Skier Robinson wins top gong

Alpine ski Racing superstar Alice Robinson was crowned the 2024 Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete at the organisation's annual awards.

The Queenstown 22-year-old had a phenomenal 2023/24 season, claiming five WC GS podiums and an additional five World Cup Giant Slalom and Super G top 10 finishes. In this one season she doubled her career World Cup podium count.

Robinson is also he 2024 Giant Slalom New Zealand National Champion and won the Winter Games NZ FIS ANC Giant Slalom earlier this season, both held at Coronet Peak, where the awards night was held on Saturday. She also won the Alpine Athlete of the Year.

Freerider Ben Richards is the 2024 Freeride Athlete of the Year, after an exceptional rookie season on the Freeride World Tour, winning the Fieberbrunn Pro stop, coming third overall on the 2024 Freeride World Tour and being named the Freeride World Tour Rookie of the Year.

Freeski Athlete of the Year Nico Porteous, finished in second place at the 2024 Aspen X Games, putting down a unique run of which the likes had never been seen before, combining the most technical tricks in the game with his trademark style and creativity.

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott once again claimed the Snowboard of the Year with her Gold medal performance at the Edmonton FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup, while Adam Hall took out the Adaptive Athlete of the Year with another strong season on the Para Alpine Slalom World Cup circuit, including a podium finish in Sapporo, Japan.

Breakthrough Athlete of the Year was tightly contended, with Lake Hāwea’s Luke Harrold taking home the trophy. He finished in second place at his debut FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup and also brought home a gold and bronze medal from the 2024 Gangown Youth Olympic Winter Games.

This year’s Coach of the Year award was awarded jointly to Alice Robinson’s coaches Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe.

"They took over the planning, training and World Cup campaign support for Alice over the 2023/24 season," the awards organisers said. "Alice had a remarkable season, which is due not only to her extraordinary talent of Alice, but the equally important experience, professionalism, support and sound developmental coaching brought to the growing team by Nils and Tim."

Coronet Peak’s Frank Wylie won the Instructor of the Year, a celebration of his dedication to snow sports teaching over the past 30 years.

Kerry Trevella-Hall and Geoff Hunt won Masters of the Year, finishing the season as the top female and male masters ski racers.

"The Snow Sports NZ Annual Awards presented by Sidekick is a fantastic event to celebrate the year that has been and a great way to send off Kiwi athletes as they head away to the Northern Hemisphere. Thank you to our partners, sponsors and the amazing snow sports community who attended this evening, it was an absolute pleasure."

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)