Zoi Sadowski-Synnott clinched a thrilling silver medal for New Zealand in the women’s snowboard big air event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. The 24-year-old Wānaka star delivered clutch performances under pressure, securing New Zealand’s first medal of the Games and her fourth Olympic medal overall.
Event Overview and Format
Snowboard big air captivates with its high-stakes simplicity: athletes launch off a massive 40-meter ramp, twisting and flipping mid-air before stomping landings for judges’ scores. The Milano Cortina course in Livigno featured pristine Italian Dolomites snow, with clear skies amplifying the drama. Finals demanded three runs, best two combined—testing consistency amid adrenaline rushes.
Qualifying on February 8 saw Zoi dominate, topping the field with 172.25 points from switch backside 1260s and massive airs. Only 12 advanced, setting a tense final on February 9 where tiny margins decided podium spots.
Zoi’s Path to the Podium
Qualification Dominance
Zoi entered finals as top seed, blending technical spins with style. Her switch backside 1260 earned high amplitude marks, while clean grabs showcased control. Judges rewarded amplitude, difficulty, and execution—Zoi’s bag of tricks, honed in Cardrona, shone.
Final Run Breakdown
Dropping last amplified nerves. First run faltered: switch backside 1440 washed out on landing, scoring just 27.75—10th place temporarily. Unfazed, she reset for run two: backside triple cork 1440 stomped cleanly for 88.75, rocketing to eighth.
Final drop proved golden—a switch backside 1260 with precise rotation and grab scored 83.50. Total: 172.25, vaulting her to provisional gold. Tension mounted as rivals chased.
Japan’s Kokomo Murase overtook with a frontside 1440 for 179.00 total, clinching gold. South Korea’s Seungeun Yu crashed her last, settling bronze at 167.25.
| Run | Trick Attempted | Score | Standing After Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switch Backside 1440 | 27.75 | 10th |
| 2 | Backside Triple Cork 1440 | 88.75 | 8th |
| 3 | Switch Backside 1260 | 83.50 | Silver (final) |
| Total | 172.25 | Silver |
This table captures Zoi’s resilient comeback, turning near-disaster into glory.
Race Against the Field
Murase’s poise edged Zoi—her consistent highs and final flourish proved decisive. Yu’s bronze reflected solid openers but a costly fall. Americans and Canadians faltered on amplitude, while Europeans grappled with wind gusts.
Zoi’s edge: mental fortitude. Post-run, she fist-pumped, knowing rivals loomed. Commentators hailed her “Kiwi grit,” echoing past Olympics.
Zoi’s Olympic Legacy
Born in Queenstown to a Canadian father and Kiwi mother, Zoi burst onto scenes at Pyeongchang 2018 with big air bronze—NZ’s first women’s snowboarding medal. Beijing 2022 doubled down: slopestyle gold, big air silver. Now Milano Cortina silver makes four medals, second-most for any NZ winter athlete.
Cardrona training, X Games golds, and World Cup dominance built this. At 24, she’s primed for 2030 Lake Placid.
| Olympics | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| Pyeongchang 2018 | Big Air | Bronze |
| Beijing 2022 | Slopestyle | Gold |
| Beijing 2022 | Big Air | Silver |
| Milano Cortina 2026 | Big Air | Silver |
Her haul elevates NZ’s winter medal count to seven all-time.
Highlights from the Competition
Livigno’s ramp demanded precision—slight edges spelled doom. Zoi’s triple cork dazzled with four off-axis spins, arms locked for style. Slow-motion replays captured snow spray on landings, crowd roars echoing valleys.
Team NZ’s haka salute post-medal went viral, blending Māori pride with Olympic joy. Zoi, teary-eyed, dedicated it to whānau and supporters.
Rivals shone too: Murase’s fluidity mirrored Zoi’s, while Yu’s power evoked legends.
Technical Breakdown of Tricks
Backside triple cork 1440: Rider spins backside (back to ramp), corking off-axis thrice (1080 spin + 360 body rotation), equaling four full rotations. Zoi’s grab locked amplitude over 10 meters.
Switch backside 1260: Fakie approach (backwards), backside spin with three-and-a-half rotations. Her hand-drag and tail grab maximized flow.
Judges score 0-100 per run: 40% amplitude/height, 30% difficulty/rotation, 20% execution/landing, 10% progression/style. Zoi averaged 85+ on keepers.
Reactions and Celebrations
Zoi’s Words
“It whacked my snowboard on that first one—heart in mouth! Silver feels massive; chased gold hard.” She credited coach Joji Cody and mental prep: “Breathe, reset, stomp.”
Home Front Buzz
Wānaka erupted—pub screens overflowed, streets haka’d. PM Christopher Luxon tweeted: “Zoi’s silver lights NZ gold!” Queenstown Airport lit blue-black.
Reddit and X exploded: “Queen Zoi owns big air!” Fans noted her four medals rival half NZ’s winter total.
Global Praise
NBC’s haka coverage trended; IOC lauded “fierce competition.” Rivals congratulated—Murase: “Zoi inspires us all.”
Training and Preparation Journey
Zoi’s 2025 ramped up post-injury scares. Cardrona summers, U.S. park sessions, and Livigno camps mimicked the beast. Nutrition dialed—high-protein for power, yoga for flexibility.
Mental coach drilled visualization: “See the stomp before drop.” Off-season X Games sweeps built confidence.
Milano prep hit snags—gear tweaks, weather sims—but adaptive snowboarding roots (post-brain surgery at 11) fueled resilience.
Impact on New Zealand Sport
Zoi’s medal ignites winter dreams. Snow Sports NZ eyes funding boosts; Cardrona scholarships swell. Girls’ programs surge—slopestyle sign-ups doubled post-Beijing.
She’s NZ’s winter face, alongside Nic Bolittierri, pushing totals toward double-digits by 2030.
Looking Ahead in Milano Cortina
Slopestyle looms February 12—Zoi’s gold defense specialty. Dual-moguls or team events? Medal haul could hit five.
NZ targets three total: Zoi’s double, plus alpine hopes. Her big air silver sets tone.
Technical and Judging Insights
Big air evolves—2026 emphasized progression, rewarding indies (nose/tail grabs). Ramp at 35 degrees, 40m kick tested vert. Wind held steady, favoring technicians.
Zoi’s 172.25 edged past 170 thresholds historically gold-securing.
| Judge Criteria | Zoi’s Strengths | Final Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Amplitude | Consistent 10m+ airs | High base scores |
| Difficulty | Triple corks, switch | Trick multipliers |
| Execution | Clean stomps, grabs | Minimal deductions |
| Style | Flow, method grabs | Tiebreak edge |
Breakdown shows balanced excellence.
Cultural and Inspirational Reach
Māori haka integration symbolizes unity—Zoi embodies inclusive Aotearoa. Post-medal pōwhiri planned home.
Global fans discover Kiwi snow magic; tourism spikes to Southern Alps.
Injuries, crashes, doubts conquered—Zoi’s story motivates: “Snowboarding’s freedom; medals bonus.”
Behind-the-Scenes Challenges
First-run crash risked elimination—gear tweak mid-event saved her. Family in stands: dad Jeremy’s yells audible on broadcast.
Cold snaps tested stamina; Italian hospitality warmed spirits.
Legacy and Future Prospects
Four medals cement legend status. Post-2026: Worlds, X Games, 2030 chase. Coaching or media? Her voice shapes women’s snowboarding.
Lance Evans is a contributor at CSKHYBER.co.nz covering New Zealand and Australia news, with a focus on trending updates and public-interest stories.