Japan’s rise has been systematic, with a deep talent pool, while the United States struggled to find a clear successor to Shaun White.

The men’s snowboard big air final takes the spotlight Saturday, with riders launching off massive jumps as medals are decided in the trick-based event.

The first snowboarding gold medal has been handed out at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games, after Japan's Kira Kimura took gold in men's big air on Saturday. Now, it's the women's turn.

In the early 1970s, Dimitrije Milovich and Wayne Stoveken began building boards meant specifically to surf the snow, testing ideas in Utah’s deep powder. This became Winterstick, one of the earliest companies to treat the snowboard as serious winter sport gear with a purpose-built design.