Zoi Sadowski Synnott hits two 900s to top slopestyle qualifying

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Zoi Sadowski Synnott of Team New Zealand performs a trick during the Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Qualification on Day 1 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Genting Snow Park on February 05, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski Synnott threw down an impressive performance Saturday, topping the snowboard slopestyle qualification event in Beijing.

The reigning two-time slopestyle world champion landed two 900s to lead the competition with a score of 86.75 after two runs.

Murase Kokomo of Japan followed behind Synnott with 81.45 points, with Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi rounding out the top of the leaderboard.

Reigning slopestyle Olympic champion Jamie Anderson finished fifth overall with 74.35 points, enough to see the back-to-back gold medalist through to the finals. Julia Marino, who came in sixth, and Hailey Langland, who placed ninth, will also represent Team USA in the medal event.

Twelve athletes will compete in Sunday’s final, with Anderson looking to defend her crown and Synnott hoping to clinch New Zealand’s first gold medal at the Winter Games.