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6th April 2010

Wanakas Jossi Wells will be crowned the Association of Freeski Professionals (AFP) 2010 Overall World Champion, this is the first time a Kiwi freeskier has finished the season ranked No. 1.

While there are still more competitions on the 2009-2010 calendar, the 19-year-old Wells has already accumulated enough points in all three disciplines Slopestyle, Halfpipe and Big Air to claim the overall title.

It feels pretty amazing said Wells. It was pretty cool to get that text. Definitely put a smile on my face, thats for sure.

This year Jossi has shown his excellence in all three disciplines, where most skiers are specializing in one to find success.

Jossi competing in halfpipe this year

I have huge respect for the other athletes that compete in all disciplines, says Wells. Its definitely not easy.

Wells is currently ranked first in halfpipe and fifth in slopestyle in the AFP World rankings.

Wellss year was highlighted by multiple podiums and top-10 finishes, including a second Winter X Games medal, a silver in halfpipe, in late January.

Jossi winning the Dew Cup

Wellss season kicked off in August on home turf, where he took second place in Slopestyle at the 100% Pure NZ Games. Other notable performances included a win at the Austrian Open in February and another podium finish at the European X Games.

In the Big Air discipline, Wells currently sits in eleventh place. After a string of uncharacteristic finishes in the fall big airs (Freestyle.ch, Freestyle.Berlin, and 100% Pure NZ Winter Games), Wells tied for fourth at the Winter X Games Big Air to bump him up in the standings. While Wells missed an opportunity at the Frostgun Invitational (an AFP Silver event), he can still improve his Big Air ranking at the Jon Olsson Invitational in re, Sweden in mid-April.

Wells was also a part of the progression night at X Games Big Air, where he threw the first switch double cork 1440, alongside U.S. star Bobby Browns switch double misty 1440 and TJ Schillers double cork 1620.

Despite the small changes that can go down for the rest of the AFP season, Wells overall title is unassailable.

He acknowledged the grind of a long Northern Hemisphere season, combining travel with training, competing and offering coaching assistance to his younger brothers.
 
It definitely has its challenges, quips Wells. Pretty much every comp this year, the event loved to put training and practice times either overlapping or pretty close. On the other hand I thrive off the energy at the contests so I think being so busy and always having practice or competing had its upsides for sure.

Outside of AFP run events, Jossi also secured himself the Winter Dew Tour Dew Cup award for Superpipe performance at the Dew Tour series.

Wells also spent significant time filming a winter-long webisode series called Winter Of Wells, and is currently on his way to Sweden for the Jon Olsson Super Sessions, a sort of an icing on the cake to his season.

I have already been pumped on how all the comps went this year so hearing this topped it all off, said Wells, who is coached by his father, Bruce.

Currently, USAs Simon Dumont sits in 2nd place in the AFP Overall rankings and Finlands AJ Kemppainen sits in 3rd place.

I am probably Simons number one fan, its awesome to see him killing it in both pipe and slope, said Wells.

I am also a huge fan of AJ. He is one of my favorite pipe skiers to watch hands down. Every trick he does is flawless and I love that he brings some of that slope steeze into the pipe, said Wells. So mad props AJ. Youre the man! I also have to give a shout out to [Mike] Riddle. He is another athlete that competes in both events and is always bringing something illy.

While the rest of the AFP overall list can change in the weeks to come, Wells is a lock for the title. As the competition year draws near its end, the crown will be passed from 2008-2009 champ Simon Dumont to Wells.

Most of the AFP titles, for men and women, are subject to change, and all eyes will be on Whistler for the WSSF Pipe event, as it will be the biggest game changer left on the schedule.

Where to from here for Wells? He has his sites set on competing at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.