Team Jossi Wells took out the top spot in each of the three categories at the Obsidian Big Air yesterday (Wednesday August 12) at Cardrona Alpine Resort. 

The event, part of the Winter Games NZ Obsidian, continued despite the region moving to alert level two restrictions.

Team Wells won thanks to strong performances from Nico Porteous, Margaux Hackett and Carlos Garcia Knight. This would normally have meant they were at the top of the overall standings for the day, but Team Janina Kuzma strategically played their Joker card on the Big Air event. This card allows the team to gain double points on the day they use it. This pushed them in front with 160 points, to Team Wells’ 100 points and Team Smoothy in third with 60 points.

Nico Porteous, bronze medalist at PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, was crowned overall Men’s Freeski Big Air Champion on a bluebird day. 

“My day was off the charts. I haven’t had a day like this for so long. It was unbelievable,” Nico said. “I ended up coming out and doing tricks I have only done twice before in my life. Beyond stoked to be standing on that top podium.” 

He won with a left double 16 safety, right double 16 mute combo.

Jackson Wells, 2018 Olympian and the youngest of the Wells brothers, showed consistency across all his tricks and came in second place. 

Winter Games NZ 2018 World Cup Big Air bronze medallist Finn Bilous rounded off the Men’s Freeski podium in third place with a huge performance. He stomped a right double cork 1440 with a stylish safety grab and went for the triple cork but was not able to land either attempt. 

Margaux Hackett, World Cup Big Air athlete, took first place and blew the women’s field apart with her right cork 900 with a tail grab and her switch right misty 900. 

“It was really cool battling it out with Zoi (Sadowski-Synnott),” Margaux said. The jam format pitted Margaux against the snowboard women and freeski women in one category.

Jess Hotter (Freeride World Tour podium athlete) boosted her way into second place with some huge straight airs and solid grabs. Zoi Sadowski-Synnott was here to win and went all out attempting a backside double 1080 but unfortunately just couldn’t find her feet.

The men’s snowboard category was world class, with Carlos Garcia Knight taking the win. Carlos landed both a switch backside 1260 with an indy grab and a backside 1260 and he also styled out with a huge, floaty backside rodeo. 

“I tried to do it a bit different today. I tried to do the tricks that makes snowboarding look cool and what I like about snowboarding,” he said.

Tiarn Collins took out second and had the stand out trick of the day, a cab double cork 1440, but with the jam format judging criteria, one awesome trick is not enough to take the top spot. Up and coming Mitchell Davern was right on Tiarn and Carlos’ tail, landing the same two tricks as Carlos, but they were unfortunately not as clean. 

The Winter Games NZ team moved into its level two contingency plan and operating procedures to ensure it provided a safe venue and event for all members of the Obsidian.

Cardrona Alpine Resort closed the two ski fields to the public as managers planned their response to the level two environment and prepared facilities.

At the closed venue, the Obsidian athletes acknowledged their appreciation in being allowed to still compete and perform on a world stage. 

The Obsidian has 21 of the best New Zealand athletes from Olympic medalists through to Freeride World Tour podium winners. There are three snow sports legends as team leaders, with New Zealand’s most well-known snow sports athlete Jossi Wells joined by versatile freeskier Janina Kuzma and freeride pro Sam Smoothy as the third team captain. 

The Winter Games NZ Obsidian is being run in a weather window between August 10–20. The next predicted event is the Freeride on Saturday August 15.