Livigno's sky-high Big Air jump wows riders despite scaffolding surprise

LIVIGNO, Italy, Feb 6 : The Olympic Big Air jump has become an unlikely protagonist in Livigno’s narrow valley, an imposing scaffolded structure rising above the town’s rooftops and drawing both praise and surprise from snowboarders and freeskiers.

Athletes have welcomed the scale and build quality of the jump, although many were taken aback by its size as well as the decision to use a purpose‑built metal structure in the heart of the valley rather than setting it on the mountain.

The 55-metre jump towers above the Mottolino ski area, on the eastern side of Livigno, a high‑altitude resort town not far from the Swiss border, becoming the dominant feature of the Olympic snowpark, visible from every corner of the valley. 

“It was my first time doing a scaffolding jump… definitely a very different experience than being on a mountain,” U.S. snowboarder Jess Perlmutter said.

Others said their initial hesitation disappeared once they tested it. American rider Hahna Norman said she had braced for the worst after seeing the photos online but found the in‑run built "so well" and the transitions smooth, adding that the jump was “big enough to do some pretty crazy tricks”. 

Norway's Mons Roisland, the big air silver medallist in Beijing, said riders had been very curious to see the venue but left their first sessions there “super happy”.

STRANGE, STUFFY RIDE UP 

Some of the athletes said the unusual configuration may enhance competition. Canadian freeskier Evan McEachran said the wider, smoother in‑run compared with typical city Big Airs, combined with a full snow landing, allowed riders “to go a lot bigger” while keeping transitions more natural. 

“Once you’re up there, you don’t notice (it's scaffolded),” he said.

On the downside, many