Beijing 2022 silver medallist Su Yiming was also below his best but still made the final in eighth spot. US youngster Oliver Martin will be another to watch for in the final. backing up his maiden World Cup win this season by qualifying in sixth.
Big Air gold medallist Kira Kumara missed out on the final, finishing 14th.
Sadowski-Synnott, who won the world championships last year, opened with a 81.73 which left her in second behind Japan’s Murase Kokomo, who won the big air event last week.
But the Kiwi improved on her second run to take top spot. Big air bronze medallist Seumegeun Yu was third with a best of 76.80. New Zealand’s Lucia Georgalli failed to make the final with a best run of 50.60 ranking her 20th.
The women’s final takes place 1am on Wednesday, while the men’s is scheduled for 12.30am Thursday.
At the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, Alice Robinson was considered a medal chance in the giant slalom but couldn’t find the form that won her two World Cup events earlier in the season.
Robinson was sitting 10th after run one but when she completed her second run, couldn’t put any pressure on the remaining skiers behind her, was sitting in fourth before eventually ending in eighth, 0.80 seconds off gold.
Local hope and Super G champion Federica Brignone completed the double after setting the best time in run one to claim gold in 2m 13.50s.
Defending champion Sarah Hector, of Sweden, and Norway’s Thea St Jernesund shared the silver medal after amazingly they completed the same time in both runs.
American Mikaela Shiffrin, the 2018 champion, finished 11th.
Alice Robinson during run one of the women’s giant slalom at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Photo / Photosport
Robinson sat 10th after run one with a time of 1m 4.25s, 1.09s off the lead held by Brignone. The Kiwi had the advantage of having coach Nils Coberger setting the course for the first run. Germany’s Lena Duerr was second with Italian Sofia Goggia in third after run one but both missed out on the medals.
Piera Hudson, from Hawke’s Bay, racing for UAE, set the 42nd fastest time in run one of 1m 8.01s. The top 30 raced for the medals in run two.
Cameron McMillan has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport.