Jossi Wells should soon be New Zealand's best chance of getting a Winter Olympics medal since slalom skier Annelise Coberger took silver at Albertville in 1992.
His two best alpine disciplines - ski halfpipe and ski slopestyle - will be watched carefully by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the
junior snowboard and freestyle world championships from August 19-31. Wanaka's Snow Park and Cardrona skifields are the hosts.
Depending on what they see, the observers could recommend to the IOC commission in September that both events be included at Russia's 2014 Sochi Olympics. A final decision will be made by IOC delegates in Durban next July.
Having just turned 20, Wells is eligible to enter his specialist disciplines but is still recovering from a broken ankle. At the end of last season, the Wanaka resident was ranked world number one in the ski halfpipe and fifth in the ski slopestyle.
"I've been going to the gym a lot to rehabilitate," he said. "The ankle just needs rest but, when I get close to being on skis, I'll get on wobbleboards to improve my balance. Otherwise I've just been doing aerobic stuff and keeping my legs strong. I should be able to compete, I'll see how it feels on the day.
"I've actually enjoyed the break during my 15th winter in a row; it's been a chance to sit back and chill, although the dump of snow last weekend was pretty rad and it's made me keener to get out there."
The snowboard halfpipe is the event American Shaun "The Flying Tomato" White - with his red hair flowing out the back - won at the Vancouver Olympics. Slopestyle involves competitors negotiating a series of jumps and obstacles while indulging in aerial acrobatics.
Wells might have some sibling rivalry come 2014. Brothers Byron, 18, and Beau, 15, are also entered in the Wanaka event.
Veteran events organiser Arthur Klap is in charge of the junior world championships. He expects the IOC observers to rubber stamp the new events: "The Winter Olympic movement is trying to expand but it will still rely on Russia's willingness to get the new sports on the programme at shorter notice."
