LIVIGNO, Italy – Heavy snowfall continued to disrupt the Winter Olympics in Livigno on , forcing organizers to postpone several freestyle skiing and snowboard events. The women’s snowboard slopestyle final and both the women’s and men’s freestyle aerials qualification rounds were called off due to the adverse weather conditions, adding to the challenges faced by athletes and organizers alike.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) determined that maintaining a safe and fair course was impossible given the relentless snowfall. “Of all the Park & Pipe competitions, slopestyle is the most sensitive to speed issues due to the length and width of the course and the number of features within said course,” a FIS spokesperson explained. “With the amount of snow we have seen today, it would be nearly impossible to keep the course clear of fresh snow in a way that would allow for safe and fair competition for the athletes.”
The women’s slopestyle final, originally scheduled for afternoon, has been rescheduled for , though a specific start time has not yet been announced. Sixteen-year-old Australian athlete Ally Hickman is the only representative from Australia in that event. The men’s slopestyle final is now slated for at 12:30 p.m. Local time, with potential for further adjustments through Sunday if needed.
The aerials events faced similar difficulties. Initially, organizers postponed the men’s aerials qualifying, hoping to proceed with the women’s qualifying at 1:45 p.m. Local time, a delay from its original 11:15 a.m. Start. However, deteriorating conditions ultimately led to the cancellation of both qualifying rounds. A key concern was the inability of the air ambulance to operate safely in the heavy snow, raising critical safety concerns for athletes.
The disruptions extended back to , when blizzard-like conditions forced a delay in the women’s freeski big air final. Maintenance crews worked diligently to clear the slope, allowing the event to eventually resume once conditions improved. Aerials practice was also abandoned on due to the heavy snowfall, making consistent training challenging for competitors.
Reilly Flanagan, an American making his Olympic debut, acknowledged the impact of the weather but emphasized the need for adaptability. “We’ve already had two days on the site jumping and testing it out, seeing what the site is like,” Flanagan said. “It would have been ideal to jump today, but everyone’s in the same boat, and we just have to adjust, do what we can, do a bit of visualisation and go from there.” Flanagan, who has been competing in aerials for five years and on the World Cup circuit for the past two, described the conditions as “some of the worst” he’s experienced.
The postponement of these events highlights the inherent challenges of hosting winter sports competitions in mountainous regions. While organizers proactively moved the snowboard slopestyle qualifying event to in anticipation of potential weather issues, the severity of the snowfall proved to be a significant obstacle. The decision to prioritize athlete safety by postponing events underscores the commitment to responsible competition, even amidst the pressures of the Olympic schedule.
The only event still scheduled to proceed in Livigno on was the men’s freeski big air final, contingent on continued favorable weather conditions. That event was slated for 7:30 p.m. Local time.
These weather-related disruptions mark the second consecutive day of schedule adjustments in Livigno, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the mountain environment and the logistical complexities of managing a multi-sport event during challenging conditions. Athletes and fans alike will be closely monitoring the forecast, hoping for improved weather that will allow the remaining events to proceed safely, and fairly.
