Wānaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (21) has won the LAAX Open Slopestyle World Cup in Switzerland overnight (Sunday January 22).

In the best of two run event, Zoi secured the win on her first run which held up as the best of the day.

“I have been dreaming of winning the LAAX Open since I started competing,” Zoi said.

“The weather has been pretty nuts, practice was pretty crazy, so to have the sun come out for finals is super sick.” 

Zoi didn’t have everything her way with 16-year-old Mia Brookes (Great Britain) announcing herself on the world snowboard scene finishing second, and Olympic Big Air gold medallist Anna Gasser (Austria) third.

In Calgary (Canada) Wānaka freeskier Fin Melville Ives (16) matched his career best performance, finishing sixth at the FIS Calgary Halfpipe World Cup on Sunday (January 22).

He put in a solid first run in the three run event and could not better his score with his subsequent runs.

Fin Melville Ives. PHOTO: Sophie Steinmuller

“It was so cool to compete alongside the best of the best halfpipe skiers in the world,” Fin said. 

“It was amazing to ski with them and it inspired me to land my run and I am feeling really inspired for the future.” 

Beijing 2022 bronze medalist Alex Ferreira (USA) won the event, with teammate Birk Irving in second and Canadian Noah Bowman rounding out the podium in third. 

Fellow Kiwi’s Ben Harrington and Gustav Legnavsky failed to make the finals.

Both Zoi and Fin will be in action at the Winter X Games this weekend. It will be Fin’s X Games debut while Zoi will be defending her X Games Slopestyle and Big Air gold medals.