HPSNZ
Tell us about your Olympic experience.
Mitch
Torino was the first Winter Olympics that New Zealand had a snowboard team so representing our country was really special.
My overwhelming memories of the experiences was how big and mind blowing the Games were. It was a scale I couldn’t have imagined.
The Opening Ceremony was a truly special moment with the world watching and for me there were two extra special aspects – I was in the New Zealand team with my sister Kendall and I was the first male to represent New Zealand in snowboarding.
HPSNZ
Of all the experiences, what was the most memorable?
Mitch
If I had to highlight one of the most memorable experiences it would be a single moment at both Torino and Vancouver. The feeling standing at the top of the half pipe, there with my coach Tom Willmott and knowing there was something in front of me that I was so passionate about. I remember the roar of the crowd, their passion, my excitement and nerves and wanting to make my country proud.
HPSNZ
Given what you know now, what, if anything, would you have done differently in your Olympic campaign?
Mitch
Probably not too much although funding was always a factor. There was not a lot of funding and our group had to work to make ends meet and that included living on a tight budget while traveling and competing. Sleeping in the boot of a car mid winter before a qualifying event in Austria was not ideal at the time but a funny story now that I look back on it.
The noise of the Olympics is cool but you’ve got to do you. We did the best with what we had and to be there was an achievement – uncharted territory.
HPSNZ
How different do you think the Olympic experience is today from when you competed?
Mitch
Since my time as an athlete and now as a coach I see how much action sports have taken off. Action sports and snowboarding have really blown up and I think a big part of that is how the culture around them has shifted. Snowboarding isn’t just a sport anymore, it’s a lifestyle. Social media helped a ton too, giving riders a platform to show their style, creativity, and behind the scenes life, which made the sport way more relatable and exciting for a younger crowd.
Through technology people can see what’s going on easily with a few clicks on their phones. Back in the day we waited for monthly snowboard magazines or even six monthly videos to drop. This is a factor in how far snowboarding has come, how much it has evolved.
Also many of the young snowboarders are achieving amazing feats at a very young age. It’s truly an art form and its progression and evolution will be exciting.
HPSNZ
How does your experience as an Olympic athlete contribute and help in your current role with Snow Sport NZ?
Mitch
My experience as an athlete has really helped me as a high performance coach. I think I’m able to be relatable and to help my athletes understand nerves, fear and success. To see an athlete get excited – I’ve lived in that, I get it, I love it and it is super rewarding. It does also mean I understand when they are struggling as well.
HPSNZ
If you were to give a current Winter Olympian or Paralympian one piece of advice for their Milano Cortina 2026 campaign, what would it be?
Mitch
Representing New Zealand on the Olympic stage is an honour. Shred it!