Get The Games: Snowboard Cross

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.

Snowboard Cross

Pure chaos in the best way. Multiple riders race side-by-side down a course full of jumps and turns — expect contact, crashes and dramatic finishes.

Snowboard Cross is pure chaos, delivering fast, physical and unpredictable racing. Multiple riders charge down the course at once, navigating jumps, berms and rollers while jostling for position from start to finish.

“It’s BMX, but on snow,” Australian athlete Josie Baff said. 

“It has every element of snowboarding, jumps, rollers and it is all about going fast. Four people down all at once, the fastest qualifier gets to choose which gate they come out of, the first two go through and progress to the final.”

With no judges and no room for hesitation, it’s a straight race to the line. One small mistake, a bad landing or a bump from a rival can completely change the outcome, making snowboard cross one of the most thrilling and dramatic events on the Olympic program.