The competition in Pyeongchang featured an unusual slopestyle course Saturday that turned out to be the site of the first gold medal awarded to the United States.
Later Saturday, the U.S. will open play in women's hockey.
Here are the four events to watch.
Results will be provided when available.
1. Norway’s Attacking Vikings, Austria’s Defending Champion Compete for Medals in Men’s Downhill
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Schedule Note (6:09 p.m. PT): This event was postponed due to weather conditions. Click here for updates.
The first Alpine skiing event of the 2018 Pyeonchang Olympics, men’s downhill, features Norway’s formidable “Attacking Vikings” trying to wrest the gold from the defending champion, Austria’s Mattias Mayer. Among the Norwegians to watch: Kjetil Jansrud, the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist, who had the fastest time at this year’s Olympic test event, and Aksel Lund Svindal, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist and fourth-place finisher in Sochi, who is second in the World Cup standings. Alpine skiing might be an individual sport but the Norwegians take it on as a team.
Mayer will be trying to become the first man to defend his gold downhill medal.
Team USA has only one man in the top 20 of the World Cup standings. Bryce Bennett, who is ranked 18th, had the seventh-fastest time in Wednesday’s Olympic downhill training run.
Watch the gold medal event live on NBC4 with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. PT or on digital platforms at 6 p.m. PT.
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2. Slopestyle Course Spells Unpredictability
Update (7:08 p.m. PT): In a stunner on the slopes, American Red Gerard nailed his final run to bring home the first gold of the Pyeongchang Olympics for the United States.
Canadians and Norwegians enter the slopestyle competition the strongest in the field but one young American could bring an upset: 17-year-old Red Gerard. Gerard was the only American to make the final in Saturday’s qualifying round. He’s known for being a creative rider. Gerard is going up against Mark McMorris, the snowboarder who has dominated the event, and other favorites: McMorris’s teammate, Max Parrot, and Marcus Kleveland of Norway. McMorris, the bronze medalist at the 2014 Olympic Games, has won a slopestyle medal at every X Games Aspen since 2011, but he was badly injured last year after crashing into a tree while snowboarding.
San Clemente’s Hailey Langland will be in action when women’s slopestyle qualifying gets underway. Langland won gold in the 2017 Winter X Games Big Air event.
When slopestyle made its debut at the last Olympics, riders from Canada, Norway and the United States each won a medal. U.S. medalist Sage Kotsenburg has since retired and the U.S. are considered the underdogs in Pyeongchang. The course is one of the most unique designs ever seen.
Watch the gold medal event live on NBCSN at 5 p.m. PT or on digital platforms. Watch women’s qualifying on digital platforms at 8:30 p.m.
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3. #ShibSibs Maia and Alex Shibutani, Bradie Tennell, Take to the Ice
Update (7:31 p.m. PT): Canada now stands four points in front of the second-place United States, which got a strong performance from siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani.
Maia and Alex Shibutani and Olympic first-timer Bradie Tennell will be skating when team competition resumes. The #ShibSibs, as they’re known, will perform in the ice dance, while Tennell will appear in the women’s short program. The team event consists of a men’s skater, a woman’s skater, a pair of ice dancers and pairs skaters.
The Americans are second behind behind Canada after the pairs and men’s short programs. Team USA’s Nathan Chen had a disappointing night in his debut when he fell on a triple axel attempt during the men’s short program in the figure skating team event.
Watch NBC's live coverage Saturday at 5 p.m. PT or on digital platforms.
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4. US Women’s Hockey Face Finland in First Olympic Match
Much of the attention has been on the unified Korean women’s team, but the U.S. women’s hockey team plays its first game against Finland. The game marks the Olympics debut of19-year-old Cayla Barnes of Eastvale, a former member of the Lady Ducks hockey program and the youngest member of Team USA.
American women have not won Olympic gold since 1998 and have a tough job ahead. Canada has taken home four straight gold medals.
Watch live on NBCSN Saturday at 11:40 p.m. PT or on digital platforms.
More Events Today
Men’s Biathlon 10 Kilometer Sprint: Watch NBCSN coverage beginning at 2 a.m. PT on digital platforms Sunday at 3:15 a.m. PT.
Men’s Skiathlon: Watch on digital platforms Saturday at 10:15 p.m. PT.
Women’s Freestyle Skiing Moguls: Watch on digital platforms Sunday at 4 a.m. PT.
Men’s Singles Luge: Watch on digital platforms Sunday at 3 a.m. PT.
Men’s Speed Skating 5,000 Meters: Watch on digital platforms Saturday at 11 p.m.
