A new queen of Kiwi sport
New Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott quite literally has the world at her feet.
It’s there before the remarkable 17-year-old as she stands at starting gates in alps all around the globe.
And opportunities abound to cash in on her quickly earned status as one of New Zealand’s true sporting stars.
The arrival of the Wanaka teen to such lofty status is perfectly timed.
This is a new era of appreciation for the skills and drive of women’s sport as calls for equal opportunities and rewards increase.
Commercial deals for Sadowski-Synnott should flow in after a remarkable 12 months where she has created history for New Zealand snow sports, winning an Olympic bronze, claiming the world slopestyle title and winning gold in the same discipline at the X-Games where she also won silver in the big air division.
Suddenly she now deserves to be in the same conversation as Valerie Adams, Lisa Carrington, Sophie Pascoe, Eliza McCartney and Lydia Ko on the vanguard of this remarkable women’s movement.
She’s got the sporting credentials and time will allow the bubbly youngster to develop the personality to match those.
In fact she might just eclipse her famous compatriots as time rolls on because she is operating in a sport of the modern generation.
With due respect to her classy Kiwi compatriots, hurtling down a snow slope and throwing yourself into the air has a bit more glamour and appeal than hurling a metal ball, taming a small white one, swimming up and down pool lanes or pushing yourself full throttle down a canoe lane.
Sadowski-Synnott is also a shining example for New Zealand’s contentious sports funding.
Snow Sports NZ was a massive winner in the last round of handouts, seeing huge investment going into their scene on the back of the Olympics success.
Sadowski-Synnott’s ability to instantly back that up and prove the worthiness of that investment will have her bosses rubbing their hands in glee.
Her latest achievement as a world champion will ensure more funding flows into an emerging sport.
When youngsters look for a sporting avenue in a time when there are so many alternatives, it’s the sexy stuff like snowboarding and surfing that will hold increasing appeal.
Surfing NZ needs to take a look at what Snow Sports NZ is doing in terms of getting the funding to set up success.
Having Paige Hareb and Ricardo Christie competing on the full surfing tours this year is a remarkable achievement for a country of this size.
With surfing set for its Olympics debut in Tokyo 2020, the stage is set for surfing to try to cash in.
Even at such a tender age, Sadowski-Synnott has shown what can be achieved with canny investment and a structured coaching system.
She is a shining example – clearly a rare talent whose attributes are being maximised and giving her a chance to set herself up for life.