The Snow Sports NZ annual awards were announced at a ceremony at Coronet Peak last evening (Friday October 11) with four awards going to local athletes.

Wānaka’s Nico Porteus was awarded Freeskier of the Year, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott won Snowboarder of the Year and Ben Richards won Freeride Athlete of the Year. Lake Hāwea’s Luke Harold won the Breakthrough Season award.

Nico finished in second place at the 2024 Aspen X Games, putting down a unique run combining the most technical tricks in the game with his trademark style and creativity.

Zoi’s gold medal performance at the Edmonton FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup was enough to secure her Snowboarder of the Year. 

Ben had an exceptional rookie season on the Freeride World Tour, winning the Fieberbrunn Pro stop, coming third overall on the 2024 Freeride World Tour and was named the Freeride World Tour Rookie of the Year.

Luke finished second at his debut FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup and brought home a gold and bronze medal from the 2024 Gangown Youth Olympic Winter Games.

Alpine ski racer Alice Robinson (Queenstown, 22) was crowned the 2024 Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete of the Year.

Alice claimed five Giant Slalom World Cup podiums and an additional five World Cup Giant Slalom and Super G top 10 finishes. Alice is also the 2024 Giant Slalom New Zealand National Champion and won the Winter Games NZ FIS ANC Giant Slalom earlier this season. 

Snow Sports NZ Awards winners:

• Instructor of the Year sponsored by NZSIA – Frank Wylie (Coronet Peak)
• Masters of the Year sponsored by Arrowtown Lifestyle Village – Kerry Trevella-Hall and Geoff Hunt
• Coach of the Year sponsored by SITE Trampoline – Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe (Queenstown)
• Breakthrough Season sponsored by Winter Games NZ – Luke Harrold (Lake Hāwea)
• Freeskier of the Year sponsored by Mons Royale – Nico Porteous (Wānaka)
• Alpine Ski Racer of the Year sponsored by Coronet Peak – Alice Robinson (Queenstown)
• Snowboarder of the Year sponsored by Dick Schulze – Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Wānaka)
• Adaptive Athlete of the Year sponsored by Cardrona / Treble Cone – Adam Hall (Dunedin)
• Freeride Athlete of the Year sponsored by The Remarkables – Ben Richards (Wānaka)
• Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete of the Year – Alice Robinson (Queenstown)

The Snow Sports NZ Annual Awards presented by Sidekick celebrates the year in Snow Sports recognising outstanding achievements in the sport.

PHOTO: Ross Mackay