New Zealand's athletes are preparing to get on the piste in Beijing. 

Some events are underway, but the official opening ceremony is overnight with free skier Finn Bilous and alpine skier Alice Robinson brandishing the flag. 

2018 free ski half pipe bronze medallist Nico Porteous won his second X-Games gold medal in Aspen last month, and shapes as a candidate to secure the country's first winter Olympics title. 

The 20-year-old has been asked if the recent feat galvanised him. 

“Yeah it does, X-Games was a pretty stressful environment and I’m glad I could pull it off and it’s definitely given me a lot of confidence in my ability going into the big show next week.” 

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