The Kids of Snow

The story of New Zealand's youngest ever Olympians, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous, both just 16 when they competed in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018. These kids of the snow never expected they could capture a proud sporting nation back home and win hearts with two bronze medals within 45 minutes of each other.

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The first time New Zealand impacted the world of winter snow sports was the 1992 Winter Olympics, held in France. Annelise Coberger's silver medal in the women's slalom was New Zealand's first Winter Olympic medal of any colour. Coberger's medal stood alone for 25 more years.
There was nothing riding on the selection of New Zealand's youngest ever Olympians, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous, both just 16 by the time they would compete in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018. From the outside these two Wanaka teenagers were perfect pin-ups for the under-radar snow sports, free skiing and slopestyle/big air snowboarding. These kids of the snow never expected they could capture a proud sporting nation back home and win hearts with two bronze medals within 45 minutes of each other. As they did on February 22, 2018.
After 25 years Kiwi winter sports reached the peak of the mountain, and the two teenagers responsible, the best of mates, were instantly written into Kiwi sporting folklore. A big deal for the sports, which are only talked about once every four years by Kiwi patriots who often value an oval ball over poles sticks, boards or skates. The medal moments for these two maestros however was something they had been working towards their entire lives.
Three years on these kids of the snow are now young adults and dreaming of adding to New Zealand's Olympic medal tally at the 2021 China Olympics.
The Kids of Snow is the story of the Kiwi underdog claiming its place on the world stage, the Olympic podium after a 25-year hiatus. The book explores Porteous and Synnott's incredibly colourful lifestyle of following winter to winter and living in some of the most beautiful settings across the world in Canada, Switzerland, France and Austria. It digs deep into the drive and dedication it has taken these athletes to develop their craft so well they are now considered to be some of the biggest names in their respective sports. The Kids of Snow explores a friendship that began long before a bronze medal was placed around their necks.