9 Jan 2014

Freeskier Jossi Wells through to World Cup finals

3:39 pm on 9 January 2014

The New Zealand freeskier, Jossi Wells, has increased his chances of qualifying for the Winter Olympics in Sochi next month, after qualifying for the Slopestyle finals in the Freestyle World Cup in Breckenridge.

Wells pushed through a recovering heel injury on just his second day back on snow, to place third in his heat and qualify for the finals.

The skiers not only had to battle their competitors, but also the elements, as heavy snow fell throughout the competition, causing several athletes to falter or crash during their runs.

Jossi Wells' younger brothers Beau-James and Jackson placed 6th and 11th respectively in the same heat, with another Wanaka athlete, Hamish McDougall, placing 11th in his heat.

In the women's competition, Anna Willcox-Silfverberg, the only New Zealand competitor, placed 6th in her heat, just missing out on finals.

The Breckenridge event is one of the last World Cup freeski competitions of the season before the Sochi Games.