Slips sink NZ medal hope

Jossi Wells. Photo / AP

Jossi Wells, expected to be New Zealand's best chance for a Winter Olympics medal, finished 11th in the freeski slopestyle final in Sochi last night.

World No 4 Wells qualified 10th best for the 12-man final, after a steady two qualifying runs of 82.8 and 83.4 points.

But the Wanaka 23-year-old, who has had heel problems in the leadup to the Olympics, was unable to make much impact in the final.

He had an early slip-up in his first run, posting a 60.6 score to be ninth. In his second attempt, he had a problem at the first rail and managed only a 50.0.

The United States swept the podium, headed by Joss Christensen with 95.8. Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper took silver and bronze.

Wells' 18-year-old brother, Beau-James, finished 21st in the field of 32.

Both Wells, their brother Byron and Lyndon Sheehan will line up in the halfpipe qualification event early next Wednesday.

Skeleton racer Katharine Eustace started her events last night. On the first of her four runs, the Wanaka physiotherapist posted 59.52s, and improved with a run of 59.46s for an overall 1min 58.98 at the halfway point.

She is 14th overall out of 20 competitors, 2.09s behind the leader, Britain's Elizabeth Yarnold.

The third and fourth runs are early tomorrow (NZT).