21 Dec 2018

Porteous caps off high flying year with World Cup silver

6:56 am on 21 December 2018
Nico Porteous (left) on the podium for the first time at a World Cup event.

Nico Porteous (left) on the podium for the first time at a World Cup event. Photo: Supplied

The Olympic bronze medal freeskier Nico Porteous has finished the year on a high winning the first World Cup medal of his career.

Porteous, 17, has won a silver medal in the freeski halfpipe competition at the Secret Garden resport in China where the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be held.

"I had a goal this season to get a World Cup podium, so to do that at the second event of the year is incredible," said Nico.

"2018 has been the best year of my life so far, nothing could really top it."

Nico Porteous gets plenty of air at Secret Garden in Beijing.

Nico Porteous gets plenty of air at Secret Garden in Beijing. Photo: Supplied

Nico achieved the top qualifying score of 90.75 in the morning's qualifying rounds, with his brother Miguel through to finals in third place on 84.75 and eventual winner Canadian Simon D'Artois qualifying in second place on 87.50.

The competition was originally due to take place from December 20-22 however with storng winds predicted organisers the event was brought forward.

"I am over the moon," said Nico.

"I didn't land the run I wanted but the second run was good and I'm super stoked. It's a really good day, super good result."

American skier Hunter Hess finished in third place while Miguel Porteous was sixth.