With a run described as the most technical halfpipe run ever landed in competition, Wānaka freeskier Nico Porteus has defended his title and won the Men’s Ski SuperPipe gold medal at the 2022 Aspen X Games. 

Nico left it until his fourth and final run to claim the win.

Dropping in switch he started with a switch right 900, into a newly learnt switch left double 1440, then into his trademark back-to-back double 1620’s before finishing off with a huge left alley oop double 900.

“I can’t believe it, another one, like what?! I am genuinely speechless,” Nico said. 

 “It still hasn’t sunk in, I was the last to drop so it happened so fast.

“To piece all that together in arguably the most high-pressure moment of my skiing career, I can’t believe it,” he said.  

Nico’s older brother Miguel finished in seventh place at his fourth X Games appearance and Wānaka local Ben Harrington dropped into his debut X Games, finishing in a credible eighth place.  

Aaron Blunck (USA) claimed the silver medal and David Wise (USA), two-time Olympic gold medalist, rounded out the podium in the bronze medal position. See full results.  

This was the first time Nico and Miguel have competed alongside each other at X Games, marking a special moment for the brothers.  

Following the SuperPipe, X Games announced that Wānaka’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has won the best in snow Jeep Golden Grill award for winning two X Games gold medals this weekend and becoming the first woman to land back-to-back double corks in a slopestyle run.  

“Honestly, words can’t describe it, I am so stoked,” Zoi said.

“Seeing Nico lace the best run of his life tonight tops it off.” 

X Games marked the final freeski and snowboard event before the New Zealand team heads to Beijing to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games starting on February 4.   

PHOTO: Credit: Tommy Pyatt Photography