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Snowstorm disrupts schedule of Olympic slopestyle and freestyle events in Italian Alps

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — The Olympic final for women’s snowboarding slopestyle was scrubbed off Tuesday’s schedule and moved back a day due to a heavy snowstorm in Livigno.

The slopestyle final was rescheduled to Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT, 8:30 a.m. EST).

The storm delayed New Zealander Zoi Sadowski-Synnott’s attempt at a repeat. She qualified first on Sunday — an opening round that was moved up a day because of the storms rolling in.

Qualifying for freestyle aerials down the road from the snowpark in Livigno was also delayed.

The men’s ski big air finals were also scheduled later Tuesday and were set to go ahead after the storm subsided.

On Monday night, the start of the women’s big air contest was delayed for more than an hour when a windy squall came through the course. Megan Oldham of Canada won and Eileen Gu finished second.

In slopestyle, snowboarders perform tricks on rails and jump off ramps. Heavy snow and wind can throw them off course or make the track too slow to ascend the run-ups to the jumps.

More than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow fell by midday Tuesday. The men’s slopestyle final is scheduled for Wednesday, when the forecast looks better.

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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