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2026 Olympic Winter Games: Slopestyle and Big Air
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Schneestern builds infrastructure for ski freestyle discipline
Advert by IAKS member Schneestern
With the opening of the freestyle competitions as part of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Allgäu-based company Schneestern reinforces its position as a market leader in the construction of high-end snowpark infrastructure. In Livigno, Italy the expert team led by Dirk Scheumann delivered both the slopestyle course and the big air jump.
Following an approximately twelve-month preparation phase and an intensive seven-week construction period on site, the facilities were completed on schedule. A total of twelve Schneestern experts worked directly as part of the project team in Livigno.
A central element of the 2026 Olympic venues is the design philosophy of “clean features.” In contrast to earlier projects, the focus in Livigno is on large, visually minimalistic modules. These were specifically developed to highlight the technical complexity of athletes’ tricks while ensuring maximum clarity and safety.
To guarantee this level of quality from the initial design to the finished snow module, Dirk Scheumann – who was already responsible for the Olympic courses in Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022 – once again combines several roles in one: course supervisor, course designer, and course builder.
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“We will continue to contribute to the development of freestyle sports in the future – balancing innovation, safety, and progression,” says Dirk Scheumann, CEO of Schneestern and head of construction.
Beyond the major sporting event itself, Schneestern considers these facilities as a sustainable investment in the Livigno location. The goal is to create a world-class freestyle ecosystem that will continue to serve as a professional training center for future generations after the Olympic Games, leaving a lasting sporting legacy for freestyle.
For Dirk, however, such projects represent more than just technical perfection in facility construction. As both an athlete and an entrepreneur, he is particularly pleased that the significance of action sports has evolved considerably in recent years.
Looking at his new role within sports facility development, Scheumann also sees this as an important task for the future. Since autumn 2025, he has been an Executive Board member of IAKS Germany and leader of the Urban Sports department. His aim is to make the culture of action sports more visible and accessible, while further advancing the development of modern spaces for movement.
Action sports have now become firmly established in society – not only in winter sports. Especially in summer, what was once a trend is increasingly becoming a tradition. Skateboarding, biking, parkour, and other urban sports are shaping a new culture of movement.
For Dirk, as a technician, it remains a highlight to take responsibility for top-level projects directly on site “on the ground, hands-on.”
Schneestern in numbers: The company was founded in 1999 by Dirk Scheumann in the Allgäu region, has delivered projects in 36 countries worldwide, and completed over 510 snowpark projects. More than 16,500 obstacles have been built, along with 135 bike projects and 66 skateparks. Schneestern currently employs around 80 people.
Schneestern develops and delivers projects worldwide in the fields of snowparks, pump tracks, bike parks, urban sports parks, and action sports infrastructure.
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