Bethel Snowboarder Disqualified from Olympic Quarterfinals

Nathan Pare's Olympic debut ends in controversy after officials rule he made contact with another rider.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Bethel native Nathan Pare, 20, was disqualified from the quarterfinal round of the men's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy. Pare appeared to have won his quarterfinal heat, but race officials ruled that he made contact with another rider, Spain's Lucas Eguibar, during the run, resulting in his disqualification.

Why it matters

Pare's disqualification was a disappointing end to his Olympic debut, where he had been in a strong position to advance to the semifinals and potentially medal. The decision by officials has sparked controversy, with some questioning whether the contact warranted a disqualification.

The details

Pare started slowly in his quarterfinal run but began to make a move, nearly losing an edge at one point before appearing to make contact with Eguibar as he came out of a turn. Pare then caught the frontrunners towards the end of the run, but officials delayed posting the results as they reviewed footage before announcing his disqualification.

  • Pare finished his first run, which determined seeding for the quarterfinal round, in 1:09.07, good for 13th overall.
  • The quarterfinal run that resulted in Pare's disqualification took place on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Nathan Pare

A 20-year-old snowboarder from Bethel, Maine, making his Olympic debut in the men's snowboard cross event.

Lucas Eguibar

A Spanish snowboarder who was involved in the incident that led to Pare's disqualification.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

This is a developing story, and it remains to be seen whether Pare will appeal the disqualification decision.

The takeaway

Pare's disqualification highlights the fine line between aggressive racing and unsportsmanlike conduct in Olympic snowboard cross, and the potential for controversial officiating decisions to impact an athlete's Olympic dreams.