Want to impress your friends during the Winter Olympics? Then you need to sound like you know what you’re talking about, even when you don’t.
Lucky for you we spent time with the FIS World Cup and Winter Olympic snowboarding, moguls and freeski judges in the lead up to Milano Cortina 2026.
We got the lowdown on how they judge and what they judge, so you can understand why one athlete, who looked they stomped it, didn’t get a podium when another did.
How do you find these gems of snow sport wisdom?
On our SnowsBest It Takes a Village podcast.
Snowboarding
We chat with head judge, Adam “Beggsy” Beggs, from Jindabyne. He talks through what the judges look for and why and gives us the lowdown on how judging is changing.
Mogul Skiing
From duals to singles, FIS World Cup and Olympic judge, Zoe Jaboor from Victoria talks us through turns versus air versus speed – what they mean and why they count.
Freeskiing halfpipe, big air and slopestyle
Tori Beattie lays down the law on what will and won’t cut it at the Winter Olympics in the park and pipe.
*Feature image: Meila Stalker of Australia takes a practice jump ahead of the Women’s Snowboard Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, on day 3 of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy, Monday, February 9, 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
