Top coach leaves Snow Sports New Zealand
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Respected snowboard and freeski coach Tom Willmott is leaving Snow Sports New Zealand after a long tenure that included mentoring the country's most decorated Winter Olympian Zoi Sadowski-Synnott.
Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) confirmed Willmott has resigned from his role as head coach of Snow Sports New Zealand's Park & Pipe programme to pursue new opportunities in high-performance snow sports.
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"Tom has made an outstanding contribution to snow sports in New Zealand," said SSNZ chief executive Nic Cavanagh.
"He has played a central role in building New Zealand's Park and Pipe programme into the internationally respected and successful programme it is today, and in supporting the development and achievements of many athletes, coaches and support staff."
"We thank Tom for his commitment and contribution to SSNZ and to snow sports in New Zealand and wish him every success for the future."
Willmott, who has also coached Olympic medallists Nico Porteous, and Luca Harrington, said high-performance snow sports in New Zealand had been a huge part of his life for more than 20 years.
"And SSNZ had been a significant part of that journey. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and believe snow sports in New Zealand is in a great place, with significant potential across multiple disciplines.
"I am now looking ahead to the next chapter and want to say a special thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey," Willmott said.
Cavanagh said the start of a new Olympic cycle naturally provided an opportunity to reflect on how best to position the organisation's people, programmes and coaching structures for long-term success.
He said SSNZ would continue to review and develop its coaching model to ensure it was well placed to support athlete development and performance outcomes