New Zealand freeskier Nico Porteous has defended his X Games superpipe crown in spectacular fashion.
Nico Porteous with his second X Games gold medal. Photo: Photosport/Tommy Pyatt
Less than two weeks out from the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the bronze medallist from the 2018 Games in Pyeonchang won his second X Games gold medal in Aspen, Colorado on Monday (NZ time).
But Porteous, who won the same event last year, had to muster a stunning effort in the final run of the competition to do so.
The 20-year-old was third as he prepared to drop in for the last time, before pulling off what TV commentators described as the most technical halfpipe run ever landed in competition.
"I can't believe it, another one, like what? I am genuinely speechless," Porteous said on the ESPN TV broadcast after being crowned champion once again.
"It still hasn't sunk in, I was the last to drop so it happened so fast. To piece all that together in arguably the most high-pressure moment of my skiing career, I can't believe it."
Porteous' dropped in switch for his historic run, starting with a switch right 900, into a newly-learnt switch left double 1440, then into his trademark back-to-back double 1620's before finishing off with a huge left alley oop double 900.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous celebrate their success at the 2022 X Games in Aspen. Photo: Photosport/Tommy Pyatt
Older brother Miguel finished seventh at his fourth X Games appearance, with the event being the first time the brothers had competed alongside each other at X Games.
Wānaka local Ben Harrington finished a credible eighth on his X Games debut.
American duo Aaron Blunck and David Wise claimed the silver and bronze medals.
The result came just a day after New Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott secured double gold, and the third X Games title of her career.
Sadowski-Synnott also won the best in snow Jeep Golden Grill award for winning two gold medals at the event, where she became the first woman to land back-to-back double corks in a slopestyle run.
"Honestly, words can't describe it, I am so stoked. Seeing Nico lace the best run of his life tonight tops it off"," she said.
X Games marked the final freeski and snowboard event before the team headed to Beijing for the Winter Olympic Games, which start on 4 February.