Nico Porteous battled strong wind gusts Saturday to win New Zealand’s second Olympic gold medal in freeski halfpipe.
The silver and bronze will be taken home by fellow 2018 medalists David Wise (31), and Alex Ferreira (27).
Porteous (20), the reigning world champion and two-time X Games champ, stomped in back-to-back double-cork 1620s in both direction on his first run to earn a 93.00 and upgrade his bronze, which he won four years ago, when he was 16.
“I am currently over the moon. Porteous, whose brother Miguel placed 11th, said that it was still hard to believe.
Wise, who is a father of two, entered as the two-time defending silver medalist from Sochi. PyeongChang. He paired back-toback 1260s to complete his first run for a score of 90.75. This was his third Olympic gold medal.
Wise fractured his femur one year after PyeongChang, but returned to competition seven months later.
Wise stated that he was just as shocked by the silver medal as he was with his first gold. “You learn to expect the unexpected, but instead to be optimistic — have high hopes and low expectations — that’s my game plan for today.”
Wise stated that he was proud to compete, proud of his teammate, and impressed by Porteous’ gold-medal performance.
He said that he was still young at the Olympics and that he was building momentum. “It’s great to be able pass the torch to someone who will continue to improve the sport.”
Wise is an avid bow hunter and has lived his whole life in Reno. He hopes to be part of the U.S. Olympic Archery Team for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Ferreira, silver Medalist in PyeongChang pole-twirled his 86.75 mark on Run 1 but was unable to improve, and took bronze.
The native Aspen, Colorado native, was the X Games champion twice and won December’s copper Grand Prix before -to back runner up finishes at Calgary Snow Rodeo.
