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
The competition will proceed in this order from the preliminaries to the finals
<Qualifying Round 1> All competitors perform one run each, and the top 10 advance to Final Round 1.
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<Qualifying Round 2> All competitors who finished 11th or lower in Qualifying Round 1 perform one run each, and the top 10 advance to Final Round 1.
Scores from Qualifying Round 1 are not reflected in the rankings (same applies below)
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<Final Round 1> The 20 competitors who advanced from Qualifying Rounds 1 and 2 perform one run each, and the top 12 advance to Final Round 2.
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<Final Round 2> The 12 competitors who advanced from Final Round 1 perform one run each, and the top 6 advance to Final Round 3.
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<Final Round 3> The 6 competitors who advanced from Final Round 2 perform one run each to determine the final rankings.
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 "degree of completion" of the technique. Even if an air trick has technical rotations and axes, it will not receive a high score unless it is completed with a high level of completion, including the grabs in the air, style, and landing. Time is the only objective numerical data, and it is evaluated on how quickly you slide down the course
The outcome of the match will depend on how well the three elements of turn, air time, and speed are coordinated. Paying attention to these aspects will make the match even 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 Round (Seeding)>
All skiers perform one run individually, and
the tournament pairings (seeding order) are determined
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<First Round of the Final Tournament (e.g., Best of 16)>
Two skiers perform simultaneously based on their qualifying ranking.
The winner advances to the quarterfinals
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<Quarterfinals>
The winner of the simultaneous run advances to the semifinals.
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<Semifinals>
The winner of the simultaneous run advances to the final, and the loser goes to the third-place match.
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<Final/Third-Place Match>
The final ranking (1st to 4th place) is determined by a simultaneous run.
Scoring Method
The basic principle is "determining the winner based on an overall evaluation." Unlike typical mogul skiing, there is no summation of scores; the winner is determined by directly comparing the two competitors. The evaluation is based on a comprehensive comparison of the following three elements:
① Turns (approximately 50%) - speed control, precision, line selection, and stability on the mogul course;
② Air (approximately 25%) - the number of jumps, aerial posture, and clean landings;
③ Speed (approximately 25%) -
multiple judges determine which competitor was superior, 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 Round 1 [Japan Time] 2/10 (Tue) 19:15 | Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 19:10 - NHK E Tele |
| ●Women's Moguls Qualifying Round 1 [Japan Time] 2/10 (Tue) 22:15 | ||
| 2/11 (Wed) | ●Women's Moguls Qualifying Round 2 [Japan Time] 19:00 (Wed) 2/11 ●Women's Moguls Final [Japan Time] 22:15 (Wed) 2/11 | February 11, 2026 (Wednesday, National Holiday) 18:30-24:00 TV Asahi Network 18:55- NHK BS |
| 2/12 (Thu) | ●Men's Moguls Qualifying Round 2 [Japan Time] February 12th (Thu) 18:00 ●Men's Moguls Final [Japan Time] February 12th (Thu) 20:15 | Thursday, February 12, 2026 , 8:10 PM - NHK General TV |
| 2/14 (Sat) | ●Women's Dual Moguls Qualifying [Japan Time] 18:30 on Saturday, February 14th ●Women's Dual Moguls Final [Japan Time] 19:46 on Saturday, February 14th | Saturday, February 14, 2026 18:25~ NHK BS |
| 2/15 (Sun) | ●Men's Dual Moguls Qualifying [Japan Time] 18:30 on Sunday, February 15th ●Men's Dual Moguls Final [Japan Time] 19:46 on Sunday, February 15th | Sunday, February 15, 2026, 18:25 - NHK E Tele |
■ Japanese athletes competing in the moguls and dual moguls at the Milan-Cortina Olympics
The SAJ has established "Recommendation Criteria for Dispatch," and athletes who have achieved the specified results in the entire 2024-2025 season and from the opening round of the 2025-2026 W-CUP to the 4th DM (Dual Moguls) round on January 17th are eligible for selection.
(1) At least one finish in the top 8
(2) At least two finishes in the top 10
(3) At least three finishes in the top 12
(4) At least four finishes in the top 16
*However, this applies only to those born on or after April 2, 2005.
The maximum number of participants for both men and women was four, but more than four men and women cleared the quota, exceeding the limit. How well they perform in the W-CUP up until the target period will determine whether they will be able to participate or not
The participating athletes were announced on January 20th, with four men and four women confirmed to be taking part. Horishima Yukimasa, who could be considered the ace of the Japanese mogul world, will be competing in his third Olympic Games, following PyeongChang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022. Another athlete to watch is Tomioka Hinako, who has been confirmed to be competing in her second Olympic Games, following the 2022 Beijing Olympics. For the remaining six athletes, this will be their Olympic debut
[Boys]
| name | date of birth | Birthplace | Affiliation | Achievements that meet SAJ's Olympic delegation recommendation standards | |
| Horishima Ikuma | @ikuma_horishima | December 11, 1997 | Gifu Prefecture | Toyota Motor Corporation 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 |
[Women]
| name | date of birth | Birthplace | 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 |
| Haruka Nakao | @nakao_haruka | April 19, 2001 | Osaka Prefecture | Satake Foods | 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 |