Checking in with Byron Wells

Byron Wells is helping lead the charge of next generation superpipe athletes. At least he was until an ill-timed knee injury took him out of the running this season. We caught up with Byron to see how the Kiwi has been spending his down time and when we might see him back on the ol' horse.

DOES IT FEEL WEIRD TO BE A WORLD APART, WHILE THE REST OF THE SKI INDUSTRY IS, YOU KNOW, SKIING? Yeah, it's crazy not being there. Definitely feels like I'm missing something. I talk to the boys every now and then but it still isn't quite the same.

HOW'S SUMMER DOWN IN NEW ZEALAND? Summer is epic. The last summer I had I was 10 years old. Kinda forgot how pimp they are! It's been one for the books down here. Only rained a few times all summer.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU'VE MISSED A NORTH AMERICAN WINTER… OR THE MAJORITY OF IT AT LEAST? I have been coming to the States for the past seven years and had a season in Italy before that. It has been a while so I'm keeping myself busy!

Winter of Wells ep. 21. Byron skis with Mike Riddle at Park City.

Byron competing at Winter X Games Europe in 2011

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE COMP SCENE? WHO IS SKIING THE BEST RIGHT NOW? Far out, everyone is skiing so well. You know I'm going to say Jos' [Wells] is killing it. Torin [Yater-Wallace] has be slaying everything and of course [Tom] Wallisch is on one!

ANY PREDICTIONS FOR THIS WEEKEND'S DEW TOUR? HOW ABOUT RED BULL COLD RUSH? Ooo, I think Elias [Ambühl] will pull it out of the bag. I hope Jos' does well. But you know Kevin [Rolland] might just jump in there again! Cold Rush… going to have to say Sean [Pettit] will win it with a 96.5. Just sayin'.

YOU'VE PROBABLY CHECKED YOUR FAIR SHARE OF MOVIES SINCE YOUR INJURY, GOT ANY GOOD ONES? I watched 13 Assassins, that's a pimp movie. It's in Japanese though. And I'm off to watch War Horse soon. Quite pumped for that one. But what's getting me going lately is Sons Of Anarchy.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST THING YOU MISS SINCE BEING INJURED? The ability to do everything! I haven't been able to go hunting yet. I only just got cleared to wake surf, can't ski. Its been a big eye opener for me to picture life without skiing. Its crazy!

AND WHAT'S THE SILVER LINING TO BEING INJURED? THE BEST THING YOU'VE DONE WITH YOUR EXTRA TIME? Would have to be the flying. As I said I haven't been able to do much, but to be able to get my heart and adrenaline pumping like it does when I ski is unreal and I look forward to it every day. Plus flying a heli is pretty epic in itself. Can't wait to take homies for a spin!

Byron having a little fun before WSI Slopestyle in 2011