Get The Games: Aerials

How much do you really know about the disciplines our athletes compete in? To get you ready for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony, we’re launching a new series: Get The Games.

Across the next few weeks, we will be giving you an insider’s perspective on snowsport. The technical challenges, the speed, and what it’s really like in the start gate.

The Winter Olympics isn’t just skiing fast downhill—it’s a mix of speed, skill, style and more than a little bravery.

From blistering speed to gravity-defying tricks, these events are packed with skill, courage and the kind of wipeouts that make you watch through your fingers. 

Whether athletes are racing the clock, launching sky-high tricks or battling head-to-head on snow, each event brings its own unique thrill.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the must-know disciplines to help you watch like a pro.

Aerials

Short, sharp and spectacular. Athletes launch off a ramp, flip and twist high above the snow, then aim to stick the landing under serious pressure.

Aerials is one of the most jaw-dropping events at the Winter Olympics, combining extreme height with precision and nerve. Skiers launch off steep ramps, soaring metres into the air while performing multiple flips and twists before landing on a steep, snowy slope.

Judges score each jump on take-off, form in the air and landing, with difficulty playing a major role in the final score. With everything decided in just a few seconds, aerials is high-risk, high-reward and a single perfect jump can be the difference between a podium finish and missing out entirely.