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
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
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