Monday’s Olympic Showdown: High-Stakes Finals in Snowboarding and Speedskating Headline a Jam-Packed Schedule
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games enter their first full week, Monday, February 9, offers a slate of defining moments across the ice and snow. The broadcast schedule is heavy on medal events, featuring high-octane snowboarding finals, the precision of speedskating, and the artistic start of the ice dance competition. Viewers tuning in today will see Team USA veterans and international superstars looking to cement their legacies in Italy.
Deep Dive: The Monday Schedule
The marquee event for American fans is the Women’s 1000m Speedskating final. Erin Jackson, the flag bearer for the U.S. squad and a gold medalist in the 500m at Beijing 2022, returns to the oval alongside teammate Brittany Bowe. While Jackson is known for her explosive sprint speed, the 1000m tests endurance, making this a critical race for the Ocala, Florida native. Coverage begins mid-morning on the USA Network and Peacock, with replays expected in NBC’s primetime block.
On the slopes of Livigno, the Women’s Snowboard Big Air Final takes center stage. This event has rapidly become a fan favorite for its gravity-defying tricks. Expectations are high for a technical showdown, as riders attempt quadruple rotations that were considered impossible just a few Olympic cycles ago. Concurrently, Freestyle Skiing sees the Women’s Slopestyle final, where defending champion Eileen Gu is the athlete to beat, aiming to replicate her dominance from Beijing.
In Milan, the Figure Skating competition shifts to the Ice Dance discipline with the Rhythm Dance segment. Unlike the pairs event which features overhead throws, ice dance focuses on intricate footwork and interpretation of the beat. American duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates, long-time staples of the sport, are set to begin their campaign for gold, facing stiff competition from European powerhouses.
The Viewer Experience: Barriers and Background
While the athletic lineup is stellar, the viewing experience remains a point of contention for many fans. The six-hour time difference between Italy and the U.S. East Coast means that “live” coverage largely occurs during the American workday (morning to early afternoon). This forces a choice: dodge social media spoilers all day to watch the curated, tape-delayed Primetime show on NBC, or pay for a Peacock subscription to stream events live as they happen.
Critics have pointed out that the fragmentation of content across NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock has made following specific sports labyrinthine. Casual viewers often find themselves hunting for channel listings only to find a curling match where they expected skiing. Furthermore, the “Primetime” broadcast often leans heavily on athlete backstory packages, cutting away from the actual competition—a production style that continues to frustrate purists who want to see every run and routine, not just the American contenders.
Context and History
The 2026 Games mark a return to the roots of winter sports in Europe, with venues split between the metropolitan ice arenas of Milan and the rugged, historic slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo. This dual-city hosting arrangement is a logistical experiment for the IOC, attempting to utilize existing infrastructure to reduce the environmental and financial impact of the Games—a significant shift from the massive, purpose-built venues of previous years.
For the athletes, specifically in speedskating, the low-altitude venue in Milan presents a different physical challenge compared to the high-altitude, faster ice of previous venues like Salt Lake City or Calgary. Records may not fall as easily today, placing a higher premium on tactical racing and raw power over aerodynamic assistance.
How to Watch
Live Streaming: Peacock and NBCOlympics.com (requires subscription/login) cover every event live.
Cable TV: USA Network and CNBC carry live coverage of select events like Speedskating and Curling throughout the day.
Primetime: NBC will air a curated package of the day’s biggest finals, including the Snowboard Big Air and Figure Skating, starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
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