JOSSI WELLS: Catching up with the Kiwi Phenom
JOSSI WELLS: Catching up with the Kiwi Phenom
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Does this injury change your perspective on skiing?
Nope, if anything it has made me want it even more. I am super hungry right now to come back stronger than I was. I know what it is going to take to win in next years comps, so I am going to do everything I can to be ready for it.
What is it like competing with some of the biggest names in skiing, and how does it feel to know that you have become one of those names? What kind of relationships have you formed with the guys who are, at times, your toughest competition?
The guys I travel with have become some of my best friends. I am super tight with Colby. We ride together a lot and push each other to perform our best. Simon has become a super good friend too. Our trip in Austria was super fun and I had a great time shredding with him. Simon has an awesome mindset on skiing--he is a winner and wants to win more than anyone else. I feel like hanging out with him has made me pick up that mindset. One of my favorite people to ski with is TJ; he is always so stoked to ski and so positive on the slopes.
You're known as a slopestyle and pipe skier. The tricks in both disciplines are already at a high level and are pushing the limits of skiing from double flips in slope to 1260s and boosting record heights out of the pipe. What's next? How much further can skiing go?
I feel like pipe skiing has got a lot more in it. From spinning both ways to perfectly grabbed 12s. It’s just a matter of time. Slope style is crazy. Double flips are becoming the norm and I think to make the top of the podium in next years comps, double flips are going to be a must.
What have you been up to aside from competition? How about your recent trip to the Nike campus in Oregon, how was that?
Yeah after I hurt myself, my plans changed and I took a trip out to Portland to Nike. It was super cool to see what a huge company they are. The campus is huge! And the employee store was pretty fun too.
Have you had a chance to ski with any of the new members of the Atomic crew?
Tim Durtschi (aka the man!) and I hit a backcountry jump with him and my bro. This guy shreds--watch out for his segments this year. I was meant to go to Alaska with Chris Benchetler and the Atomic filming crew, but now I’m hurt and I can't go. I'm a bit bummed about that.
How have things been going with the Atomic team movie?
It went really well. I did some filming while I was in Utah for World Superpipe Championships. We got a cool backcountry jump and some cable cam stuff in Park City's park and pipe. I didn't get as much footage as I would have liked, though, because of my knee.
The hype has grown over the last couple months about Kris Ostness returning to the scene and making another movie. What's it like working with Ostness?
Kris kills it! He's a super good filmer and knows exactly what he wants. This was my first year filming and I got to film with some of the best in the world, including Jonny Decesare, which was sick.
Any predictions for how the movie will be perceived throughout the industry and among skiers worldwide?
We have a bunch of new riders so I think people will be stoked on the movie. Any upcoming adventures in the life of Jossi that we should know about?
Hmm. Physio, school, physio, school, physio etc… I’m going to Australia for a month to hang out on the beach. Then it's straight back here for the New Zealand season to train my butt off!
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