WĀNAKA — New Zealand’s most decorated male snow sports athlete, Nico Porteous, has announced that he is stepping back from Olympic competition. The two-time Olympic medallist confirmed he will no longer compete in the freeski halfpipe.
The 23-year-old Wānaka local leaves a remarkable legacy behind. Over his career, Porteous became one of the sport’s most accomplished halfpipe skiers, etching his name into both national and international snow sports history.
“I’ve loved representing New Zealand,” said Porteous. “Wearing the fern and competing for my country has been the most incredible experience, and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved.”
While the decision wasn’t easy, Porteous said the time felt right for a new chapter. He emphasized that he is not retiring from skiing altogether. Instead, he plans to stay involved in the sport through filming projects, product development, and participation in other competitions.
“I still love skiing,” he said. “I want to keep skiing to the best of my abilities and keep pushing what’s possible in the sport. I’ve really enjoyed working on videos and gear design in recent seasons, and there are exciting events like Natural Selection Ski that I’d love to explore.”
Porteous made headlines around the world in 2022 when he won Olympic gold in Beijing. He landed a groundbreaking combination of left and right double corked 1620s in the halfpipe final, becoming the youngest Kiwi male to win an Olympic gold. Four years earlier, he claimed bronze at just 16 years old at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
His accolades include two X Games gold medals, a World Championship title, and five World Cup podiums. Porteous is widely praised for advancing the technical progression and creativity of the freeski halfpipe and for inspiring a new generation of New Zealand athletes.
“What I’ve achieved wouldn’t have been possible without an amazing team of people behind me,” he said, offering thanks to his family, sponsors, Snow Sports New Zealand, and High Performance Sport NZ.
Snow Sports New Zealand CEO Nic Cavanagh praised Porteous for his historic impact on the sport.
“On behalf of Snow Sports NZ, I want to thank Nico for everything he’s brought to freeski halfpipe—not just the titles and medals, but also his creativity, passion, and commitment,” Cavanagh said. “His legacy will endure for generations to come. We’re excited to see what’s next for him, and we know it will be great.”
As Porteous moves on from Olympic competition, he does so having left an indelible mark on snow sports in New Zealand and beyond.