The men’s snowboarding big air competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is set to begin with qualifying on Thursday. With high-flying tricks that push the limits of athleticism and creativity, this discipline rewards both technical difficulty and flawless execution. Athletes will launch off a massive jump in Livigno, Italy, aiming to score the highest marks from judges assessing amplitude, style, and trick complexity. Here, I break down the field and give you my Olympic men’s snowboarding big air predictions for the 2026 games.
Olympic Men’s Snowboarding Big Air Betting Odds
The current odds for the men’s big air gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics show some familiar names at the top. The following list reflects odds at the time of this writing:
- Yiming Su (CHN): +300
- Taiga Hasegara (JPN): +450
- Hiroto Ogiwara (JPN): +450
- Kira Kimura (JPN): +800
- Oliver Martin (USA): +900
- Ryoma Kimata (JPN): +900
- Eli Bouchard (CAN): +1400
- Rene Rinnekangas (FIN): +1400
- Romain Allemand (FRA): +2200
- Rocco Jamieson (NZL): +2200
- Redmond Gerard (USA): +2200
- Oyvind Kirkhus (NOR): +2200
- Ian Matteoli (ITA): +2200
- Mons Roisland (NOR): +2500
- Marcus Kleveland (NOR): +2500
- Wenlong Yang (CHN): +6500
Olympic Men’s Snowboarding Big Air Major Storylines
One of the most interesting narratives heading into the event is the status of Canadian veteran Mark McMorris. McMorris, a three-time Olympic bronze medalist and one of snowboarding’s most recognizable stars, suffered a significant crash during training in Livigno shortly before competition began. He was taken off the slope on a stretcher and transported to a hospital as a precaution, though he was later released and reported to be feeling okay. At the time of this writing, his ability to compete in the big air qualifying rounds remains uncertain pending final medical assessments. His potential absence would be a major development, opening the door for others to step up into medal contention and affecting how bettors assess value in the market.
Another key storyline is the emergence of younger athletes who have already made significant marks on the World Cup circuit and World Championships. Su Yiming, a former Olympic champion, sits at the top of the betting markets and leads the FIS Big Air World Cup standings heading into the Games. Japanese riders such as Taiga Hasegara, Hiroto Ogiwara, and Ryoma Kimata have also posted strong results on the international stage, reflecting their nation’s depth and technical ability in aerial snowboarding.
Riders like American Oliver Martin and Canadian Eli Bouchard represent the wave of new talent ready to challenge the established names. Martin, one of the youngest competitors in the field, has World Cup podium finishes under his belt and the ability to land some of the most difficult tricks in the sport. Bouchard, a youth Olympic and World Cup winner, brings fearlessness and creativity that can shake up the podium picture if his runs click on the day.
Olympic Men’s Snowboarding Big Air Medal Contenders
Here’s a closer look at some of the athletes most likely to contend for medals in this event:
- Su Yiming (CHN) – The betting favorite and reigning Olympic champion. Su combines technical difficulty with consistency and has dominated World Cup big air standings as the season progressed. He enters with gold medal expectations.
- Taiga Hasegara (JPN) – A top Japanese rider with strong World Cup results. His ability to mix high-difficulty tricks with clean landings makes him a serious threat.
- Hiroto Ogiwara (JPN) – Another Japanese contender who has shown top-tier ability in big air. If he puts together clean runs, he enters as a medal possibility.
- Oliver Martin (USA) – The American teenager has impressed with his skill and daring trick selection. Given his upward trajectory, a podium finish is realistic for the USA.
- Eli Bouchard (CAN) – A long shot with a strong recent World Cup performances. At +1400, his value is appealing if you expect the podium to include an emerging talent at the expense of some of the more established names.
Men’s Big Air Betting Prediction
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Final Thoughts
Picking an outright winner in a judged freestyle event is never simple because judging panels can reward different qualities in different rounds, and the pressure at the Olympics can lead to unexpected outcomes. That said, Su’s resume and current form make him the safest option in a field where consistency matters. His World Cup performance and Olympic history give him a strong mental and competitive edge over many rivals. Bettors looking for value might consider backing a secondary pick like Oliver Martin or Eli Bouchard at longer odds, especially if they believe an underdog could upset the preferred selections, but I’m rolling with the favorite here.
