Su’s sequel features strong cast as Big Air takes off

For former child actor Su Yiming (CHN), his Olympic sequel starts today.

The Men’s Big Air defending champion headlines a 30-strong qualification field that will battle it out for spots in Saturday’s final.

He will be looking to put himself in position to become the event’s first back-to-back Olympic gold medalist at his second Games.

That ambition has relit a fire in the 21-year-old, who took time out of the sport after his Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 heroics.

He enters Livigno Snow Park in fine form, winning the first two World Cup events of the 2025/26 season on home snow to top the FIS standings.

The only other competitor at Milano Cortina 2026 who has ascended an Olympic podium in this discipline is 2022 silver medalist Mons Roisland (NOR).

Canada is the only NOC to have an athlete on every podium since the discipline’s debut in 2018. 

A deep field

Olympic debutants Eli Bouchard, who this time last year recorded his first World Cup victory, Francis Jobin and Cameron Spalding as well as veteran Mark McMorris carry Canada’s hopes.

McMorris, however, suffered a setback on Wednesday, when he crashed during training. The 32-year-old was stretchered off the slope and is a doubt for qualification.

The USA and Japan are the other NOCs that have a maximum of four qualifiers.

Japan’s deep roster includes reigning Crystal Globe winner and 2023 world champion Taiga Hasegawa (JPN) and 2025 world champion Ryoma Kimata (JPN). Hasegawa was second to Kimata at the 2025 World Championships.

Fellow Olympic debutant Hiroto Ogiwara (JPN) is also in the mix, fresh off of a second-straight X Games victory two weeks ago in Aspen. Ogiwara is the only snowboarder to land a backside 2340 in competition, a feat which he accomplished in both his X Games wins, and if he is able to bring the trick to the Livigno Snow Park this weekend, he could be tough to beat.

Ian Matteoli (ITA), with three World Cup podium finishes, is the home favorite. While the 20-year-old has struggled somewhat this season, Matteoli was the first rider to land a 2160 in competition at the 2024 Beijing Big Air World Cup.

Big Air Olympic qualifications will consist of three runs, with each rider’s best two scores added up for their total score. The top 12 riders from qualification will go through to Saturday’s final. 

Qualification starts at 19:30 (local time in Livigno).

Su has proven that he is comfortable in front of the cameras, with the spotlight shining on him. But he is not the only one seeking title credits.