Get The Games: Halfpipe

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.

Halfpipe

The crowd-pleaser. Riders fly out of a giant snow halfpipe, launching huge tricks into the air and chasing height, difficulty and clean landings.

Halfpipe is one of the most spectacular events at the Winter Olympics, where snowboarding meets big air and creativity. Athletes ride back and forth along the walls of a massive, U-shaped pipe, launching sky-high and throwing a series of gravity-defying tricks on each side.

Judges score runs based on amplitude, difficulty, execution and overall flow, rewarding riders who go bigger and cleaner than the rest. With huge heights, technical spins and the constant risk of a heavy fall, halfpipe is all about pushing limits — and it rarely disappoints.