Snowsports: NZ skiers boosted by Olympic chance

The prospect of world No 1 halfpipe skier, Wanaka's Jossi Wells competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics is a step closer.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering introducing a handful of new disciplines to the programme for Sochi, Russia in four years' time, including the ski halfpipe and slopestyle, and the snowboard slopestyle.

In addition to Wells, his brother Byron is among the world's leading halfpipe exponents, while Shelley Gotlieb of Ohakune is world No 3 in women's snowboard slopestyle.

Skier cross made its debut at the Vancouver Winter Olympics early this year and slopestyle and halfpipe additions are seen as a further push by the IOC to incorporate events which appeal to younger winter athletes.

"The announcement is significant for New Zealand winter sport," Ashley Light, high performance director of the winter performance programme, said.

"These events are ideally suited to young New Zealand athletes who thrive on adrenaline and risk. They suit our culture and they also suit the facilities we have in New Zealand."

The IOC executive board, at its meeting in Acapulco, has said it is looking favourably at their inclusion, along with women's ski jumping, biathlon mixed team relay, figure skating team and luge team relays.

However it wants to assess the outcome of those sports respective world championships during the Northern Hemisphere winter.

The final decision rests with IOC president Jacques Rogge and is expected in April.

The introduction of sports in which New Zealand would be real medal contenders would give the winter programme a lift.