The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games will be remembered as a vivid blur of gravity-defying rotations and the kind of intense drama that only happens with the world watching. Oakley has long held a place at the very centre of this winter world and their presence across the Italian peaks was impossible to miss. Athletes chasing history found a constant companion in the American brand’s signature optics, stretching from the technical rail sections of the slopestyle course to the massive jumps of the Big Air final. Every rotation and every landing depended on a level of visual clarity capable of handling the unpredictable Alpine weather. The games provided the perfect stage for a group of athletes to show that their success comes from a mix of intense preparation and the right equipment to back it up.
Swiss star Mathilde Gremaud defended her golden legacy with a run that felt like a dance across the snow, while New Zealand’s Luca Harrington proved that a shaky start is just a setup for a legendary comeback. This fortnight tested the ‘look good, feel good, play good’ philosophy on the world’s most unforgiving stages. The gear was just as much a part of the story as the athletes themselves.
Oakley is leaning into that electrifying energy with the release of the AURA Collection. This project builds on the deep respect for the unstoppable resolve of fearless athletes mastering their craft behind the scenes. Key eyewear and apparel appear in a new custom colour-shift paint treatment inspired by the energy defining the biggest moments on the snow. A dynamic fade blends purple, green, red and gold across a broad lineup, including the Flow Scape performance goggle. This particular model offers the largest field of view in the history of the brand. Stunt Wing and CYBR Zero models also feature, alongside the lifestyle-focused Permian frames.
The two medallists caught up with Schön! to break down their path to the Milano-Cortina podium, the influence of the Oakley Livigno Outpost and Oakley’s signature Snow equipment on the world stage.
For Mathilde Gremaud, the difference between a gold medal and a terrifying spill often comes down to a fraction of a degree. During her second run in Milano-Cortina – which she described as the “best of her life” – precision was the only currency that mattered. When you are attempting back-to-back 1260s, being able to read the landing is a survival requirement.
“The light was kind of getting flat during the second run,” Gremaud recalls. “I was just super happy to be able to upgrade my lens for the right condition and have a better perception of all the shapes of the low bumps on the snow. It’s about being able to make sure I see the landing exactly where it is and not think I’m already landing when I actually still have a metre of flight.”
Gremaud credits much of that confidence to the Flow Scape goggle, a standout piece in the new AURA lineup that offers Oakley’s largest field of view to date. In a sport where peripheral vision dictates your next move, the Flow Scape removes the literal and mental borders of the frame.
While Gremaud was perfecting her flight, Luca Harrington was battling the mental demons that come with two early crashes on the world’s biggest stage. For the young New Zealander, staying calm meant focusing purely on the task at hand rather than the roar of the crowd or the weight of expectation.
Harrington is a firm believer in the psychological edge provided by a superior kit. “I find that having a kit that you are really proud of allows you to ski a lot better,” he says. “The Oakley kit we got with the New Zealand team was exactly that. We were looking stylish, had the baggy pants, they were lightweight, and the jacket was easy to move in while keeping you warm.”
Harrington feels that Oakley’s DNA of rebellion and experimentation perfectly mirrors the freestyle spirit. It allows an athlete to be a bit of a “badass” with the technical support to back it up. Prizm technology acts as a game-changer by providing the definition needed to navigate the snow when the weather turns sour. “The Prizm lens helps us most when it’s flat light, to give definition in the snow and to give definition in our surroundings for us to still be able to go out and do our best,” he explains. He sees a future with Oakley that spans from the technical demands of the slopes to the street-level trends of tomorrow.
The AURA Collection extends far beyond the lenses because the same hypnotic colour-shift treatment coats the MOD1 helmet. Gremaud notes this piece for its comfort and the way it integrates with her goggles to provide total safety. Peak performance happens when gear matches so well that an athlete stops thinking about it.
To round out the chromatic energy of the look, the collection includes gloves, socks, a hat and a neck gaiter designed to battle the elements. Every piece is finished with an iridescent Oakley logo that refracts light, ensuring that even when the intensity is raw and the conditions are grim, the athlete remains visible.
A significant part of this season’s success was also attributed to the Oakley Livigno Outpost, a hub where heritage met future design. Gremaud spent time there building custom Eye Jackets and soaking in the brand’s history. “When a brand is behind you like that and they complement the look you have, it’s really motivating,” she says. Seeing the development and energy invested into the products gave her the extra push needed to attempt tricks she had never pulled off in a contest before.
Harrington, though unable to visit the Outpost due to a demanding training schedule, feels the same connection as one of the younger medallists now moving up the ranks. He sees a future with Oakley that spans from the technical demands of the slopes to the street-level trends of tomorrow.
Success is a spectrum and is not strictly found in the bronze, silver and gold of a medal ceremony. It lives in the “luminous aura” earned through thousand-hour grinds and the courage to swap a lens mid-competition. These athletes continue to change the game with the trust that their equipment, from the ‘Snatch’ grip of a glove to the broad vision of a Flow Scape, is designed to move as fast as they do. They bring that Olympic-level intensity into the everyday.
The Oakley AURA Collection is now available at select Oakley stores and partners worldwide, as well as online. Find out more here.
photography. courtesy of Oakley
words. Gennaro Costanzo
