Gotlieb (Queenstown) and Zeestraten (Wanaka) were popular winners in the snowboard slopestyle competition at the Remarkables, following Jossi Wells' silver medal in freeski slopestyle on Saturday.
The early success for New Zealand competitors is just the start to the inaugural Games the organisers will have dreamed about.
Success for local competitors always looked possible yesterday, as more than half of the 30-strong qualifying field were New Zealanders, six of whom made it through to the final 12.
Gotlieb won the women's event with an overall score of 46.90.
The Queenstown boarder, originally from Ohakune, had a career highlight earlier this year when she placed fifth in the US Open, but said success in her own country was doubly sweet.
"It was awesome to get gold in my home country. It's an awesome feeling," Gotlieb said.
"We all had a really great day and all the Kiwis killed it."
Gotlieb was also able to exact revenge on American star Jamie Anderson.
At the Burton New Zealand Open recently, Gotlieb qualified first into the finals before finishing third, with Anderson winning.
In the Winter Games slopestyle, Anderson (36.60) was second behind Gotlieb, with British boarder Aimee Fuller (27.80) third.
Zeestraten and Queenstown's Nick Hyne made it an Otago 1-2 in the men's snowboard slopestyle.
Zeestraten won gold with a score of 44.00, followed by Hyne (42.60) and Norway's Gjermund Braaten (41.00).
"It was pretty cool to be home and do so well," Zeestraten said.
"Not only are all the New Zealanders killing it today but it's awesome to see New Zealand put on a cool event."
Head slopestyle judge Ola Sundequist said the number of New Zealanders in the field was a reflection of the depth of the country's snowboarding talent.
Along with elite performers Gotlieb, Zeestraten and Hyne, there were several promising snowboarders in the field.
