Wānaka Snowsports athletes Zoi Sadowski-Synnot, Nico Porteus, and Finn Bilous are among the first athletes named to the New Zealand team for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Reigning snowboard slopestyle world champion and olympic bronze medallist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (20) will compete in snowboard slopestyle and big air, while Nico Porteus (19) will compete in freeski halfpipe, in which he won bronze at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Nico, who is the freeski halfpipe world champion and X Games superpipe gold medallist, said his preparation for the Olympics was on track.

"I'm feeling great about Beijing. I'm looking forward to getting there and just doing what I love and skiing at my best," Nico said.

"It's great to be back on snow and we're getting some really good training in so I'm feeling good." 

Finn Bilous (21) will represent New Zealand in the freeski slopestyle event as well as participating in the freeski big air event, which is making its Olympic debut in Beijing 2022.

Zoi, Nico, and Finn join three-time World Cup Winner and Olympian Alice Robinson (19), who competes in alpine ski racing and giant slalom, and newcomer Margaux Hackett (22), who competes in freeski slopestyle and big air, as the first five athletes named to the team at a selection event held today (Sunday September 19) at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Further Beijing 2022 selections will take place between October and January with additional alpine, cross country and freeski and snowboard athletes working towards qualification, as well as athletes from ice sports including speedskating, ice figure skating, luge and curling.

The selected athletes along with other Snow Sports athletes working towards qualification and nomination will head to the Northern Hemisphere in the coming weeks for their pre-Olympic winter season.

The Olympic Winter Games will take place in Beijing, China from February 4-20, 2022.

PHOTO: Wānaka App