Zoi takes win ahead of X Games
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in action on the rails at the LAAX Open Slopestyle World Cup. Photo: Laemmerhirt
Kiwi snowboarding powerhouse Zoi Sadowski-Synnott won the LAAX Open Slopestyle World Cup in Switzerland over the weekend for the first time in her career.
The 21-year-old Olympic star, of Wānaka, says: "I am so stoked. I have been dreaming of winning the LAAX Open since I started competing. The weather has been pretty nuts, practice was pretty crazy, so to have the sun come out for finals is super sick."
Sadowski-Synnott laced together a solid first run, including a front 450 out of the second rail, which impressed the judges, and a backside 720 on the third jump. She'd planned a 1080 but opted for fewer rotations as she adapted to the speed and conditions.
She was unable to improve the 81.30 on her second run, and it held up as the top score of the day, securing her the win.
Mia Brookes, 16-year-old snowboarder from Great Britain, claimed second place at the first slopestyle World Cup of her career, with Austrian snowboarder Anna Gasser rounding out the podium in third.
Sadowski-Synnott said it was "nerve wracking" watching the others complete their runs.
"Mia's run was so good and even watching Anna go down, it could have gone either way. I am so glad I put down that first run."
Sadowski-Synnott will next be in action this coming weekend at the prestigious, invite only Aspen X Games, where she will be defending her Big Air and Slopestyle gold medals.
Meanwhile, Queenstown snowboarder Tiarn Collins, 23, scored a 10th place finish in a stacked field in the men's slopestyle finals in Switzerland, with a strong second run.
Wānaka freeskier Fin Melville Ives, 16, was also in action over the weekend, finishing in sixth place at the FIS Calgary Halfpipe World Cup, matching his career best performance.
