To make watching the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games even more enjoyable, learn the basics of freestyle moguls and dual moguls, including the characteristics of the sport, highlights, and rules
What is Mogul? What's so interesting about it?
A competition of "comprehensive strength" to master irregular slopes
Moguls was the first freestyle skiing event to be included in the Olympics (starting at the 1992 Albertville Olympics). Judges evaluate three elements: 1) turns, 2) air, and 3) speed. It is a hybrid event where the score is determined by combining these three elements. Moguls is a sport where skiers ski at high speed down a steep slope with a series of moguls, competing comprehensively for turns, air, and speed. It became an established Olympic event at the 1992 Albertville Olympics and can be said to be the origin of freestyle skiing
In competitions, competitors are judged on the accuracy of their turns on the mogul slopes, the perfection of the jumps at two points along the way, and their run time. Speed alone or technique alone is not enough to win. Comprehensive ability, combining all three elements at a high level, is what's tested
The appeal of moguls lies in the skill required to precisely control the rough slopes. No two moguls are the same, so skiers must constantly judge their next move. Instant decision-making and reflexive physical reactions determine victory or defeat. What makes moguls difficult is the extremely narrow margin for error. Even the slightest loss of balance can lead to a disruption of the line and a loss of speed. Furthermore, aerial techniques are required, so skiing and jumping must be completed simultaneously
When watching, pay close attention to the stability of the skaters' upper bodies and their line selection. A skater with little shaking is a testament to their high level of skill. The key to judging is whether or not they combine speed with accuracy
Check out the video to see it in action!
Points of interest unique to the Milan-Cortina Olympics
The nature of the moguls event at the Milan-Cortina Olympics will be an evolutionary event. The key points to note are the evolution of the techniques in regular moguls and, above all, the introduction of the new event, dual moguls
In recent years, freestyle-influenced airs such as backfulls and twists, corks, and difficult twists in the second air have become the norm in moguls. Scores don't increase simply through "clean jumps" or "big jumps"; high difficulty and perfection are clearly valued. However, even as airs evolve, turns still account for 60% of the score. A harmonious blend of speed and stability, and the ability to maintain a consistent mogul line even with difficult airs, is the golden rule for victory
The athletes who will make it to the podium will be those with all-around ability, who can complete two highly difficult airs, have outstanding turning technique, are undeniably fast, and have the perfection to not make mistakes on the big stage
The new dual moguls event is a completely different sport, with its own unique appeal and attractions. Above all, the tension of the battle between the two skiers is irresistible
With two skaters skating at the same time, duals are fascinating because even spectators can clearly see the difference in the skaters' technical abilities. The difference in speed is clear, depending on who finishes first, the sharpness of their turns, their stability on the moguls, the power of their airs, and the cleanness of their landings. Athletes who can win in duals have a strong mentality when it comes to pressure and competing with others, can reach top speed from the start, and are flexible enough to adapt while also being competitive with a strategy and racing sense that allows them to skate while keeping their opponents in mind
■ Moguls | Dual Moguls Competition Format and Judging Method
Mogul competition format and judging system
From the preliminaries to the finals, it will be contested in this way.
<Qualifying 1> All competitors will skate one run each, and the top 10 will advance to Final 1.
↓
<Qualifying 2> All competitors who were 11th or lower in Qualifying 1 will skate one run each, and the top 10 will advance to Final 1.
The scores in Qualifying 1 will not be reflected in the rankings (same below)
.↓
<Final 1> 20 competitors who passed Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2 will skate one run each, and the top 12 will advance to Final 2.
↓
<Final 2> 12 competitors who passed Final 1 will skate one run each, and the top 6 will advance to Final 3.
↓
<Final 3> 6 competitors who passed Final 2 will skate one run each, and the final rankings will be determined.
Unlike the regular W-Cup, the Olympic Games have an unusual system in which 10 skaters from Qualifying 1 and 10 skaters from Qualifying 2 each qualify to advance to Final 1. Even if you fail once, you still have a chance, so all talented skaters make it to the finals. The final round then narrows the field down to 20 skaters in Final 1, 12 skaters in Final 2, and 6 skaters in Final 3. To win, skaters need to skate at least one more time in the Olympics than in the regular W-Cup
Most Olympic competitions feature long, steep courses, and the middle section after the first air is often the deciding factor in the competition. To win, a skier must perform at least four high-speed, mistake-free turns. When watching moguls, the middle section is arguably the most suspenseful part
Scoring method
Scoring is based on three elements: "turns," "air," and "time." The total score is 100 points, with turns carrying the most weight at 60%, followed by air and time (speed) at 20% each. Turns are evaluated based on "line selection," whether the skier is skating on a straight line, "the quality of the skating," "the use of the lower body to absorb bumps," and "upper body balance."
The two airs are evaluated on both the "difficulty" and "completeness" of the technique. Even if you fly a technical air trick with a high number of rotations and axes, you won't get a high score unless you have perfection in terms of grab, style, and landing in the air. Time is the only objective numerical data, and how fast you slide down the course is evaluated.
How to align the three elements of turn, air and time at a high level will decide the game. If you pay attention to that area, the spectator will be more interesting.
Dual Mogul Competition Format and Judging Method
Dual moguls are held in a tournament format with two people skiing at the same time
<Qualifying (seeding)>
All skaters will skate individually, and
tournament pairings (seeded rankings) will be determined
↓
<First round of the final tournament (e.g., best 16)>
Based on their qualifying rankings, pairs of skaters will skate simultaneously.
The winners will advance to the quarterfinals
↓
<Quarterfinals>
They will skate simultaneously, and the winners will advance to the semifinals.
↓
<Semifinals>
They will skate simultaneously, and the winners will advance to the final, and the losers will advance to the third-place match.
↓
<Finals/third-place match>
They will skate simultaneously to determine the final rankings (1st to 4th place).
Scoring method
The basic rule is that the winner is determined by a "comprehensive evaluation." Unlike regular moguls, the scores are not added up and the winner is decided by a direct comparison of the two skaters. The evaluation is done by comprehensively comparing the following three elements:
1) Turns (approximately 50%) - speed control, accuracy, line taking, and stability on the moguls;
2) Air (approximately 25%) - number of jumps, air posture, and cleanness of landing;
3) Speed (approximately 25%) -
multiple judges decide which skater was better, and the winner is decided by majority vote.
Milan-Cortina Olympics Mogul & Dual Mogul Competition Schedule
| Date and time | Event | Broadcast schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 2/10 (Tue) | Men's Moguls Qualifying 1 [Japan Time] 2/10 (Tue) 19:15 | February 10, 2026 (Tuesday) 19:10~ NHK Educational TV |
| Women's Moguls Qualifying 1 [Japan Time] 2/10 (Tue) 22:15 | ||
| 2/11 (Wed) | ● Women's Moguls Qualifying 2 [Japan time] 2/11 (Wed) 19:00 ● Women's Moguls Final [Japan time] 2/11 (Wed) 22:15 | , February 11, 2026 (National Holiday) 18:30-24:00 TV Asahi affiliates 18:55- NHK BS |
| 2/12 (Thu) | Men's Moguls Qualifying 2 [Japan time] 2/12 (Thu) 18:00 Men's Moguls Final [Japan time] 2/12 (Thu) 20:15 | February 12, 2026 (Thursday) 20:10~ NHK General |
| 2/14 (Sat) | ● Women's Dual Moguls Qualifying [Japan time] 2/14 (Sat) 18:30 ● Women's Dual Moguls Final [Japan time] 2/14 (Sat) 19:46 | Saturday, February 14, 2026 18:25~ NHK BS |
| 2/15 (Sun) | Men's Dual Moguls Qualifying Round [Japan time] 2/15 (Sun) 18:30 Men's Dual Moguls Final Round [Japan time] 2/15 (Sun) 19:46 | Sunday, February 15, 2026, 18:25~ NHK Educational TV |
■ Japanese athletes who may compete in the moguls and dual moguls at the Milan-Cortina Olympics
SAJ has established "recommended criteria for dispatch," and athletes who have achieved the specified results during the entire 2024-2025 season and the target period from the opening round of the W-CUP for the 2025-2026 season to the 4th round of the DM (Dual Moguls) on January 17th are eligible for selection.
(1) Finishing in the top 8 at least once
(2) Finishing in the top 10 at least twice
(3) Finishing in the top 12 at least three times
(4) Finishing in the top 16 at least four times
*However, athletes born after April 2, 2005 must have achieved
The maximum number of participants is four for both men and women, but there are more than four players who have cleared the quota, so the number of participants is already over. The success or failure of participating will depend on how well they perform in the W-CUP up to the target period
[Men]
| name | Date of birth | where one is from | Affiliation | Achievements that meet SAJ's Olympic delegation recommendation standards | |
| Horishima Ikuma | @ikuma_horishima | December 11, 1997 | Aichi prefecture | Toyota Motor Ski Club | World Championship MO winner, etc |
| Takuya Shimakawa | @takuya_shimakawa | December 18, 1998 | Hokkaido | Japan Temporary Housing | '24-25 W-CUP MO opening match 7th place, etc |
| Taketo Nishizawa | @taketo_nishizawa | October 1, 1999 | Fukushima Prefecture | team listel | '24-25 W-CUP MO finals: 8th place |
| Goshin Fujiki | @gogogoat54 | May 31, 1997 | Osaka Prefecture | Imatoku | '24-25 W-Cup DM Round 8: 8th place |
| Nakahara Osuke | @osuke_nakahara | February 8, 2008 | Hokkaido | NISEKO B&J | '24-25 W-CUP MO final round 9th place |
[Women]
| name | Date of birth | where one is from | Affiliation | Achievements that meet SAJ's Olympic delegation recommendation standards | |
| Hinako Tomitaka | @hinako1753 | September 21, 2000 | Tokyo | Tama University Ski Club | World Championship MO 2nd place, etc |
| Rino Yanagimoto | @_rinoyanagiiiii_ | December 13, 2000 | Aichi prefecture | Aichi Daihatsu Ski Club | 24-25 W-CUP DM opening match 2nd place, etc |
| Marin Ito | @marin__ito | November 21, 2004 | Shizuoka Prefecture | Waseda University | '24-25 W-CUP MO final round 6th place, etc |
| Haruka Nakao | @nakao_haruka | April 19, 2001 | Osaka Prefecture | Satake Food Ski Club | 6th place in the World Championship MO and more |
| Hina Fujiki | @hinahina_0417 | April 17, 2001 | Osaka Prefecture | Mukogawa Women's University | '24-25 W-CUP MO finals, 6th place |
| Yuma Taguchi | @yuma_._moooo | October 25, 2005 | Tokyo | Waseda University | '24-25 W-CUP MO Top 10 3 times |