Kiwi freestyle skier Nico Porteous has left it to the last run to snatch X-Games superpipe gold, defending the title he first won at Aspen, Colorado last year.
Porteous, 20, showcased the form he hopes will realise gold at next month's Beijing Winter Olympics, laying down a third attempt described by ESPN commentators as "the most incredible run we've ever seen".
Trailling in fourth after the opening round - behind older brother Miguel - the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic bronze medallist improved onto the podium with his second attempt and held third spot with just his fourth effort to come.
With no visible scoring system at play, judges allocated placings based on 'feel', but Porteous left nothing to chance, unleashing the best run of his career under intense pressure to unseat American leader Aaron Blunck.
Key to his success was his first successful attempt at a switch left double 1440, followed by back-to-back double 1620’s and finishing off with a left alley oop double 900.
"I'm speechless right now," says Porteous. "To pull that off on the last run and the crowd... this means so much to me right now.
"Shout out to that being one of the gnarliest pipe comps I've ever been in - that was sick."
Miguel Porteous finished seventh, with fellow Kiwi Ben Harrington eighth.
The result caps a successful run for the NZ Olympic contingent in recent days, with Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claiming gold medals in slopestyle and big air in Colorado, also adjudged outstanding performer at the event.
Also an Olympic bronze medallist four years ago, Sadowski-Synnott can also feel confident in her ability to improve a step or two on the podium.
"Honestly, words can't really describe," she says. "I'm so stoked and just seeing Nico lace the best run of his life tops it all off.
"It's actually insane watching all the girls progress over the last year, coming into the Olympics," she says. "We saw it the other day in slope and I can't wait until the next competition to see what happens."
The Beijing Winter Olympics begin February 4.
