At just 16 years old, Isabel “Izzy” Watterson is taking the ski racing scene by storm. With her trusty LEKI poles, tenacity, and focus, she won’t miss any opportunity to make waves.
This week, Izzy pulled off a thrilling victory at the New Zealand National Slalom Championships. After placing third following the first run, she unleashed a storming second run, finishing two seconds faster than the leader and taking the win. A spectacular start to a week of racing at Coronet Peak!
She’s just getting started…
The excitement didn’t stop there. In her first Senior-level FIS Giant Slalom race, Izzy started last as a newbie with no points but quickly showed she belonged. After a tentative first run, she stormed through her second run, finishing fourth and becoming the 2025 Overall Senior New Zealand Champion — all at just 16 years old. Not bad for a day’s work!
With such an impressive start to the season, we can’t wait to see what Izzy achieves next. Watch this space — and watch her fly down the slopes!
All photos copyright: Sean Beale