Winter Olympic medallists and Kiwi snow sports prodigies Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski Synnott have done it again.
The 17-year-olds, who made history last year by ending New Zealand's 26-year Winter Olympic medal drought, both claimed a spot on the podium yesterday (NZT) at the invitation-only X Games in Aspen.
As one of the biggest extreme sports events of the year - arguably more significant than the Winter Olympics itself - the prestigious X Games hosts top-tier snow sports athletes from around the globe.
Sadowski Synnott, who won silver in the Women's Snowboard Big Air event, said making the podium was one of her proudest achievements to date.
Zoi Sadowski Synnott on the X Games podium. Photo / Instagram
"Just getting invited was the biggest accomplishment for me and then coming here and riding well I was so hyped," she told Radio Sport.
"It's a dream come true to get on the X Games podium. I didn't expect that coming here. I just wanted to put some runs down.
"I did feel the pressure a bit with all the cameras around, it's a pretty big TV event over here in the States, so I was just trying to focus on the snowboarding which worked out and now I've got a silver so I'm super stoked."
It wasn't an easy road to the podium for the young rider, who after nailing a Switch Back Nine in her first of five runs, failed to land an ambitious Back Nine.
Sitting in fourth on the ladder ahead of her final run, Sadowski Synnott said she could have opted for an easier trick but veered away from playing it safe.
"I knew I was in fourth and if I'd done a Back Seven, maybe if I had stepped it down a bit, I would've just got onto the podium but I decided to stick with the Back Nine because I wanted to show what I could do at my first X Games Aspen," she said.
"I stuck with it and luckily I put it down, it wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be, I didn't hold the grab for long enough, but luckily put it down and I had huge support down the bottom from the New Zealand guys."
Nico Porteous with his X Games bronze medal. Photo / Instagram
Earlier in the day, Porteous earned bronze in the Men's Freeski Halfpipe after landing a top score of 89.00 on his second run of three.
"It was mad déjà vu," Porteous said. "It hasn't really sunk in yet, I can't quite believe it.
"This comes close to the feeling of an Olympic medal, X Games is such a prestigious event in skiers' eyes, this is definitely up there."
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Finn Bilous missed out on qualifying through to finals of the Men's Freeski Slopestyle, finishing in 10th place.
Carlos Garcia Knight did not compete in Men's Snowboard Big Air after a crash in practice but is due to start in Snowboard Slopestyle tomorrow (NZT).
Sadowski-Synnott was also named as an alternate for the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle event, and if she gets a start, will be in action again tomorrow morning (NZT).
