Aerials 101: Understanding Aerials and Aerials Mixed Team

With the Moguls and Dual Moguls competitions now complete, the spotlight shifts skyward as the aerialists get set to launch the second phase of competition at the Moguls and Aerials venue.

Anticipation is soaring ahead of the next events in Livigno at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, where the world’s best aerial skiers will take over the venue for individual Aerials and the dynamic Aerials Mixed Team competition. Precision, power, and split-second timing will define this stage of the freestyle skiing program.

Interest in freestyle skiing continues to grow, and the Olympic Winter Games remain the sport’s most powerful global showcase. With millions tuning in from around the world, these competitions introduce new audiences to the technical depth and excitement of freestyle skiing. This article is designed especially for fans who are new to the sport and want a clearer understanding of what Aerials is all about.

Before diving in, we encourage readers to explore our Freestyle 101 feature, which outlines the foundations of freestyle skiing, from its history and evolution to its core disciplines. You can also take a look at our Aerials Olympic Preview, where we break down the key storylines and highlight the athletes to watch as competition unfolds in Livigno.

Now, let’s turn our attention to Aerials 101. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about individual Aerials and the Aerials Mixed Team event — including competition formats, judging criteria, and the spectacular jumps and tricks you’ll see launched high above the landing hill — so you can follow the action like a pro from the very first takeoff.

Competition Formats

All FIS-sanctioned international freestyle skiing competitions follow a two-stage format:

• Qualification Phase – One or more rounds open to all athletes.

• Final Phase(s) – Qualified athletes compete in one or more elimination rounds.
  In finals, athletes start in reverse order based on qualification rankings. Scores from qualifications do not carry over into the finals.

World Cup Format

Used at all FIS World Cup events:

• Qualification (Q): 1 run

• Final 1 (F1): Top 12 from qualification

• Final 2 (F2): Top 6 from F1

In aerials, F1 and F2 are considered one phase, so athletes may not repeat the same trick across both rounds.

World Championships & Olympic Winter Games Format

• Qualification (Q1 + Q2):

  • Top 6 from Q1 advance directly to finals

  • Remaining athletes compete in Q2; best score from Q1 or Q2 is used

  • 12 athletes advance to Final 1

• Final 1 (F1): 12 athletes

• Final 2 (F2): All 12 compete again; ranking is based on the best score from F1 or F2

• Final 3 (F3): Top 6 from F2 compete for the podium

In aerials, trick repetition is not allowed within the same phase.

• For men, Finals 1–3 are treated as one phase.

• For women, Finals 1 and 2 are one phase; Final 3 is separate.

Aerials Mixed Team Format

• Final 1 (F1): All qualified teams (3 athletes per team, with at least one of each gender) perform one jump per athlete.

• Final 2 (F2): Top 4 teams from F1 advance for a new round of jumps.
  The team score in each round is the sum of all three individual scores.

Aerials Competition Venue

Before athletes take flight, it starts with the venue—engineered to exact FIS specifications to ensure performance and safety:

• Inrun: 70–80 meters long, 22 meters wide, 20–25° slope

• Table (flat section before takeoff): 20–25 meters long, 22 meters wide

• Landing hill: 25–30 meters long, 22 meters wide, with a steep angle of 36–38°

• Outrun: 30 meters long, 35 meters wide, flat

The venue features three signature kickers—single, double, and triple—each enabling different levels of trick difficulty:

• Single kicker (approx. 2.4 m tall): launches skiers up to 6 meters for basic flips and twists

• Double kicker (approx. 3.6 m tall): launches skiers up to 9 meters, allowing for more advanced tricks with up to four twists

• Triple kicker (approx. 4.1 m tall): sends skiers up to 14–15 meters, enabling elite-level tricks like quintuple-twisting triple backflips

All kickers are built with a top width of around 1.2–1.5 meters, ensuring stable, consistent take-offs across all levels of competition.

Aerials Scoring

In aerials, a jump is judged on three main components: air, form, and landing. The total score is the sum of those elements, multiplied by the jump’s degree of difficulty (DD).

Total Score (max 150.0 points) = (Air + Form + Landing, max 30.0) × DD (max 5.0)

Each element is scored by five judges. The highest and lowest scores for each component are dropped; the remaining three are added.

Scoring Breakdown

• Air – 20%

• Form – 50%

• Landing – 30%

Air (Max 2.0 points per judge)

Air is evaluated in two equal parts:

1. Take-off technique – Body extension and timing leaving the kicker

2. Height and distance – Amplitude and trajectory through the air

Form (Max 5.0 points per judge)

Form includes body control, precision, balance, tightness, and timing. Judges deduct for "form breaks" like unstable posture, missed movements, or poor symmetry.

Landing (Max 3.0 points per judge)

A good landing is smooth, stable, and absorbed primarily with the lower body. Judges assess balance, control, and how cleanly the athlete skis away.

Degree of Difficulty (Max 5.0)

Each aerial maneuver is assigned a predefined DD by FIS, based on technical complexity, number of twists/flips, and execution risk. The total jump score is multiplied by the DD, rewarding athletes who successfully execute more difficult tricks with precision.

Inside Aerials

Aerial skiing may look like pure adrenaline in motion, but behind every flip and twist is a finely tuned combination of technique, timing, and trust—in the process, in the training, and in the equipment.

Training for aerials doesn’t just happen on snow. Much of it takes place in the off-season on water ramps, where athletes launch from competition-style kickers into aerated pools. These setups are essential for learning new tricks, building confidence, and refining technique. On trampolines, skiers practice flips and twists using bungees or harnesses, developing body control and aerial awareness in a safe, controlled environment. Once training moves to snow, the focus shifts to consistency, in-run speed control, and clean landings.

To perform at the highest level, aerial skiers rely on specialized equipment tailored for control and minimal weight.

Skis are usually 150–160 cm in length, typically reaching up to the athlete’s shoulders. They are extremely lightweight, often made from carbon materials, to reduce air resistance and allow for faster, more precise rotation. Aerial skis are about 65 mm wide at the waist, feature very little sidecut, and have a relatively long turning radius—all of which contribute to a stable, straight-line approach into the jump, with no need for sharp edging or turning.

Bindings are standard freestyle alpine bindings, with no aerial-specific models. The priority is reliability and simplicity—keeping the ski secure underfoot without adding unnecessary bulk.

Boots are alpine-style as well, though adapted for aerial use. Athletes select freestyle-specific boots with a flex ratio suited to their personal preferences. Some opt for stiffer boots to maximize power and takeoff consistency, while others prefer a slightly softer flex for more balance and movement control. The key is keeping the body aligned through takeoff, flight, and landing.

Aerialists also wear mouthguards, as well as distinctive aerial glasses. Unlike goggles, these have no bottom frame, providing an unobstructed view of the ground during flight—critical for timing and spotting the landing.

The tricks themselves are built from a language of flips, twists, and body positions. Key positions include:

• Tuck – Compact body with knees pulled in

• Pike – Legs straight with a bend at the waist

• Lay – Fully straight, stretched-out body position

From there, athletes combine flips and twists into precisely timed routines. Some commonly used and advanced combinations include:

• Lay-Full – A two-flip combination: the first flip in a laid-out position with no twist, followed by a second flip that includes a full twist

• The Daddy (Full-Double Full-Full) – A triple backflip with four total twists: one in the first flip, two in the second, and one in the third

• The Hurricane (Full-Triple Full-Full) – A triple backflip with five twists: one in the first flip, three in the second, and one in the third. It's one of the most technically demanding tricks in the sport.

For the full Aerial Jump Code and Degree of Difficulty Chart, see HERE.

Before takeoff, athletes perform speed checks using radar traps to ensure they’re within 1 km/h of their target in-run speed. Variations in wind, snow texture, and temperature can affect performance and often require last-minute adjustments. The goal is always the same: hit the jump at the exact speed required for the chosen trick.

Aerials is a sport of precision under pressure. When timing, technique, speed, and confidence align, the result is a striking display of control, elevation, and athletic mastery in the air.

With the basics covered, the focus shifts to what lies ahead in Livigno at Milano Cortina 2026. The Olympic competitions will present aerial skiing at its absolute peak, with meticulously prepared jumps, ever-increasing degrees of difficulty, and razor-thin margins separating medal contenders. Individual Aerials will test athletes’ ability to combine height, form, and flawless landings under immense pressure, while the Aerials Mixed Team event introduces an added tactical dimension, where every jump carries collective consequences. Armed with this context, fans can fully appreciate the precision, courage, and control required when the world’s best aerialists launch themselves onto the Olympic stage.