pros around the terrain park, pretending I was with them. It was crazy... maybe that was the inspiration. I entered some comps at Perisher when I was 12 and did quite well. I won my first National Title at 14 for Halfpipe and took a series of 1sts in the USA in 2017 and 2018. What do you love most about skiing? Freedom. Being in nature. Every day is different. Sliding fast and hitting jumps. That is like nothing else. What’s the hardest part? New Tricks. I am in Japan right now and working on Double Cork 1080s. It is into an Airbag but it is completely terrifying. Actually so scary when I first try something new my knees are shaking, so spinning three times with a double cork to my feet with shaking knees is not easy. After the first try, it gets easier. Essentially, I crash about 20 times on a new trick before I land it 100%, so the idea of something new is always a grind. But that’s the sport. Got to push through.
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JULY 2015
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COASTAL KIDS MAKING WAVES IN THE MOUNTAINS Helensburgh | Otford | Darkes Forest | Stanwell Tops | Stanwell Park | Coalcliff
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“Just Land. I used to freak about this, now I have realised, upside-down, sideways, right side up, it’s all the same.”
25/06/2015 8:47 am
When you’re upside-down midair over the snow, what are you thinking? Just Land. I used to freak about this, now I have realised, upside-down, sideways, right side up, it’s all the same. We are pretty good as humans at wanting to survive, so we usually fall on our feet. I have landed on my head a few times. That is good motivation not to do it again. Somehow, I find my feet. What are your parents thinking? Dad takes photos when I compete, he says watching through a lens makes it seem less real, although he takes horrible photos of me in comps, I assume the camera is shaking as they are usually of just snow without me in the shot. He takes perfect photos of my friends, haha (no nerves). Mum is so brave, I always feel so strong and powerful when mum is around. She makes me feel like I can do it... the thing that scares me most, mum is pretty good at making me feel like it will be OK. It almost always is. Where have you travelled to this year and what achievements are you most proud of? I have travelled and travelled for the last 12 months to way too many places. Seems crazy, I try not to tell people as I sound like a snotty-nosed rich kid skier. The reality is quite different, although I do get a snotty nose from time to time, we are far from rich and we all battle to make ends meet and make this work. I have awesome sponsors and good support for travel from scholarships. Now I have set the scene, I have been to Utah, Colorado, California, USA, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden,
JULY / 2508 / 11