From Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 11–13, Steamboat welcomes the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota, the only Big Air World Cup stop on U.S. snow this season: a milestone that has energized the entire resort team. “We are absolutely thrilled to host the Visa Big Air World Cup,” says Traci Allen, senior events and partnership manager at Steamboat Resort. “This event represents nearly 10 months of thoughtful planning and close collaboration with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team.”

The resort first welcomed the event in 2021, when it served as an Olympic qualifier for the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. That original hosting helped put Steamboat on the map as a serious venue for major Olympic-qualifier events.

Competition opens Thursday with freeski qualification, continues Friday with snowboard qualifying, and builds to a high-stakes finale on Saturday. In the finals, each athlete gets three jumps, though only their best two distinct tricks count, pushing competitors to show range, creativity and nerves of steel. “This event brings real benefits to our community,” Traci says, “by providing our guests and locals the chance to see world-class athletes compete on a global stage right here at home.”

Athletes launch into the air to perform complex spins, flips and grabs – their best tricks judged on difficulty, amplitude, style and precision as they land. And this year, every trick carries added weight: Visa Big Air serves as a major qualifier for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, shaping dreams in real time. 

“Steamboat is uniquely suited for a competition of this caliber, especially with the Park Smalley freestyle jump venue,” Traci says. “Our resort has made a significant commitment to providing the resources needed to bring an event of this scale to life, and it truly shows in every detail.”

Visa Big Air is as much a celebration as a competition. Spectators can gather right on the snow at the Park Smalley Freestyle Complex, and when the last jump lands Saturday night, Steamboat Square will transform into a festival with live music and a hot-air balloon glow, all free to attend for locals and visitors.

For Steamboat, hosting Big Air for the second time continues a legacy rooted in the spirit of Ski Town U.S.A. – the community, the mountains and the thrill of flight. “It is a wonderful reflection of the spirit that makes Steamboat Ski Town U.S.A.,” Traci says. “We’re incredibly proud to bring this world-class experience to our home.”

For information about the event, competitors and times, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org/media-center/2025-visa-big-air-presented-toyota-steamboat.