New Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has become the first woman in history to land a triple cork in a slopestyle competition, securing gold at the 2025 Aspen X Games.
The 23-year-old, who hails from Wānaka, delivered an incredible performance to claim victory in the event. This latest achievement adds to her already impressive career, including winning New Zealand’s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal at Beijing 2022.
After missing most of 2024 due to an ankle injury, Sadowski-Synnott made a stunning comeback in Aspen. Her winning run in the finals included a historic backside triple cork 1440, a move never before landed by a woman in slopestyle snowboarding or skiing. Her final score of 94.66 secured her an untouchable lead, with Kokomo Murase of Japan finishing second and Mia Brookes of Great Britain in third.
In the earlier rounds, Sadowski-Synnott had already shown her skill by landing a switch backside 1260 and back-to-back double cork 1080s, earning her a high score of 92.33 to advance to the finals with ease. Reflecting on her performance, she said, “Being able to do that run, which is a dream run of mine, means the world to me.”
The X Games featured clear skies and perfect conditions for competition, making the event even more memorable. This win marks her sixth X Games gold medal, bringing her total to 11 medals across her career. Sadowski-Synnott also won bronze in the Women’s Big Air event earlier in the competition.