Kiwi snowboarder Zoi Sadowski Synnott says she is “stoked” after claiming gold in the snowboard slopestyle at the X Games in Aspen today

The 17-year-old Olympian was only added to the event this morning, having originally been named as an alternate (reserve) for the slopestyle competition, considered one of the pinnacle competitions in winter sport.

Howver, Sadowski-Synnott stomped her first run with back to back 900s and a double wildcat to score 90 points from a possible 100. She improved to a 91 on her third run.

She told Martin Devlin she's “pretty happy” with her performance.

"Everyone went through and I found out I won, and it was insane. This is beyond my wildest dreams."

She says that when she found out she was competing, she decided to straight out the game go for the 9-9-7.

Sadowski-Synnott says that she doesn’t believe she got a 90 before, and was initially just happy with.

“I was just so stoked I got the run down. That alone I was so happy on, and it didn’t really matter where I ended up.”

She says she hasn’t done well in a slope-style competition before. She came here to focus on the Big Air event, which she claimed silver in the snowboard big air on Friday.

“That was just insane, and to do this today, I just can’t believe it.”

Sadowski-Synnott says that the X Games is 'the best of the best', and that being able to win, let alone take part, is a "career highlight".

Hailey Langland (USA) finished in the silver medal spot, coming close to beating the Kiwi with a 90.66 on her final run. Finnish athlete Enni Rukajarvi was third.

LISTEN TO ZOI SADOWSKI-SYNNOTT TALK WITH MARTIN DEVLIN ABOVE