Winter Olympics Day 11: Kiwis in action - All you need to know

NZ Herald

19 Feb, 2018 06:34 PM3 mins to read

Nico Porteous performs during a training session in Wanaka. Photo / Red Bull

Four Kiwis are in action on day 11 of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, all in the same event.

It's a big day for both the Porteous and Wells families. Skiiers Nico and Miguel Porteous along with Beau-James and Byron Wells will hit the halfpipe this afternoon.

Elsewhere five gold medals will be decided today in biathlon (mixed relay), figure skating (ice dance), freestyle skiing (ladies' halfpipe), nordic combined (Individual Gundersen LH/10km) and short speed skating (ladies' 3000m relay).

Kiwis in action

Men's Ski Halfpipe with Qualification Runs 1 and 2 at Phoenix Snow Park from 2.25pm on Sky Channel 55.

Nico Porteous

At 17, Nico is the younger Porteous who began skiing at the age of four. At the age of fourteen, he became the first Kiwi and youngest person in the world to land a triple cork 1440.

"I wouldn't say I've mastered it," Porteous says. "I've done it twice - that's how far the sport's come that it's not really a special trick any more. Now everyone's doing it.

"But that's the sport. It's not just about winning. It's also about pushing yourself to the limit."

He finished 10th at the latest World Cup event in Copper Mountain Resort following a sixth at the Cardrona event in September.

Miguel Porteous

Miguel is an X Games medallist after securing silver in the SuperPipe event last year in Apsen. He was also fifth at the World Cup event in Cardrona last year. He spends close to 200 days of the year on snow. Both he and his brother are making their Olympic debuts.

Beau-James Wells
Beau-James is making his second Olympics appearance after finishing sixth in Sochi. He finished 10th at the World Cup event in Cardrona last year and sixth in the USA.

Byron Wells
Bryon will compete at the Olympics for the first time after missing the last Games in Sochi due to a leg injury suffered on the eve of the event. His results were down last year with his best being an 18th at the test event in PyeongChang. In 2016 he had a fourth at the World Cup event in Copper.