An Olympic debut wasn’t even on her radar a year ago. But Brown has had an exceptional year.
“I just kind of thought, OK, she’s super passionate about what she’s doing, and she’s just really enjoying herself,” Anne says.
‘To come away with a bronze was definitely unexpected and super exciting.’
Indra Brown on her impressive World Cup results
“For her, it’s a challenge against herself, not so much against her competition … I think it’s just been quite organic in terms of the progression and the improvement [she’s] been making.
“And then the North American season that we’ve just had, was probably when I was like, OK, she’s not bad, she’s doing OK.”
Brown is definitely doing OK. The Melbourne teenager has stunned in her short time on the World Cup circuit, and has two more competitions – in Calgary and Aspen – before Olympic selections are finalised.
Loading
Competitors typically qualify in three freestyle skiing disciplines – big air, slopestyle and halfpipe – but Brown is only competing in the halfpipe event for her first season.
“I’d love to do all three events, but just for my first year on the circuit, it can be pretty chaotic travelling around and going to all the competitions that you need to qualify for,” she says.
“So, for my first one, I’m just going to focus on halfpipe and just get lots of experience in it, so I’m not flustered. And then hopefully, after this Olympics, I’ll be able to go into the three disciplines with some more experience and navigate it better.”
Focusing on one discipline has been working for Brown, who was able to salvage silver at Copper Mountain despite crashing on her second run in the final.
Brown’s secret weapon is the “cork 9”, a mirror trick that shows you can spin both left and right.
Indra Brown crashes in one of her runs in the half pipe final.Credit: Getty Images
After launching herself up the wall of the halfpipe, Brown then performs two and a half rotations, which means she lands facing backwards. She then rides up the next wall backwards, before doing the same again but spinning the opposite direction.
The trick is technically difficult, which means it scores well if executed properly.
When judges are marking a run, they score skiers based on amplitude (height above the halfpipe), difficulty, execution, variety and progression.
Skiers are in the halfpipe for about 30 seconds per run and do six tricks – three on each wall.
It’s always daunting trying a new trick for the first time, says Brown, but there are safety nets to help test them before you get into the halfpipe.
“I remember most of my first tries and definitely the nerves going into and just committing,” she says. “That’s always I feel is the scariest part for me, just getting over that mental factor or just committing to something that’s unknown.
“There are some airbag facilities [to train]. It’s a fake snow in-run, made of these plastic bristles, and then it’s a take-off into an airbag. It’s like a blown-up bouncy castle, so we’re able to safely try new tricks and not hurt ourselves.”
Loading
However daunting Brown finds it, her mum is even more anxious.
“The wall of the halfpipe is 7.2 metres, and then when they air out of it, depending on what amplitude they get, they add a number of extra feet,” Anne says.
“[It’s] quite frightening. I love watching all the kids compete in whatever sports they do, but I do admit watching them in the halfpipe does scare me quite a bit.”
The Winter Olympic Games will be broadcast on the 9Network, 9Now and Stan Sport.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
