New Zealand Athletes Compete for Medals in Snowboard Big Air Final

The men’s snowboard big air final at the Winter Olympics has commenced, featuring New Zealand athletes Lyon Farrell, Rocco Jamieson, and Dane Menzies vying for medals. This event marks a significant opportunity for the New Zealand Winter Olympics team, as the trio has successfully qualified for the final competition.

All three competitors secured their spots in the final with strong performances during the qualifying rounds. Lyon Farrell finished in seventh place, Rocco Jamieson in eighth, and Dane Menzies in eleventh. Notably, Farrell clinched his position in the final with an impressive score of 81.50 on his third run, surpassing the qualification mark of 73.50 necessary to reach the top twelve.

Highlights from the Qualifying Rounds

Reflecting on his journey to this point, Farrell expressed his elation, stating, “Olympic finalist sounds incredible, I can’t believe it, it’s so good.” He acknowledged the pressure of waiting for his turn while others completed their runs but credited his supportive team for keeping him motivated. “They kept me in a place where I felt like I could do anything, and somehow in the last run I made it happen. Just crazy,” he commented in an interview with Sky Sport.

The final competition consists of a total of 12 athletes, each taking three runs to determine the medalists. Farrell will compete in sixth position, while Jamieson is set to go fifth and Menzies second in the run order. This format adds another layer of excitement as the competitors strive for their best scores.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand’s Ben Barclay and Luca Harrington qualified for the men’s freeski slopestyle final, finishing seventh and ninth, respectively. In contrast, Luca Ball fell short, finishing in twentieth place during the qualifying rounds. The women’s freeski slopestyle also saw Kiwi competitors Ruby Star Andrews and Sylvia Trotter finish seventeenth and twentieth, missing out on the final.

As the competition progresses, the focus remains on the New Zealand athletes as they aim to secure medals and make their mark in the Winter Olympics. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation, and the nation is rallying behind its representatives in this high-stakes event.