Jossi Wells continues to dominate in Ski SuperPipe walking away with his first-place finish in the elimination round at the prestigious Winter X Games 14 today. Currently the leader in SuperPipe for the Winter Dew Tour, it could be a clean sweep for Wells this season.
 Wells clears the gap at Big Air Competition Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Wells was the only competitor to score above 90 with a total of 91.33 points. USA’s Simon Dumont ended in second place (89.33) and France’s Kevin Rolland (88.33) finished the day in third. The finals will be held tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. MST (1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. NZT).
Following is ESPN’s John Symms take on how the Elims went today for Wells.
Skiing: John Symms (7:05 p.m. MST)
“SuperPipe Elimination is in the books. And looking back, it was a little bit like Indiana Jones AndThe Last Crusade. Only the penitent man shall pass. Jossi Wells played the penitent man in Pipe Elims, saying a quick prayer to the MAN UPSTAIRS before dropping in to break the Sixth Commandment against the Winter X terrain Pipe (kill it, get it?). The rest of the field? Chopped in half by a swinging razor-sharp axe blade. Figuratively. Except in this rendition of the film, Jossi was a spinning razorblade that could rotate equally well in either direction, and take off either backwards or forwards. The penitent man passed all of his competitors on his way to the finals where the first will be last (in the start order). If Wells keeps this hot streak alive, the meek might just inherit the Earth tomorrow.”
After a last minute invitation to the Big Air event yesterday, that has been described by many as the most spectacular event ever, Wells ended in fourth place, tied with Australia’s Russell Henshaw.
In a night of firsts, Wells landed three switch double 1440’s, never before done in competition.
USA’s Bobby Brown, this year’s winner of the NZ Freeski Volkl Open Slopestyle, was the first ever to score a perfect 100 at a Winter X Games taking first place. TJ Schiller and Elias Ambuhl rounded out the podium.
The event was described by Freeskier Magazine as “…hands down the best display of comp skiing ever compiled into one session.”
“The bar hasn’t just been raised; it has been completely blown away. The sport has been forever changed.”
The SuperPipe Elims immediately followed the Ski Slopestyle finals today, where unfortunately Wells didn’t fare as well. Struggling with the opening flat rail, Wells had a few bobbles which left him peeling off the railearly, something the judges harshly punish. Wells finished in seventh place.
Jossi’s little brother Byron also competed in the SuperPipe but is still struggling with an injury to his heel sustained in October and did not make it through to the finals.
New Zealand’s Shelly Gotlieb made history today as the first woman snowboard competitor to represent New Zealand. Unfortunately, in what would have been a high scoring run, Gotlieb took a hard fall, and although she’s OK, has been told to take it easy for the next three weeks so will likely miss next week’s Burton Open Canada.
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