Big air skiing with live scoring
Six-judge panels, three jumps, best two count
Big air skiing uses an overall impression scoring system. Six judges each assign a score from 0 to 100 per jump, evaluating difficulty, execution, amplitude, style, and landing. The highest and lowest scores are dropped, and the remaining four are averaged. Each athlete's final result is the sum of their best two jump scores, which must be for different tricks.
- JudgeMate for big air skiing events
- How Big Air Skiing Competitions Work: Format, Scoring & the FIS Judging System
- Big air skiing — one jump, one trick, one shot
- Major Big Air Skiing Competitions and Events
- Big Air Skiing Legends and Elite Competitors: The Stars of the Ramp
- Key Big Air Skiing Equipment
- Current Trends and the Future of Big Air Skiing
- The History and Evolution of Big Air Skiing
- Frequently Asked Questions About Big Air Skiing
JudgeMate for big air skiing events
Six-judge scoring with best-two totals
Big air needs fast scoring, a strict high/low drop, and best-two-of-three totals across three jumps. JudgeMate handles all three from a tablet at the panel, with a trick label logged per jump for the head judge's different-trick call.
Scoring after every jump
Judges enter overall-impression scores from a tablet right after the jump. The system drops the high and low, averages the remaining four, and posts the score in seconds. Athletes see it before they get back to the top.
Trick label per jump
Organizers can log each jump's trick alongside the score, so the protocol shows what was thrown on every attempt. The head judge uses these labels to apply the different-trick rule when confirming which two scores count.
Score breakdowns
Protocols show every judge's mark per jump, the high/low drop, the trick per jump, and the best-two total. Athletes and coaches can trace exactly how a score came together.
Live leaderboard
Standings update after every jump, recalculating when second and third jumps come in. Broadcasters and athletes can see who needs what score to move up.
Broadcast and feeds
Scores export to broadcast overlays and streaming graphics live. Jump scores, standings, and trick descriptions publish to social feeds automatically.
Built for the bib bench
The mobile-first interface runs from tablets at the panel, with large score-entry buttons and instant submission confirmation. Firebase Realtime Database keeps every device in sync at alpine and urban venues alike.
Run timer with sound
The speaker opens each run with a 3-2-1 countdown and a start signal, and the same clock runs on the judges' tablets, the public results page and the venue screen. Add a halfway or 30-seconds-left signal when the format needs one — sound plays only on the device you switch it on, so a single screen carries the PA.
Audience polls
Run live polls during the contest — best trick of the night, crowd's pick, fan favorite. Spectators vote on their phones, results update in real time, and every closed poll stays in the event archive.
How Big Air Skiing Competitions Work: Format, Scoring & the FIS Judging System
Competition Format
Big Air Format
In a big air skiing competition, each athlete performs three jumps from a massive ramp approximately 45 meters high. The best two of three jumps determine the final score, but with a critical rule: the two counting jumps must feature different tricks. This means athletes cannot just repeat their best trick — they must demonstrate versatility by landing two distinct, high-scoring maneuvers. If an athlete performs the same trick on all three attempts, only the single best score from that trick counts, and their second counting score would be their best attempt at a different trick. This format rewards athletes who possess a diverse trick repertoire alongside the ability to execute under pressure.
Qualifications
In qualification rounds, all registered athletes perform their three jumps to establish an initial ranking. The field is typically narrowed from a larger group to the top 12 athletes (the exact number may vary by event) who advance to the finals. Qualification results are based on the same best-two-of-three scoring system with the different-trick requirement. Athletes must strategically plan their three attempts to maximize their combined score, balancing risk and consistency. Strong qualification performances are essential, as only the top finishers advance and the qualification score does not carry over to the final round.
Finals
The finals follow the same three-jump, best-two-count format as qualifications, but with a reset — all finalists start from zero. The top 12 qualifiers compete in the final round, performing three jumps each with fresh scoring. The intensity increases significantly, as athletes often attempt their most difficult tricks knowing that only the final standings matter for medals and prize money. The different-trick requirement adds strategic depth: athletes must decide which two distinct tricks give them the highest combined score while managing the risk of crashes on their most ambitious maneuvers. The sum of the two best scores (from different tricks) determines the final results, with the highest combined total winning the competition.
How Is Big Air Skiing Scored at the Olympics?
The FIS judging system for big air skiing uses an overall impression approach, where each judge evaluates the totality of a jump rather than scoring individual components separately. A panel of six judges watches each jump and independently assigns a score from 0 to 100. The highest and lowest scores are dropped (trimmed), and the remaining four scores are averaged to produce the official jump score. This trimmed mean method reduces the impact of any single outlier judge and promotes scoring consistency. Judges evaluate each jump holistically, considering five key factors: difficulty of the trick attempted, execution (how cleanly the trick is performed), amplitude (the height and distance achieved), style (creativity, body position, and aesthetic quality), and landing (stability and control upon touchdown). The final competition result is the sum of the athlete's two best jump scores, which must come from different tricks — ensuring that the winner demonstrates both peak performance and versatility.
**Difficulty**: Difficulty is the foundation of big air scoring. Judges assess the **number and type of rotations** (single, double, triple, or more off-axis flips combined with spins of 720, 1080, 1260, 1440, 1620 degrees or beyond), the **direction of rotation** (switch takeoff or blind landing adds difficulty), and any **grab combinations** performed during the trick. More complex tricks with higher rotational totals and technical elements receive proportionally higher difficulty credit. Difficulty is arguably the most heavily weighted factor, as the sport's progression is driven by athletes attempting tricks that push the boundaries of what is physically possible.
**Execution**: Execution evaluates how **cleanly and precisely** the trick is performed from takeoff to landing. Judges look for controlled takeoff mechanics, tight body position during rotations, proper timing of grabs, clean release of grabs before landing preparation, and an overall sense of effortlessness and control throughout the aerial phase. A perfectly executed trick — where takeoff, rotation, grab release, and landing prep flow without break — will score significantly higher than the same trick performed with wobbles, axis deviations, or rushed movements. Execution separates athletes who can merely rotate the required degrees from those who make difficult tricks look effortless.
**Amplitude**: Amplitude refers to the **height above the jump's lip** and the **distance traveled** through the air. Greater amplitude demonstrates superior speed, power, and confidence on the ramp. High-amplitude jumps are visually impressive and indicate that the athlete has the airtime needed to complete complex rotations without rushing. Judges reward athletes who achieve exceptional height and distance while maintaining full control of their trick, as amplitude directly contributes to the overall spectacle and quality of the jump.
**Style**: Style encompasses the **aesthetic quality and creative expression** of the trick. Judges evaluate body position, the quality and variety of grabs (tweaked grabs, one-handed grabs, or unusual grab combinations), overall body control and posture in the air, and the personal flair an athlete brings to their performance. Style distinguishes athletes who merely complete rotations from those who add distinctive artistic elements — such as a deep grab tweak, a fluid body movement, or an unconventional approach, that make each jump uniquely their own. In a sport where multiple athletes may attempt the same rotation, style becomes a key differentiator.
**Landing**: Landing quality is critical to the final score. Judges evaluate the **stability and control** upon touchdown, looking for a clean, balanced landing with minimal adjustment. A stomped landing — where the athlete absorbs the impact smoothly and rides away cleanly, significantly enhances the score. Conversely, a hand-touch (dragging a hand on the snow for balance), a revert (unintended rotation after landing), or a fall results in substantial deductions. The landing is often the decisive moment that separates a winning jump from a near-miss, as even the most difficult and stylish trick loses much of its value if the athlete cannot land it cleanly.
Big air scoring runs fast: each jump produces six independent scores that the system trims, averages, and displays within seconds. Across three rounds of jumps for 12 or more athletes, the platform handles judge score entry on tablets, automatic high/low drop with trimmed-mean averaging, best-two-of-three totals, and live leaderboard updates. JudgeMate covers this part end-to-end, with detailed protocol export. The different-trick requirement itself stays a judging call — organizers can log a trick label per jump as a note, but the head judge confirms which two scores count. The same configurable workflow runs for a regional comp or a club qualifier.
Big air skiing — one jump, one trick, one shot
Big air skiing (officially known as freestyle skiing big air) is one of the most crowd-pulling and adrenaline-fueled disciplines in winter sports. Athletes launch off a massive ramp approximately 45 meters high, soaring through the air while performing a single complex trick involving rotations, flips, and grabs before landing on a steep incline. Each competitor gets three jumps, with the best two scores counting toward the final result, but the two counting jumps must feature different tricks, rewarding versatility alongside raw difficulty and execution.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) governs big air skiing, which has its roots in the freestyle skiing and action sports culture that emerged from competitions like the X Games and Dew Tour. The discipline made its Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, instantly captivating global audiences with its combination of extreme athleticism, creative expression, and high-stakes single-trick format. At the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, big air skiing will once again showcase the sport's most daring athletes on the world's biggest stage.
A panel of six judges evaluates each jump, assigning an overall impression score on a scale of 0 to 100, considering difficulty, execution, amplitude, style, and landing quality. The highest and lowest scores are dropped, and the remaining four are averaged to produce the jump score. This efficient yet nuanced judging system demands reliable scoring technology (like JudgeMate) to ensure accuracy, transparency, and real-time results delivery from qualifications through the medal round.
Major Big Air Skiing Competitions and Events
Big air skiing features a dynamic competition calendar that spans the traditional FIS circuit and the action sports world. From the pinnacle of the Winter Olympics to the high-energy atmosphere of the X Games, these events define the discipline and showcase its most talented athletes.
Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympic Games represent the defining stage for big air skiing. Freestyle skiing big air made its **Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games**, held at the striking Big Air Shougang venue. Birk Ruud (NOR) won the men's gold and Eileen Gu (CHN) captured the women's gold, both delivering performances that captivated global audiences. The **2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics** will feature big air skiing for the second time in Olympic history, with the event expected to attract massive viewership as the discipline continues to grow in popularity. For big air athletes, an Olympic medal represents the career-defining achievement that transcends all other competitive honors.
FIS Freestyle Ski World Championships
The FIS Freestyle Ski World Championships, held biennially, crown the world champion in big air skiing alongside other freestyle disciplines including slopestyle, halfpipe, moguls, and aerials. The World Championships bring together the full depth of international talent and serve as the most prestigious annual-cycle event outside the Olympics. Results at Worlds influence national team selections, athlete rankings, and the competitive narrative heading into each Olympic cycle. Big air at the World Championships often produces breakthrough performances as athletes push their limits on the championship stage.
FIS Big Air World Cup
The FIS Big Air World Cup circuit is the primary seasonal competition series for the discipline, featuring multiple events held across the globe from late autumn through early spring. World Cup big air events are frequently staged in **urban settings** — with massive ramps constructed in city centers. Creating a unique spectacle that brings freestyle skiing directly to metropolitan audiences. The season-long World Cup standings determine the overall Big Air World Cup champion and play a critical role in Olympic qualification. Consistent World Cup performance is essential for athletes building toward major championship success.
X Games
The **X Games** hold a special place in big air skiing history as one of the original platforms that elevated the discipline to global prominence. The X Games big air event features an invitational format, bringing together the world's most exciting freestyle skiers in a high-energy, spectator-friendly competition. X Games medals carry enormous prestige in the action sports community and often serve as a proving ground for the tricks that later appear at World Cups and the Olympics. The event's broadcast reach and cultural influence have been instrumental in growing big air skiing's audience worldwide.
Dew Tour
The **Dew Tour** is another landmark event in the action sports calendar that has featured big air skiing competitions alongside snowboarding and other freestyle disciplines. Known for its formats, athlete-friendly atmosphere, and strong media presence, the Dew Tour runs as a competitive platform where athletes can showcase new tricks and push progression in a slightly less formal setting than FIS events. The Dew Tour has historically served as a launchpad for emerging talent and a testing ground for the latest trick innovations that eventually shape competition at the highest levels.
Big Air Skiing Legends and Elite Competitors: The Stars of the Ramp
From the pioneers who shaped freestyle skiing's aerial culture to the current generation pushing the boundaries of what is possible off a big air ramp, these athletes represent the competitive excellence, creativity, and fearlessness that define the discipline.
Pioneers of Big Air Skiing
Tanner Hall
American freestyle skiing legend Tanner Hall is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport. A dominant force in the early 2000s, Hall won multiple X Games medals across slopestyle and big air events, helping to define the aesthetic and competitive standard for freestyle skiing. His aggressive style, massive amplitude, and willingness to push the boundaries of what was possible on skis inspired an entire generation of athletes. Hall's influence extended beyond competition — he was instrumental in shaping the cultural identity of freestyle skiing as a legitimate and respected discipline within the broader skiing world.
Bobby Brown
American freeskier Bobby Brown emerged as one of the most progressive big air and slopestyle skiers of his era. Brown gained worldwide attention by winning X Games gold and consistently landing some of the most difficult tricks seen in competition. He was among the first skiers to regularly perform triple cork rotations — three off-axis flips combined with multiple spins. Pushing the technical frontier of what freestyle skiers could achieve in the air. Brown's competitive success and willingness to innovate played a significant role in the trick progression that made big air skiing compelling enough for Olympic inclusion.
Current Elite Competitors
Eileen Gu
Chinese-American freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu became one of the biggest stars of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, winning gold in big air and freeski halfpipe, plus silver in slopestyle — an unprecedented three-medal haul across freestyle skiing disciplines at a single Games. In the big air final, Gu landed a never-before-attempted left double cork 1620 on her final jump to vault from third to first place, delivering one of the most dramatic moments in Olympic history. Born in San Francisco and competing for China, Gu has reached beyond the sport to become a global cultural icon. Her combination of technical brilliance, competitive composure, and public charisma has brought unprecedented mainstream attention to big air skiing.
Birk Ruud
Norwegian freestyle skier Birk Ruud established himself as the dominant force in men's big air skiing by winning Olympic gold at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Ruud's victory was built on remarkable consistency and technical precision, landing two clean high-difficulty tricks that gave him an unassailable lead. Beyond his Olympic triumph, Ruud has amassed multiple X Games medals and strong FIS World Cup results, demonstrating sustained excellence across the competition calendar. Known for his composed demeanor under pressure and his ability to deliver when it matters most, Ruud is widely regarded as the benchmark athlete in men's big air heading into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic cycle.
Alex Hall
American freestyle skier Alex Hall has emerged as one of the most stylish and technically proficient athletes in big air and slopestyle skiing. Hall won Olympic gold in slopestyle at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and is a consistent contender in big air events, known for his exceptionally clean execution and distinctive style. His approach to competition combines creative trick selection with clean, stomped landings, earning him high marks from judges who value precision and aesthetic quality alongside raw difficulty. Hall represents the current ideal of a complete freestyle skier — equally dangerous in slopestyle and big air. And is a strong medal contender for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Mathilde Gremaud
Swiss freestyle skier Mathilde Gremaud is one of the most accomplished women in big air and slopestyle skiing. She won Olympic silver in big air at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and Olympic gold in slopestyle, demonstrating her versatility across freestyle disciplines. Gremaud is known for her technical precision, consistent execution of high-difficulty tricks, and her ability to perform at the highest level in the most pressurized moments. Her competitive record across the FIS World Cup circuit, X Games, and Olympic Games places her among the top female freestyle skiers in the world, and she enters the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic season as a major favorite in both big air and slopestyle events.
Key Big Air Skiing Equipment
Big air skiing demands specialized equipment designed to handle extreme forces, massive jumps, and high-speed landings. Every piece of gear — from skis to safety equipment. Plays a critical role in enabling athletes to perform at the highest level while managing the inherent risks of launching off a 45-meter ramp.
Freestyle Big Air Skis
Big air skis are typically twin-tip freestyle skis, meaning they curve upward at both the tip and tail, allowing athletes to ski and land switch (backward) — key for many big air tricks. These skis are generally wider and softer than alpine racing skis, with a width underfoot of approximately 90-100mm for stability on landing. Length varies by athlete preference and body size, but most elite big air skiers use skis in the 170-185cm range. The construction features durable cores (often wood or composite) with reinforced edges to withstand the extreme impact forces of landing from heights of 10+ meters. Brands like Faction, Armada, Line, and K2 produce purpose-built freestyle skis favored by top big air competitors.
Freestyle Ski Boots
Freestyle big air boots balance support and flexibility. Unlike stiff alpine racing boots, freestyle boots have a lower flex rating (typically 90-110 flex) that allows the range of motion needed for aerial maneuvers, tuck positions, and grab execution while still providing enough support for stable landings. The boots must absorb significant impact forces, so quality cushioning and shock absorption are key. Athletes often choose boots with a slightly wider last for comfort during long competition days. Manufacturers like Full Tilt, Dalbello, and K2 produce boots specifically engineered for the demands of freestyle skiing, with features like walk modes and reinforced cuff systems.
Freestyle Bindings
Freestyle big air bindings stay locked in during massive impacts while still releasing in a fall to prevent injury. These bindings feature higher DIN settings than recreational bindings, with elite athletes typically running settings in the 12-16 DIN range to ensure the binding holds during high-force landings. Bindings must be durable enough to withstand repeated impacts, with reinforced toe and heel pieces. Many big air athletes prefer bindings that sit closer to the ski (low-profile mounting) to improve control during aerial rotations. Brands like Look/Pivot, Marker, and Tyrolia produce bindings trusted by top-level freestyle skiers for their reliability under extreme conditions.
Safety and Protective Gear
Safety equipment is paramount in big air skiing given the extreme heights and speeds involved. All competitors are required to wear certified helmets meeting FIS safety standards, typically featuring MIPS technology (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) for enhanced protection against rotational forces. Back protectors are strongly recommended and widely used, providing crucial spinal protection during hard landings or crashes. Many athletes also wear impact shorts with padding over the hips and tailbone, and wrist guards for additional protection. At the elite level, some athletes use airbag vests — wearable systems that inflate upon detecting a crash. Representing the latest advancement in freestyle skiing safety technology.
Current Trends and the Future of Big Air Skiing
Big air skiing is one of the fastest-evolving disciplines in winter sports, driven by relentless trick progression, advancing technology, and growing global interest fueled by its Olympic debut.
Trick Progression and the Push Beyond Limits
The pace of trick progression in big air skiing is remarkable. Just a decade ago, double cork 1260s (two off-axis flips with 3.5 spins) were considered the frontier. Today, elite athletes regularly perform triple cork 1620s and beyond — three off-axis flips with 4.5 spins. Representing an enormous leap in difficulty and risk. The men's field has seen athletes pushing toward 1800-degree rotations (five full spins combined with multiple flips), while the women's field has experienced similarly rapid advancement, with athletes like Eileen Gu landing double cork 1620s that were unthinkable in women's competition just years earlier. This relentless progression raises fundamental questions about the physical limits of what humans can achieve on skis and the ability of judging systems to appropriately reward increasing difficulty.
Scoring Fairness and Judging Consistency
As trick difficulty escalates, the big air skiing community faces ongoing debates about scoring fairness and judging consistency. The overall impression scoring system, where judges assign a single score from 0 to 100, gives judges flexibility but also introduces subjectivity. Discussions focus on whether judges appropriately balance difficulty versus execution: should a perfectly executed simpler trick score higher than a landed but slightly imperfect more difficult trick? The FIS continues to refine judging guidelines and criteria weighting to ensure that scoring rewards both progression and quality. Technologies like video replay systems and AI-assisted analysis are being explored to give judges better tools for evaluating the increasingly complex tricks being performed at competition speed.
Women's Big Air Progression
The women's big air skiing field has experienced a remarkable acceleration in technical progression. Eileen Gu's gold-medal-winning double cork 1620 at the 2022 Olympics represented a watershed moment, demonstrating that women could perform tricks of elite complexity on the biggest stage. Since then, multiple female athletes have pushed further, with higher rotational tricks and more complex grab combinations becoming standard at the elite level. Improved training facilities, better ramp design, increased investment in women's freestyle skiing programs, and the inspiration from high-profile Olympic success have fueled this progression. The narrowing gap between men's and women's trick difficulty is one of the most exciting developments in the sport.
Venue Technology and Urban Big Air Events
Big air skiing benefits from a unique competitive format that allows events to be staged in urban environments, unlike most skiing disciplines that require mountain venues. Purpose-built big air ramps can be constructed in city centers, stadiums, and industrial sites — as demonstrated by the iconic Big Air Shougang venue at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, built within a repurposed steel mill. This urban adaptability allows big air events to reach audiences that may never visit a traditional ski resort, significantly expanding the sport's fan base. Advances in ramp engineering, artificial snow production, and landing zone design continue to improve athlete safety while enabling increasingly ambitious event configurations. The trend toward urban big air spectacles is expected to accelerate, bringing the thrill of freestyle skiing to new cities and demographics around the world.
The History and Evolution of Big Air Skiing
Origins: From X Games and Extreme Sports Culture (1990s-2010s)
Big air skiing traces its origins to the freestyle skiing and extreme sports movement that gained momentum in the 1990s and 2000s. As skiers pushed the boundaries of what was possible on snow, disciplines like slopestyle and halfpipe emerged from the terrain park culture of ski resorts. Big air, a format already popular in snowboarding, naturally appealed to freestyle skiers seeking a platform to showcase their most ambitious single tricks. Events like the X Games, which introduced a skiing big air event, and the Dew Tour became the proving grounds where athletes like Tanner Hall and Bobby Brown pioneered increasingly complex aerial maneuvers. These competitions fostered a progression-driven culture where athletes constantly pushed rotational limits, introduced new grab variations, and developed the creative flair that would come to define the discipline.
Formalization and the Rise of a Global Discipline (2010s-2020)
As freestyle skiing big air grew in popularity through action sports events, the International Ski Federation (FIS) recognized its potential and began incorporating it into the official competitive framework. FIS introduced big air as a World Cup discipline, establishing standardized rules, judging criteria, and competition formats that brought structure to what had been a loosely organized contest scene. The construction of purpose-built big air ramps, massive structures reaching approximately 45 meters in height, allowed events to be held in urban settings, bringing the spectacle of freestyle skiing to city centers worldwide. Snowboard big air's inclusion at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics paved the way for skiing big air's Olympic ambitions, demonstrating that the format could thrive on the Olympic stage.
Olympic Debut and the Modern Era (2022-Present)
Freestyle skiing big air made its Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, marking a historic milestone for the discipline. The event was held at the striking Big Air Shougang venue, a repurposed industrial site that became one of the Games' most iconic locations. Birk Ruud of Norway captured the men's gold medal, while Eileen Gu of China won gold in the women's event, becoming one of the breakout stars of the entire Olympics. The Beijing debut showcased big air skiing's unique appeal. The combination of athletic brilliance, creative expression, and dramatic single-trick format resonated with audiences worldwide. Since then, the discipline has continued to grow through the FIS World Cup circuit, World Championships, and major action sports events. As the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics approach, big air skiing stands as one of the most anticipated events on the Olympic program, with a new generation of athletes pushing trick difficulty to unprecedented levels.
Frequently Asked Questions About Big Air Skiing
Primary Sources
- FIS Freestyle Skiing Rules and Specifications — FIS
- Olympic Games — Freestyle Skiing Big Air — International Olympic Committee
Ready to run your next big air event?
Digital scoring for freestyle big air from regional qualifiers to national championships. Six-judge panel, best-two totals, live leaderboard.
Scoring for big air skiing events from regional qualifiers to national championships. Panel runs the scores, the leaderboard runs itself.