To make watching the Milan-Cortina Olympics even more enjoyable, it's important to learn the basics of freestyle skiing and halfpipe, including the characteristics of the sport, highlights, and rules
■What is freestyle skiing halfpipe (HP)? Its fun
Freeskiing halfpipe is a sport in which skiers use the left and right walls of a huge U-shaped pipe to perform successive jumps and tricks in a flowing stream. It became an Olympic event at the 2014 Sochi Games and has attracted attention for its dynamic jumps, which are performed from the bottom of the pipe along the R and then popped upwards, as well as its photogenic style in the air
There are specifications for halfpipes used in international FIS (International Ski Federation) competitions, such as the Olympics and W-CUP, with the base size specifications being a wall height of approximately 6.7m and a minimum sliding length of 160m, with around 170m for large-scale international competitions. The pipe is approximately 19-22m wide, and the angle of the wall, known as the wall, is at least 17°, with a recommended angle of around 18°, and the top is designed to be nearly vertical, with an angle of 82-83°. Looking up from the bottom of the pipe, the wall, towering approximately 6.7m, is an astonishing height, the same as a three-story building
In competitions, skaters are evaluated on the height of the air, the difficulty of the tricks, the flow (continuity), stability, and the overall composition. To smoothly connect advanced air tricks from start to finish throughout a run, rather than just performing a single big trick, requires not only the technical ability to execute technical tricks, but also the ability to maintain speed on the bottom and wall, as well as concentration and a strong mentality to compete
For spectators, the appeal of the half-pipe lies in the "magic" of the aerial movements, which seem to make you forget the existence of gravity. The athletes launch themselves into the air from the lip, flying about 8 meters in the air with a speedy first and second hit, staying in the air for around 2 seconds, during which they spin vertically, horizontally, and diagonally on any axis, make a grab, and then land perfectly aligned with the curve of the wall. They must make five or six such hits in the 170m stretch. The athletes' sense of balance, flexibility, concentration, and stamina are so impressive that they seem almost beyond human comprehension
Just like big air, the evolution of performance continues, and today the number of rotations at the championship level has increased to 1620 (4 1/2 rotations). There is also a growing trend to incorporate double tricks from switches and new axes. Top skaters can freely incorporate all four directions (regular-in, switch-in, and reverse rotations such as frontside and backside) into their routines
On the other hand, the price of failure is high in the half-pipe. Even a slight sloppy landing will prevent the next jump from reaching the desired height, and the entire routine will fall apart. The more difficult the tricks, the greater the risk. The biggest challenge is balancing the courage to keep attacking with the precision to maintain a consistent performance
When watching, pay attention to whether the jump height is maintained until the end. Runs that maintain height and stability not only in the early stages but also in the latter stages are highly rated. Another highlight is how many variations there are in the techniques on the left and right walls
Check out the video to see it in action!
Points of interest unique to the Milan-Cortina Olympics
Men's halfpipe tricks have evolved even further since the Beijing Olympics, and the momentum is unstoppable. Nowadays, double tricks are required for every hit, and even difficult switch transitions like a switch double cork are being seen. It's easy to imagine a championship-level skater pulling off a 1620, but it's also entirely possible that they'll have learned a new trick that no one has ever landed before, and will be showing it off for the first time on the Olympic stage
This year's competition will be held at night, with both the qualifying rounds and the finals. The illuminated half-pipe stage makes for a spectacular show, but the athletes also say that nighttime competitions make it easier to see the lip and ski. It will be exciting to see the amazing new tricks that will determine the medals
■ Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe Competition Format and Judging Method
In the "individual", the flow is like this from the preliminary round to the final round.
<Preliminary round> All skaters will skate twice, and the highest score will be used to determine the ranking. The top 12 skaters will advance to the final round
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<Final round> All skaters will skate three times, and the highest score will be used to determine the final ranking.
In the preliminaries, the order of skating is decided by lottery. The key point is that the higher score is used rather than the total score of two runs, so even if you fail on the first run, you have another chance. However, if you get a high score on your first run, you are guaranteed a chance of advancing to the final even if you fail on your second run, so it's easier on your mind.
There are three chances in the final (two in the World Cup). For this reason, skaters aiming for a medal often attempt risky tricks. Furthermore, because skaters in the finals skate in order from the lowest ranked in the preliminaries, skaters in the top ranks in the preliminaries can assess the overall developments, which can be said to be an advantage.
*The match format and ranking format may change depending on the weather on the day.
Milan-Cortina Olympics Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe Competition Schedule
| Date and time | Event | Broadcast schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 2/19 (Thu) | Men's Freeski Halfpipe Qualifiers [Japan time] 2/20 (Fri) 18:30 | — |
| Women's Freeski Halfpipe Qualifiers [Japan time] 2/20 (Fri) 03:30 | — | |
| 2/20 (Fri) | Men's Freeski Halfpipe Final [Japan time] 2/21 (Sat) 03:30 | — |
| 2/21 (Sat) | Women's Freeski Halfpipe Final [Japan time] 2/22 (Sun) 03:30 |
■ Japanese athletes who may compete in the freestyle skiing halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina Olympics
[Boys & Women]
| name | Date of birth | where one is from | Affiliation | Achievements that meet SAJ's Olympic delegation recommendation standards | |
| Touma Matsuura | @tomamatsuura_ski | September 23, 2002 | Gifu Prefecture | Gifu Hino Motors SC | '24-25 W-CUP HP Final Round 12th place '25-26 W-CUP HP Copper Mountain Tournament HP 8th place |
| Nanaho Kiriyama | @nanahokiriyama | July 19, 1996 | Gifu Prefecture | Himalaya Snow Club | '24-25 W-CUP HP Secret Garden Tournament: 9th place, among the top 12 places three times |
Touma Matsuura achieved his personal best of 8th place at the W-CUP USA Copper Mountain HP in December 2025, and is a rising star who met the SAJ Olympic qualification standards. He is an athlete with an extraordinary attention to style, including grabs. This will be the first time a Japanese male skier has competed in the halfpipe Olympics in 12 years, since Kentaro Tsuda, current head coach of the All Japan National Team Freestyle Skiing, competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics
Kiriyama Nanaho is known for her outstanding stability and style, which is focused on the glove, etc. Although she has not yet won a prize, last season she met the SAJ recommended criteria of finishing in the top 12 at the W-CUP three times