Wanaka freeskiers Byron Wells, Mikey Austin and Janina Kuzma have been awarded top-five world rankings by the Association of Freeski Professionals (AFP).
The first world ranking list for 2010-11 was released this week, placing Wells third in men's halfpipe and fifth in slopestyle, Austin third in women's halfpipe and fifth in slopestyle and Kuzma sharing fourth in halfpipe with Hannah Haupt (US).
The rankings were decided on results from the 2010 New Zealand Freeski Open and the 2010 FIS Freestyle and Snowboard Junior World Championship.
Snow Sports New Zealand chief executive Ross Palmer said the world rankings may change during the northern hemisphere season but it was "great to see that high-level international events in New Zealand give Kiwi athletes a head start".
Other New Zealanders to be given an AFP world ranking were: Men's halfpipe - Beau James Wells, 13 equal; Ryan Read, 26; Raphael Beazley, 27.
Men's slopestyle - Taylor King, 14; Beau James Wells, 15; Matt Soundy, 22; Trent Francis, 25.
Women's halfpipe - Hannah James, 12 equal.
