

The score vaulted him into bronze-medal position, knocking several contenders off the podium in the process. Svancer pumped his fists at the bottom of the landing, visibly relieved and elated.

The final was a testament to how far Big Air has progressed. Triple corks, once considered groundbreaking, now form the backbone of medal runs. Athletes are spinning in both directions, adding complex grabs, and landing with a level of consistency that would have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago.

As fireworks lit up the night sky and medals were presented, the podium told a story of a sport in full flight: Frostad’s composure, Forehand’s boldness, and Svancer’s resilience combining to create an unforgettable Olympic chapter.

For fans of freestyle skiing, it was more than a competition—it was a reminder of why Big Air remains one of the Games’ most electrifying events.