Its fair to say that 2021 probably wasnt that productive for most of us.
That definitely cant be said for Kiwi teenager Nico Porteous.
Nico doing his customary ‘Shoey’ celebration, but will we see it in Beijing?
I first caught up with Nico in Crans Montana, at Audi Nines last April.
I was really excited to get back in the start gate and to start competing again.
We had an awesome winter down south in New Zealand in 2020.
The set-up that Cardrona built was insane.
We had sick snow, good weather and I reckon it was one of the best seasons yet.
The pipe was really good, and a more relaxed Nico was feeling good too.
I just kind of switched my mindset up a little bit.
I feel like that mindset and the amazing winter in NZ, just set me up feeling super good.
I was skating in the carpark, I did a tre flip, something I do quite a lot.
I rolled my foot and you’re able to actually hear my bone break on the video.
I ended up breaking my 5th metatarsal.
The pinkie toe, all the way down by the arch.
I was just at home.
Id do some sort of rehab every day, just to ensure that I was staying strong.
That was his routine for three-and-a-half weeks.
With only two days before World Champs, he actually got back on snow.
It was still a bit sore, but I managed to push through and keep skiing.
I just felt comfortable and throughout all the rehab, I just kept thinking about skiing and tricks.
In the end, it all came together.
To be honest, I havent thought as far as the Olympics.
The highlight of those runs was the back-to-back 1620s.
Like Noah doing the Bone Roll and Pete Verheyde doing that forwards, inwards misty.
All those different directions and creative things to do in a halfpipe, should come before triples.
Last winters contests were pretty unique, for a number of reasons and affected every skier differently.
The Kiwi was pretty outspoken when we touched on one of the more obvious adaptations.
No crowds is sick.
Some people get really pumped up by the crowd and really bounce off the energy.
I didnt have to worry about who was watching or if the crowd was going to scream.
It was just me and a halfpipe.
It was a pretty unique experience.
Everyone was super cruisy and super chill, but trying to stay low and not get COVID.
After his eventful, but ultimately successful season,Audi Nineswas a chance for the teenager to unwind.
With the surfing; getting barrelled and looking at the Swiss Alps, thats the craziest feeling.
you’re able to almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.
It gave me hope.
Its still such a shock.
Its not that long ago that I was just watching these guys in videos and they were my idols.
They still are, but now I get to shred with them.
That is still so, so mind-blowing for me.
I met Woodsy when I was nine, so Ive always looked up to him.
Hes such an icon and hes a legend of freeskiing.
Candide turned up yesterday and that was just like: holy sh*t!
Its kind of all everyone talks about, like damn, is Candide here?!
But while winter 2020 in New Zealand lined up perfectly to hit the northern hemisphere at full speed.
Always positive, Nico was really looking forward to getting overseas, as well as in the start gate.
Its a massive year so I’m just excited to get it started.
_
Nicos favourite:
Trick:Id have to say a straight air in the halfpipe.
Its not a trick, but that moment where theres zero gravity and you tweak a mute or something.
For me, big straight airs are so dope.
It would be gnarly, but thats a bucket list thing for me.
If it was perfectly built and all I had to do was show up.
Track:Im a big fan of house and techno.
No lyrics, just really fast.
It gets me super fired up.
