Freeski Big Air world champion Luca Harrington (Wānaka) has been named the 2025 Snow Sports NZ Athlete of the Year. The awards were presented at the Snow Sports NZ Annual Awards Night held in Wānaka on Friday (October 10).

Luca’s standout 2024/25 season included a string of historic achievements. He became the first New Zealander to win the Freeski Big Air World Championship title and the FIS Freeski Big Air Crystal Globe. He also claimed X Games gold and silver medals in Slopestyle and Big Air, and achieved five World Cup podium finishes.

These results also earned him the title of Freeskier of the Year.

Other major winners included Queenstown’s Alice Robinson, who was named Alpine Ski Racer of the Year after claiming seven World Cup podiums and New Zealand’s first-ever Alpine World Championships medal - a silver in Giant Slalom at Saalbach.

240 attendees celebrated the 2024/2025 snow sports awards night in Wānaka.

Eight-time winner Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Wānaka) again took out Snowboarder of the Year. Her 2024/25 season featured four World Cup podiums, an X Games gold medal in Slopestyle and bronze in Big Air, and the FIS Snowboard Slopestyle Crystal Globe - making her the first Kiwi woman to achieve the feat.

Wanaka’s Adam Hall received Adaptive Athlete of the Year after finishing second overall in the FIS Para Alpine Slalom standings - his best ranking since 2009. Adam also earned two World Cup podiums in Tignes and Feldberg.

Freeride Athlete of the Year went to Wānaka’s Craig Murray, who won the inaugural Natural Selection Ski event in Alaska, impressing judges with his trademark fluid, high-risk lines.

The Breakthrough Athlete of the Year award was presented to snowboarder Rocco Jamieson (Wānaka) after he secured two World Cup podiums and an X Games bronze in his rookie event.

Wānaka freeski coach Hamish McDougall was named Coach of the Year, while Meg Hoyland received Instructor of the Year. Marion Rolleston and Jon Wardrop shared the Masters of the Year award.

Snow Sports NZ said the awards were an opportunity to “reflect back on the season that has been” and celebrate the achievements of New Zealand’s snow sports community before athletes head overseas for the Northern Hemisphere winter.

PHOTOS: Ross Mackay / Snow Sports NZ