The New Zealand team are on the board at the World Winter Games in Italy with Cosmo Adams claiming the team’s first medal of the Games, a silver, in the Snowboard Giant Slalom overnight.
It was the first official day of official competition runs for each of the eight New Zealand athletes competing at the Games with the seven strong Alpine Skiing team each completing divisioning runs for their Giant Slalom event while the Snowboarding event, taking place a couple of valleys over in Bardonecchia, completed both divisioning and finals sections.
Adams, a member of the North Harbour club, completed his divisioning run in 1.20.24 before recording a time of 2.33.050 in the Finals round which saw him finish in second place in his division, 15 seconds behind Gold Medal winner Steven Wilkinson of Germany.
Speaking after the event Adams said he was feeling very nervous ahead of his race but was “extremely excited and overwhelmed” to have won a silver medal. Snowboarding coach, Steve Westcott, also a member of the North Harbour club, said Adams’ result had him feeling hugely satisfied and relieved and he was “very, very proud” of him considering the tough division he found himself competing in.
Adams will have an opportunity to add to his medal tally tomorrow with the Snowboard Slalom event set to take place on the same slopes, while in Sestriere his fellow Kiwis will each be going for Gold in the finals of the Alpine Skiing Giant Slalom.