Olympic slopes

savvy. Porteous’ signing with an energy drink conglomerate and Wells courting a portfolio of sponsors are examples.

At 27, Wells has followed the snow for what he describes as “over 10 years” and earned a successful living.

“It comes down to people enjoying what you do and wanting to watch what you do.

“Being a professional sportsperson you have to conduct yourself a certain way, and social media plays such a big role these days.

“With sponsors you tend to have year-long endorsements. That means wearing their product on the hill, having their logo in place during interviews, and posting up photos in their gear.

“It’s a lot more than just doing a triple cork 1440.”

Wells knows skiing tends to be “a young person’s game” and accepts that could mean a limited shelf life.

“Tricks get harder because more people can perfect them. It’s human instinct to keep progressing.”

Both athletes grew up requiring a mixture of correspondence and home-schooling.

“It’s hard being on the road as a top athlete and try to finish NCEA,” Wells says. “But if you’re a smart man, and I know Nico is, you accept skiing’s not going to last forever. As long as you have good parents around to instil that, you’ll get it done.”

The pair have tested out Games’ Bokwang snow park.

Porteous finished eighth at a qualification event six months ago and Wells finished third at a World Cup event in February 2016.

“The slopestyle course was amazing, really creative and as long as that stays top notch we can compete to the best of our ability.

“You just have to be supremely confident when you drop in. Your job as an athlete is to make the judge’s job as easy as possible.”

As well as beating your brothers — and the world — in the process. the