Winter Olympics 2026: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott tops Big Air qualifying

Kiwi snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has laid down the marker as the one to beat after qualifying in top spot for tomorrow’s Big Air final at the Winter Olympics.

The three-time Olympic medallist, who has silver and bronze in the Big Air, set the tone early with her first of three attempts by producing the highest score of the night.

Sadowski-Synnott was second to take on the Big Air jump and landed a switch backside 1260 to record a 90.00. On her second jump a backside double cork 1080 retained top spot with a score of 82.25 before she recorded the exact same score with her final attempt when she executed a backside 1080.

The 24-year-old finished with a best two-run score of 172.25 to finish first in qualifying ahead of the world champion Kokomo Murase (171.25) of Japan and Great Britain’s Mia Brookes (167.00).

Sadowski-Synnott said she has something up her sleeve for the final.

“I’m so stoked. Couldn’t be more happy to make it into the final. I was pretty nervous coming into tonight, I’m not going to lie because it feels like even more competition when you’ve got the full field. To put it down and make it through, I’m super happy,” she told Sport Sport.

“I’ve got tricks that I would love to do that I’ve been working on for a really long time. I’d just love to be able to put it down here,” she told Sport Sport.

She added that she felt the pressure heading into her top-scoring first attempt.

“I was stoked to put down the switchback 12 on my first run because that was the one giving me a little bit of trouble in practice. Just stoked the pressure is off my shoulders and I can enjoy being here and prepare for the finals.”

Korea’s Seungeun Yo qualified fourth (166.50), followed by Japanese trio of Mari Fukada (165.75), Reira Iwabuchi (164.00) and Momo Suzuki (160.50).

Two-time defending Olympic champion Anna Gasser qualified in ninth place with 159.50.

Kiwi teen Lucia Georgalli, competing in her first Games, landed a solid first-up effort of 78.25 with a backside 1080. Her second attempt scored 38.75 with a revert on her landing letting her down before she failed to land her third attempt missing out on the finals with a 25th placed finish.

The final begins at 7.30am tomorrow.