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Youth Olympic Winter Games providing an ideal pathway to the Olympic Games Youth Winter Olympic Games Results Round Up The inaugural Youth Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria are providing an ideal pathway to the Olympic Games according to Chef de Mission, Pete Wardell and with the competition passing the halfway mark, young Kiwi Athletes are performing well in the tough Olympic environment. New Zealand freeski sensation Beau-James Wells (15), of the renowned Wanaka-based Wells family finished with a strong fourth position in freeski halfpipe this week while Hamish Bagley got a top 10 finish in the snowboard halfpipe. Alpine skier Piera Hudson (15) of Hawkes Bay secured top 20 finishes in the Super G and Combined. The Olympic environment is unique, said Wardell. The Youth Olympic Winter Games are a new way to provide our athletes with the experience they need to progress in the competitive winter sports world. The level of competition here is extremely high. Well be seeing some of these athletes go on to Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018. Wells kicked off his early rounds in first place but was pipped for the top spot by just 1.5 points. Father and coach Bruce Wells said hes in good shape for his future. Im really pleased with Beaus performance, he said. When the pressure was on in the finals he stepped it up and skied out of his skin. He just didnt have the level of tricks that some of the others had. Were working on tricks at that level but havent added them to his competition runs yet. Our sights are set on successes at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018. In addition to experiencing high level competition, the young athletes are also provided with information on what it takes to be a professional athlete. Athlete Role Models including US Ski Champion Linsay Vonn will attend the competitions, visit the Youth Olympic Village and feature in Meet the Role Models forums designed to inspire and educate the young athletes with personal accounts of their own experiences, and the challenges they have overcome. The final five days of the Youth Games will bring some exciting competition for the Kiwis. Alpine skier Piera Hudson hits the slopes once more with the Giant Slalom and Slalom on the 18 and 20 January. Curlers (David Weyer 17 from Ranfurly, Eleanor Adviento 16 from Auckland, Kelsi Heath 16 from North Shore, Auckland, Luke Steele, 17 from Ranfurly) lost their final game against Korea in the mixed teams 9-4 on Day 6 (18 January) they move into international mixed pairs competition, while ice hockey skills duo Callum Burns and Libby-Jean Hay are sitting in 4th and 8th place before heading into the final on the 19 January. Hamish Bagley of Arrowtown will also compete in Snowboard-slopestyle, Sam Andrews from Wanaka in freeski-ski cross, Tim Herbert in snowboard slopestyle, Harry Izard Price from Wellsford in alpine skiing-giant slalom and slalom events. Competition winds up on 22 January 2012, a little over six months out from the London Olympic Games which open on 27 July 2012. For more information on results please check: http://www.olympic.org.nz/nzolympic/games/innsbruck-2012 NEW ZEALAND YOUTH OLYMPIC TEAM Beau-James Wells (15) - Freeski in ski halfpipe, Wanaka Sam Andrews (15) - Freeski - ski cross, Wanaka Matheson Hill (16) 25th in Luge mens singles, Dunedin Olivia Thomson (15) biathlon - 6km sprint and7.5k pursuit, Wanaka David Weyer (17) curling mixed team, Ranfurly Eleanor Adviento (16) curling mixed team, Auckland Kelsi Heath (16) curling mixed team, North Shore Luke Steele (17) curling- mixed team, Ranfurly Callum Burns (14) - ice hockey individual skills challenge, Queenstown Libby-Jean Hay (16) - ice hockey individual skills challenge, Auckland Hamish Bagley (15) Snowboard halfpipe and slopestyle, Arrowtown Harry Izard-Price (16) Alpine slalom, giant slalom, super g, combined, Wellsford Piera Hudson (15)- Alpine - slalom, giant slalom, super g, combined, Hawkes Bay Samantha Poots (15) Freeski - halfpipe, ski cross Wanaka Tim Herbert (16) Snowboard - slopestyle, Wanaka
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