Sadowski-Synnott qualifies fifth in snowboard big air
Wanaka teenager Zoi SadowskiSynnott has an outside shot at a medal, in the Winter Olympic Games’ women’s snowboard big air final.
The 16-year-old produced a superb second run of 92.00, to briefly take the lead in qualifying.
Twelve athletes eventually progressed to the final in PyeonChang, with SadowskiSynnott qualifying fifth. After a score of 72.25 for her first run, Sadowski-Synnott wowed the judges second time around.
A switch backside 900 was among the second-run highlights and she showed her delight by punching the air once the scores were in. Top qualifier ended up being Anna Gasser of Austria, who really made a statement with that score of 98.00.
Just six competitors hit the 90s, which is a strong indication of how well Sadowski-Synnott’s 92.00 stacked up.
The final isn’t until Friday, with Sadowski-Synnott now planning to have Tuesday and Wednesday off, before a big training day on Thursday. Then Sadowski-Synnott will become the first New Zealander to contest an Olympic snowboard final.
‘‘This is going to be the craziest final for women’s big air you will ever see. You’ll definitely see heaps of nines and 10s, which is sick,’’ Sadowski-Synnott said.
And she’ll approach it with real confidence, after Monday’s quality performance.
‘‘I was just really happy to land that because I had never done that before in comp. I’m just really stoked that I got a bit of redemption from the slopestyle.’’
Sadowski-Synnott finished
13th in that event, a week ago, and she and her family were buoyed by this effort.
‘‘Mum was just crying because she’s quite emotional,’’ said Sadowski-Synnott said of Monday’s post-run reception.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s women’s ski halfpipe competitors Janina Kuzma and Britt Hawes both failed to qualify for their final.
Kuzma finished 16th with
67.80, while Hawes was 21st with
57.40.
‘‘This is going to be the craziest final for women’s big air you will ever see.’’
Zoe Sadowski-Synott