After making it into the X Games Tignes slopestyle prelim as a last minute addition, New Zealand’s own Jossi Wells (22) topped the field of sixteen skiers this morning amid sub-par conditions in Tignes, France. Previously an alternate, Jossi was bumped onto the starting roster after Norwegian Andreas Håtveit pulled out of the event, suffering from whip-lash following a spill during practice.
Jossi’s high-scoring run—a 91.33—consisted of a switch left 450 disaster onto the flat-down bar up top; a backside 270 onto the next flat bar; right 270 on, 270 out of a down box; switch double cork 9; left double cork 12 mute; switch right double cork 10; switch 270 on, 270 out of a flat bar and a 180 on, 180 out of a down box to finish. Jossi is now the man to beat in tomorrow’s slopestyle final, kicking off at 8:00 a.m. EST.
2013 X Games Tignes: Jossi Wells qualifies first in men’s slopestyle
Also advancing to the final round are Russ Henshaw, Gus Kenworthy, Tom Wallisch, Noah Morrison, Alex Beaulieu-Marchand, McRae Williams and PK Hunder. Missing the cut were 2013 X Games Aspen gold medalists Nick Goepper (slope) and Henrik Harlaut (big air), among others.
After losing a ski in midair on his first run, and crashing on his second, Goepper told ESPN, “I think it was really the weather. I kind of misjudged the last jump and came up a little short on my dub 10. The weather rolled in and it got gnarly. I’m still stoked—I’m healthy and happy.”
On account of the snowy conditions in Tignes, the women’s slopestyle final was postponed until Thursday at 10:00 a.m. EST.
2013 X Games Tignes slopestyle qualifiers (top 8 advance)
1. Jossi Wells — 91.33
2. Russ Henshaw — 89.33
3. Gus Kenworthy — 85.00
4. Tom Wallisch — 84.33
5. Noah Morrison — 83.66
6. Alex Beaulieu-Marchand — 82.66
7. McRae Williams — 78.00
8. PK Hunder — 73.33
9. Sammy Carlson — 70.66
10. Joss Christensen — 66.33
11. Matt Walker — 64.66
12. Willie Borm — 50.33
13. David Bonneville — 42.00
14. James Woods — 40.33
15. Henrik Harlaut — 32.00
16. Nick Goepper — 30.66
*Fantasy Freeride players are keeping a close eye on today’s results, eager to see if their athletes advanced to the final round. For all things Fantasy related, visit fantasyfreeride.com.
