Snowboarder takes top NZ award

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott. Photo: Getty Images
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott. Photo: Getty Images
Snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claimed the major prize at the Snow Sports New Zealand awards in Wanaka on Saturday.

The 18-year-old was awarded the titles of overall athlete of the year and snowboarder of the year.

The Wanaka athlete won the snowboard slopestyle world championship title as well as an X Games gold medal.

Queenstown's Alice Robinson won the Alpine ski racer athlete of the year award after becoming New Zealand's first Alpine ski racing world cup medallist in 17 years and the first New Zealander to earn a junior world title in Alpine ski racing.

Freeskier Nico Porteous achieved the best ranking for a New Zealand male on the freeski halfpipe world cup tour. He finished the 2018-19 season second overall and claimed the freeskier of the year accolade.

Freeride skier Craig Murray earned a spectacular win on the Freeride world tour in Canada, while Para alpine skier Adam Hall was recognised as one of the country's most accomplished athletes when he was named Para athlete of the year at the Halberg Awards.

Sadowski-Synnott's 2018-19 northern hemisphere season was nothing short of outstanding.

Sadowski-Synnott claimed the triple crown of snowboarding, winning slopestyle gold at the US Open Snowboarding Championships, X Games Aspen and the World Championships.

Her medal tally also includes X Games silver in snowboard big air.

She is recognised as one of the world's best snowboarders and this year was nominated for the best female action sports athlete award at the Espys - the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards presented by American broadcaster ABC.

Snow Sports NZ award winners

Instructor of the Year: Will Marcinowski
Men’s masters ski racing champion: Jon Wardrop
Women’s masters ski racing champion: Bonny Teat
Coach of the year: Tommy Pyatt
Breakthrough season: Jessica Hotter
Cross-country athlete of the year: Campbell Wright
Alpine ski racer athlete of the year: Alice Robinson
Adaptive snow sports athlete of the year: Adam Hall
Freeride athlete of the year: Craig Murray
Snowboarder of the year: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
Freeskier of the year: Nico Porteous
Overall athlete of the year: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott

 

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