New Zealand has made a flying start to the Winter Olympics in Italy, with all three men qualifying for the final of the snowboard Big Air event.
Lyon Farrell, Rocco Jamieson and Dane Menzies finished inside the top 12 in a 30-man field to secure their spots in the high-pressure showdown at Livignio Snow Park tomorrow morning (NZ time).
Farrell was the best of them, locking down seventh with his third and final run this morning, reacting with animation when he landed his run and again when the judges' score was announced.
"Olympic finalist sounds incredible, I can't believe it - it's so good," he told Sky Sport, reflecting on the additional pressure of being the 30th and last competitor to complete his run.
"There were a lot of people getting their runs done and I'm just waiting.
"I've got the best team ever to keep me going forward. Everyone believes so much in me - it's the best formula I could possible have to doing well.
"They kept me in a place where I felt like I could do anything and somehow in the last run I made it happen. Just crazy."
That was enough to lift him one place ahead of Jamieson (168.25), while Menzies snuck through in 11th place with 164.00.
The top qualifier was Japan's Hiroto Ogiwara (178.50), followed by Italy's Ian Matteoli and Japan's Kira Kimura.
The next New Zealanders in action will be Ruby Star Andrews and Sylvia Trotter in women's freeski slopestyle qualifying on Saturday night (NZ time).
