DAILY BREAKDOWN 11 – Snow disrupts schedule, not greatness: Oftebro doubles up and Frostad rewrites the record books
Feb 17, 2026·ilovesnow:format(webp))
Milano Cortina 2026 ushered in the Chinese New Year with brilliance. However heavy snowfall once again reshaped the programme in Livigno while history continued to be written on the snow. More than 20cm of overnight snow forced the postponement of the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle final and delayed Freestyle Skiing Aerials qualifications, pushing both competitions into a revised midweek schedule as organisers prioritised safe and fair conditions at the Snow Park.
Away from the weather-affected venue, Jens Luraas Oftebro (NOR) strengthened Norway’s Nordic Combined legacy, claiming his second gold of the Games with a composed and tactical victory in the Large Hill/10km Gundersen.
When competition did beat the elements in Livigno, it did so spectacularly. Tormod Frostad (NOR) closed out a record-breaking Freeski Big Air final with the highest single-run score in Olympic history, overturning Mac Forehand (USA) in a dramatic last-run exchange that underlined the sport’s rapid progression. On a day shaped by snowstorms and soaring tricks, Milano Cortina balanced patience with peak performance.
Medal Winners
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic Combined Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km | Jens Luraas OFTEBRO NOR | Johannes LAMPARTER AUT | Ilkka HEROLA FIN |
| Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air | Tormod FROSTAD NOR | Mac FOREHAND USA | Matej SVANCER AUT |
Storylines of the day
Snowboard Slopestyle
Heavy snowfall of more than 20cm overnight at Livigno Snow Park forced the postponement of the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle final at Milano Cortina 2026. The competition has been rescheduled for Wednesday, 18 February, with organisers aiming to deliver safe and high-quality finals under an improved weather forecast.
Updated schedule:
Men: 18 February 2026 – 11:20 CET
Women: 18 February 2026 – 14:30 CET
Freestyle Skiing Aerials
Aerials competition was also impacted by the heavy snowfall, with qualification rounds unable to take place as scheduled. The updated program for the individual Aerials competitions is as follows:
Wednesday, 18 February
10:00 – Women’s Qualification 1
10:45 – Women’s Qualification 2
13:00 – Women’s Finals
Thursday, 19 February
11:00 – Men’s Qualification 1
11:45 – Men’s Qualification 2
14:00 – Men’s Finals
Nordic Combined Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km
Jens Luraas Oftebro (NOR) secured his second gold of Milano Cortina 2026 with a commanding performance in the Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km, launching the next chapter of Norway’s Nordic Combined legacy. After reeling in early leader Johannes Lamparter (AUT) before halfway, Oftebro surged clear in the closing stages to seal victory. Lamparter claimed silver, while Finland’s Ilkka Herola earned a long-awaited first Olympic medal with bronze in his fourth Games. Earlier, strong jumps from Ryota Yamamoto (JPN) and Lamparter had shaped the Ski Jumping round, but it was Oftebro’s decisive move on the ski track that ultimately settled the contest.
Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air
Tormod Frostad (NOR) delivered the final and decisive blow in a historic Olympic Big Air duel, landing a near-perfect 98.50, the highest single-run score in Olympic freeski history, to overtake Mac Forehand (USA) and claim gold. Forehand had briefly seized the lead with a groundbreaking 98.25 for his never-been-done left nosebutter triple cork 2160, capping a night where progression hit extraordinary levels. Matej Svancer (AUT) secured bronze, as all three medallists earned their first senior Olympic podiums in what many called the most explosive Big Air final ever staged.
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