Teenage sensation Indra Brown continued her outstanding debut World Cup season with a fourth-place finish in Aspen, USA, just missing the podium by 3.75 points, but retaining the coveted yellow bib and her lead at the top of the standings.
 
In qualifying, Brown opened with 79.75 points before improving to 86.75 in her second run, advancing to her fourth consecutive World Cup final.
 
Under sunny skies, Brown opened the best-of-two-run final with a strong 85 point performance. In her second run, she looked set for a big score, but sat down on a landing late in the run, with her score from the first run putting her in fourth place.
 
Victory went to Fanghui Li of China with 93 points, followed by Zoe Atkin of Great Britain on 92.75, and Kexin Zhang also of China in third with 88.75.
 
With one World Cup event remaining in Silvaplana, Switzerland, on March 29, Brown leads the standings on 290 points, ahead of Atkin on 260 and Zhang  with 245.
 
“I was super happy, didn’t land my second run which I would have loved to, but that’s how the sport goes,” said the 15-year-old Victorian secondary school student..
 
“I am so happy my family were here, and everyone brought such great stoke at the bottom of the halfpipe.
 
“The first hit was a little slow, starting your run without maximum speed doesn’t help for the rest of the run, but everyone was in the same boat.”
 
Next for Brown will be her X-Games debut in Aspen on January 23.
 
“We have X-Games in two weeks, which I am super excited for. I am taking it week by week, not rush anything or get ahead of myself, taking the steps I need to take to get there and just enjoy the process.”
 
The next event for Brown will be the X-Games, also in Aspen on January 23, where she will make her X-Games debut.

Melbourne teenager Indra Brown has continued her incredible World Cup debut halfpipe season with her first gold medal performance in Calgary, Canada. Brown now boasts three consecutive podium finishes since her debut in early December, making it one of the most impressive starts to a career at her age in winter sports history.
 
Brown claimed bronze on debut in China in early December, followed by silver in the USA before Christmas, and now gold in Canada. Her victory equals a record set by Sweden’s Jennie-Lee Burmansson during the 2017–2018 season, when Burmansson, also 15 at the time, opened her World Cup slopestyle career with a second, first, and third-place finish.
 
Brown also made history for Australia becoming the first Australian skier to claim three Freeski Halfpipe World Cup podiums, surpassing Davina Williams and Amy Sheehan, who both had two.
 
In a best-of-two-run final under light snow and flat light conditions, Brown opened strongly with a score of 85.20 points that no skier was able to match.
 
Her podium run included a leftside 900 safety grab, rightside 900 safety grab, leftside 720 safety grab, switch rightside 540, switch leftside 360 mute grab and finished with an alley-oop 360 japan grab.
 
China’s Kexin Zhang claimed silver with 84.20 points, while American Svea Irving took bronze on 83.20.
 
Brown commented after the event:
 
“The visibility in qualifying was really challenging, so I dialled things back a bit just to do enough to make finals, without taking too many risks. The conditions for finals were great, so I was super happy to ski how I did.
 
“Calgary is so special to me, this is where I first tried skiing halfpipe, and I have the most wonderful friends here. The atmosphere in Calgary is amazing, and so fun to embrace this whole snow rodeo theme here.”
 
“My coach Jaime Melton is such a legend, he's been a huge support in all areas and especially making sure I don't focus on the result, but instead focus on visualising and executing my runs how I want to execute them.
 
This start to my World Cup career has been such a thrill, self-belief is really important in helping me execute my runs, drawing on all the hard work and preparation I put in, helps me give the confidence I need to ski how I hope to.
 
“The pipe is always built so well in Aspen, and so fun to ski, and I can’t wait to get back competing and having a great time with such an amazing group of athletes.”
 
The victory sees Brown move into first place on the World Cup standings with 240 points, ahead of Zhang (185) and Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin (180), who did not compete in Calgary.
 
Two World Cup halfpipe events remain this season: Aspen, USA, on January 10, and the World Cup Final in Silvaplana, Switzerland, on March 29, following the Olympics.

TOP - Indra Brown with men's event winner Nick Goepper of the USA 
BOTTOM - Indra Brown flying high in the Calgary Halfpipe
© FIS/Preston Peterson

15-year-old Indra Brown has continued her remarkable World Cup debut, securing back-to-back medals with a silver medal in the freeski halfpipe at Copper Mountain, USA. The result improves on her bronze medal from last week’s debut in China and confirms her status as the youngest Aussie to land on a winter sports world Cup podium.
 
In a best-of-two-run final under tricky flat light at the Colorado resort, Brown opened strongly with a score of 80 points, placing her in second position. She looked set to improve in her final run but crashed while attempting a new trick on the last jump, holding on to the silver medal.
 
Her podium run included a leftside 900, rightside 900, leftside 720, switch rightside 540, switch leftside 720 and finished with an alley-oop, with grabs in all but one jump.
 
The gold medal went to Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin with 89.25 points, while China’s Kexin Chang claimed bronze on 77.50 points.
 
“Fortunately, I was able to stay calm and positive, trust my training and remind myself to have fun out there,” said the Melbourne high school student.
 
“The halfpipe shape was definitely different to China, so it took me a while to adapt, but really stoked I was able to put it together today.
 
“That slam definitely gave me a fright today, thankfully I'm all ok and the bodies in good shape.
 
“I have a few more days here in Copper, before a few days off for Christmas, where we're driving up to Revelstoke to ski some powder with family and some great friends. Then we are off to Calgary and then Aspen for the next World Cups.
 
“No plans have changed in my preparation, but there are loads of things I want to work on, so hopefully I can keep progressing.”
 
Brown now sits second in the World Cup standings with 140 points, trailing Atkin (180) and ahead of Chang (105).
 
Her next event will be the Calgary World Cup on January 3, as she looks to continue her incredible start to the season.

Teenage sensation Indra Brown has delivered a historic debut performance for Australian winter sports, claiming a bronze medal in the freeski halfpipe at Secret Garden, China. At just 15 years of age, Brown becomes the youngest Australian ever to secure a World Cup podium finish.
 
Competing at the 2022 Olympic Games venue e, Brown impressed from the outset, qualifying for her first World Cup final in fourth place with a score of 85 points.
 
In challenging winter conditions during the best-of-two-run final, the Melbourne high school student displayed composure beyond her years, producing two strong performances. Her opening run earned 82 points, securing third place and cementing her place in the history books.
 
Brown sets the record at 15 years and 10 months, eclipsing snowboarders Torah Bright and Valentino Guseli who both podiumed at age 16 years and 11 months.
 
Her podium run included a leftside 900, rightside 900, leftside 720, switch rightside 540, switch leftside 360 and finished with an alley-oop 360 with grabs in each jump.
 
The gold medal went to Chinese superstar  2022 Olympic champion Eileen Gu with a score of 91.75, while Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin claimed silver with 90.25 points.
 
“To podium in my first World Cup is an incredible feeling, especially to be able to share it with my idols” said Brown.
 
“I was able to keep my composure in the tough conditions today by staying calm and remind myself of what I need to do to land my run.
 
“It's a dream come true to share the podium with such incredible athletes and it's a moment I'll never forget
 
“The support from home has been amazing, I've loved staying connected with everyone and seeing all the messages from friends, family and supporters.
 
“My next event is the Copper Mountain World Cup in Colorado starting in a few days.”