Zoi Sadowski-Synnott after winning gold at the world championships in Switzerland. Photo: Miha Matavz / www.mihamatavz.com
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has been crowned snowboard slopestyle champion for a third time following a thrilling final in Corvatsch, Switzerland.
The Wanaka-based Olympic champion underlined her class with a performance that bagged a sixth career world championships medal.
Five have come in Slopestyle, including previous golds in 2021 and 2019, along with silvers in 2017 and 2023. Her other silver was in the Big Air in 2021.
Sadowski-Synnott, who missed last year's championships with injury, said she was in disbelief.
"I can't really believe it; I didn't really think about it coming into this week. I was just feeling incredibly grateful for this whole winter after my injury last year and really thankful for the support from my sponsors, my team, my friends and my family."
The 24-year-old was only sixth out of 12 riders after the first run after an uncharacteristic bobble on her third jump of the technical course.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in action at the snowboard Slopestyle world championships in Switzerland. Photo: Miha Matavz / www.mihamatavz.com
Mirroring her Beijing 2022 Olympic Slopestyle gold, Sadowski-Synnott produced her best when it was needed in her second and final run.
She remained composed to leapfrog into the top spot with the only score of the competition in the 90s to power three points clear of her nearest rival.
Her winning run included a cab 270 on, 270 off on the top rail and a backside double-corked 1260 melon grab on the third jump, all executed flawlessly.
"That was crazy, I messed up my first run and put so much pressure on myself coming into the last run," she said.
"All the girls were riding so good, and I was stoked to watch everyone's runs - it just vibed me up to land that run. I have never done that [run combination] in contest before, so I am super stoked."
Japanese riders Kokomo Murase and Reira Iwabuchi rounded out the podium in second and third.
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