Winter Games NZ Announces Ambassadors, Confirms Halfpipe and XC Athletes

The Winter Games NZ is  proud to announce our Winter Games 2019 athlete ambassadors, Tiarn Collins, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Nico Porteous and Alice Robinson. These talented kiwi athletes were the youngest four members of the 2018 New Zealand Winter Olympic Team.

Tiarn is a World Cup medallist in both Big Air and Slopestyle, a huge feat competing against athletes ten years older than him. Tiarn was selected to represent NZ at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games but a training accident in Pyeongchang just before the Games kept him from competing.

Zoi competed at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang where, at just 16 years old, she won the Bronze Medal in Snowboard Big Air claiming NZ's first Olympic medal in 26 years. Zoi has had a legendary start to 2019, winning the 'triple crown', X Games Gold, World Champs Gold and Burton US Open Gold.

Nico mirrored Zoi's historic Olympic success with his own, making history again with a Bronze Medal in Freeski Halfpipe, becoming NZ's youngest Olympic medallist (16 years, 91 days), NZ's first freeskier to earn an Olympic medal and the first male NZ athlete to medal at the Winter Olympic Games.

Alice burst onto the global Alpine Ski Racing scene earlier this year when she won New Zealand's first Alpine Ski Racing World Cup medal in 17 years. She finished in Silver Medal position just 0.30s behind world number one Mikaela Shiffrin at the World Cup Finals Giant Slalom in Andorra. Alice earned her start at the World Cup Finals as the current Junior World Champion in Giant Slalom. 
 
 

Athletes confirmed for Freeski World Cup Halfpipe & ANC Cross-Country Series 

 
Kelly Sildaru EST

Estonian Freeski phenomenon Kelly Sildaru has confirmed she will compete in the Winter Games FIS Freeski World Cup Halfpipe and both the FIS ANC Halfpipe & Slopestyle. At just 17 years old Kelly is the 2019 FIS World Championships Gold Medallist and a seven times X Games Gold Medallist. One of very few athletes to compete in all three 2022 Olympic Freeski disciplines - Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Air this multi-talented athlete is certainly one to watch. 
Instagram | Kelly Sildaru
Instagram | Kelly Sildaru
 
Cassie Sharpe CAN

Canadian Cassie Sharpe is the 2018 Winter Olympic Games Halfpipe Gold medallist. Cassie skiied her way to the top of her first World Cup Halfpipe Podium in 2015 and has regularly been on top ever since. She has won three X Games SuperPipe medals, claimed two FIS World Championships podium finishes and has been the overall winner the FIS Halfpipe World Cup for the last two years. A seasoned competitor, and no stranger to victory, make sure you watch Cassie at the 2019 Winter Games!
 
Instagram | Cassie Sharpe
Instagram | Cassie Sharpe
 
Miguel Porteous NZL
 
Local skier Miguel Porteous has confirmed he will be competing in the Winter Games Halfpipe World Cup. Miguel truely cemented his place among the worlds most elite halfpipe skiers when he won New Zealand's second ever Aspen X Games freeski SuperPipe medal in 2017. Miguel was a member of the New Zealand 2018 Winter Olympic team and is your 2018 Copper Grand Prix World Cup silver medallist. 
Instagram | Miguel Porteous
Instagram | Miguel Porteous
 
Jessie Diggins USA

American Cross-Country skier Jessie Diggins has confirmed she will be competing in the FIS ANC Cross-Country Series held at Snow Farm NZ. Jessie is an incredible athlete with an Olympic Gold medal, four World Champs podium finishes and six World Cup Victories to her name. We are stoked she is back to defend her Winter Games NZ titles, make sure you head up to Snow Farm to watch her in action! 

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