Kiwi snowsport stars preparing for 'X-Games magic'

Being invited to the annual X-Games means you're one of the freeskiing and snowboarding elite. (Source: 1News)

It is the hottest ticket on the snowsport world stage — to be invited to the annual X-Games means you're one of the freeskiing and snowboarding elite.

For the first time Kiwis Ruby Andrews and Tiarn Collins have been added to the mailing list.

"I was in my bedroom with my sister," Andrews said, "and I was checking the emails and I saw it come through and I started screaming."

Andrews has been given the nod to attend after a breakthrough season last year where she became just the second New Zealand woman to finish on the podium at a Freeski Slopestyle World Cup.

The 19-year-old and Beijing Olympian Collins are now counting down to their X-Games debut.

"It's been pretty crazy", Collins said. "Just like a pinch me moment for sure."

"Watching it all these years, I'd say it's one of the reasons I got into snowboarding and it's the biggest stage for all the best riders in the world."

The duo will join fellow Kiwi Nico Porteous in his return to the X-Games following knee surgery.

Collins is set for a hectic schedule competing in Snowboard Knuckle Huck, Big Air and Slopestyle — three events in just three days.

"It's going to be a pretty crazy week," the 24-year-old said. "There's a day in there where three of the practices all overlap — it's going to be intense!"

Andrews will be dropping in for the Ski Big Air and Slopestyle where she will come up against the powerhouse of freeskiing, Eileen Gu.

"People call it the X-Games magic because so many people have done world firsts there, new tricks and never seen before tricks.

"I've heard about the X-Games magic, so I'm really excited to experience it."

Collins will be the first Kiwi in action tomorrow for the Men's Snowboard Knuckle Huck at 3.30pm NZT.

Sunday's schedule has Andrews competing in the Women's Ski Big Air at 2.30pm NZT and Collins also in the Men's Snowboard Big Air at 4pm NZT.

On Monday all three kiwis will be wearing the competition bib. Collins will be in the Men's Snowboard Slopestyle at 7am, Andrews at 8.45am NZT in the Women's Ski Slopestyle and Porteous will look to reclaim the Men's Ski SuperPipe gold at 1pm NZT.

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