Nico
Porteous
New Zealand
·
Freeskiing
Date of birth | November 23, 2001 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Hamilton |
Age | 24 |
Nationality | New Zealand |
Career start | 2015 |
Disciplines | Freeskiing Halfpipe |
Since he could strap on a pair of skis, Nico Porteous has been chasing the winter with his older brother, Miguel, competing in halfpipe, slopestyle and big air events in the US and New Zealand. “I started skiing pretty late compared to my brother,” says Nico. “I got on a pair of skis when I was four. He started when he was two.”
Nico was 11 or 12 when he made the switch from ski racing to freeskiing and started chalking up some good results in national competitions. By the age of 13 he and Miguel were training and competing year round in Breckenridge in the US and Cardrona in New Zealand. As one of the youngest skiers on the circuit he earned the nickname 'Nipsy' and was invited to compete in some prestigious events including Air + Style and the Jon Olsson Invitational.
The brothers have been pushing each other on the slopes since they first started skiing together on a family holiday in France: “I remember Miguel was inspired by our grandmother sending him a video of Chris Booth winning Red Bull Big Air when he was really little. I never watched the video, but I remember Miguel telling me about it. I was always learning from Miguel. We encouraged each other to try new tricks.”
Nico also enjoyed another career highlight when he became one of the youngest in the world to land a triple cork 1440, confirming his potential as one of the best young freeskiers in the world.
“I’ve been working towards the triple cork for two years," he said at the time. "I tried it a year ago and suffered a hairline fracture to my pelvis. That made me even more determined to try it again and land it.”
It’s that determination that's helped Nico get to where he is today. "He’s a perfectionist,” says his coach, Tommy Pyatt, who first started working with him as a six-year-old. “He always wants more. His best is never good enough. Even if he’s scared he’ll keep doing something until it’s perfect.”
That pressure he puts on himself was one of the few things holding Nico back: “My mental game has been my biggest weakness, but I’m starting to get on top of it now,” he says. “I’ve talked to sports psychs to help me deal with my nerves. I used to get them before big events, big tricks or a big day on the snow. I couldn't sleep some nights because I was thinking about things too much.”
In 2021, Nico made yet more history as he became the first New Zealander to win gold in the freeski superpipe event at the X Games in Aspen. He also became the first freeskier to ever land both a right double 1620 and the combination of a right double 1620 into a left double 1620 in a halfpipe competition.
Just a few months after his X Games success, Nico successfully defended his Halfpipe crown at the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Championships in Aspen, USA.
There was plenty more to celebrate in 2022 when Nico competed at his second Winter Games and secured a gold medal in the Halfpipe event in Beijing. This remarkable success saw the young Kiwi appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to snow sports.
More success came at the start of 2024 as Nico secured a silver medal in the SuperPipe and Halfpipe events at the Winter X Games in Aspen.
New Zealand's freeskiing hero Nico Porteous
© Miles Holden/Red Bull Content Pool
Nico Porteous hits Cardrona's jump line
© Lee Ponzio/Red Bull Content Pool
Nico Porteous definitely knows his stuff when it comes to halfpipe
© Aaron Blatt/Red Bull Content Pool
On top of the podium at the 2022 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix
© Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool