Porteous set to create history
Fifteen-year-old halfpipe freeskier Nico Porteous is set to become New Zealand’s youngest Winter Olympian in February in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Wanaka’s Porteous was among nine names announced at a lakeside ceremony in Wanaka yesterday.
The first instalment of the team, includes older brother Miguel, 18, who also competes in the freeski halfpipe.
Nico, who will be 16 years and 78 days on the first day of the games, said he was ready to take on the halfpipe at Pyeongchang 2018.
‘‘It’s been a big dream of mine to represent my country at the Olympic Winter Games. There’s been lots of build up, so for it be finally happening is very cool. It’s going to be pretty awesome to get to compete alongside my brother as well,’’ he said.
‘‘Everything’s going really well. I’ve has a successful training period at spring camp, I’ve been training well and getting all my tricks, so I’m ready to go.’’
Nico said he knew about two days before the announcement.
‘‘I got a very pleasant phone call, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet,’’ he said.
Previously, Kendall Brown was the youngest Winter Olympian. She was 16 years and 177 days when she competed at Torino 20016.
Youth Olympians Finn Bilous (bronze and silver freeski medallist at Lillehammer 2016), Tiarn Collins (17, snowboard slopestyle and big air) and Rakai Tait (18, snowboard halfpipe) were also selected. World cup snowboard gold medallist Zoi Sadowski Synnott (16, snowboard slopestyle, snowboard big air, who is currently ranked third on the FIS slopestyle list) rounds out a list of talented teens. At 32, Wanaka’s Janina Kuzma returns for her second Olympic Games, having finished fifth in the women’s freeski halfpipe at Sochi 2014.
Christchurch athletes Carlos Garcia Knight (20, snowboard slopestyle and snowboard big air), who won bronze at the Winter Games NZ, and 2017