By KELLIE SHEPPARD

AUSTRALIA’S first ever world champion moguls skier, Britt Cox, enjoyed a brief visit home to Mt Beauty in July, and got back on the bumps briefly at Falls Creek, before the beginning of a gruelling Olympic training camp in the lead up to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022.

“Normally we would be going to Whistler and Switzerland but this year we’re enjoying Australian snow, with water training in Brisbane before arriving in Beijing five days before the Games,” Britt said of the revised training schedule.

As Australia’s first moguls skiing world champion, rather than feeling pressured by expectation, Britt views all of her record–breaking achievements as an opportunity to provide a model for other young women to pursue their dreams.

“The one thing I most want to achieve is to leave a positive mark on the sport for other young girls to follow,” she said.

“I don’t want girls to feel pressured to be or do anything, I’m hoping that my story will help other young girls have control over shaping their own.”

Still a young woman herself, the 26 year old admits that lengthy periods away from home, living constantly in future tense and the physical demands of being an elite athlete take their toll.

“It is so important for me to be able to find balance,” Britt said.

“Being introduced to yoga was such an impactful experience that offered me deeper insight and understanding of myself as well as teaching me techniques that have helped me both on and off the slopes.”

Moguls runs only last 30 seconds.

In that short time frame, Britt’s mind and body are pushed to extreme limits.

“Moguls are all about moving in a way that feels counter–intuitive, you really do have to conquer mind over matter and have complete trust in yourself, in your body," she said.

“There is so much noise in your head before a run, the adrenaline is incredible, I love that feeling.

“But you have to be able to separate the noise from the doing and find a way to focus so that you can make strategic decisions with a calm mind and just be in the moment.

“My yoga practice helps me to achieve that.”

Cox also attributes yoga to helping her recovery from a bad crash in a World Cup event in China in 2019, where she lost consciousness and sustained injuries to her ribs and collarbone, requiring surgery and forcing her out of the remaining 2019/2020 World Cup season.

The adrenaline junkie in Britt is now aiming to perfect the top and bottom jump flips that she presented at this year’s World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where she finished seventh, along with a new trick that she is working on.

“Going into the last Olympics as the world number one, it was all outcome focussed,” she explained.

“Beijing is about nailing jumps and a new trick I’m excited to practise on the water in Brisbane.”

Chasing the dream to win Olympic gold keeps Britt motivated and committed, however, she knows that she can’t compete forever.

“As a kid, I never realised I could get hurt,” she said.

“The reality is my body won’t be able to do this forever, so I’m really just centred on enjoying the journey, process, achievements and each moment as they come.”

While at home in early July though, it was all about fun and remembering where she began.

“I couldn’t wait to join my Dad and brother on skis when I was six and spent the next few winters chasing my brother all over Falls Creek,” she said.

“When I can get home, my favourite places to ski up there are still the Summit, with it’s natural moguls down the front face, and for something a bit more challenging I love the ‘Maze’ after a fresh dump.”

The Beijing Winter Olympics are due to be held in February 2022.

They will be the fourth Games for Cox.

Britt Cox’s career so far

• At age 15, was Australia’s youngest Winter Olympian since 1960 when she debuted at 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

• Britt the first Australian woman to medal a Moguls World Cup in 2012 (bronze – Deer Valley, USA), repeated that result in Lake Placid in 2013.

• Placed 5th at 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia – highest ever placing by an Australian female mogul skier at the Olympics.

• In 2015 won bronze at the World Ski Championships – again a first for Australia.

• In 2016/2017 Moguls World Cup season, won gold in seven of 11 events and podiumed at two others. Won the women’s FIS Freestyle Skiing Crystal Globe, which is awarded to the freestyle skier who has accumulated the most points in any of the freestyle skiing disciplines (moguls, aerials, ski cross, slopestyle, halfpipe and big air).

• Two weeks after winning Crystal Globe, Cox became Australia’s first ever moguls skiing World Champion when she took out the title in Sierra Nevada, Spain in March 2017, making her one of Australia’s most successful winter athletes of all time.

• She was awarded the 2017 Snowsports Australia Athlete of the Year, shared with snowboard halfpipe World Champion Scotty James.

• Placed fifth at Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, in 2018.

• In 2018–2019 World Cup season, made finals in all but one event, with best result 8th in Calgary, Canada.

• Started 2019–2020 season in great form, winning a bronze medal at World Cup in Ruka, Finland.

• Bad crash at World Cup in Thaiwoo, China ended her season.

• Returned to competition at the opening World Cup of 2020–2021 season in Ruka, Finland, finishing in 11th place. Highlight of season was 7th place at World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Some things you may not know..

• Britt is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Communication (majoring in PR and Journalism).

• Her favourite food is Moreton Bay Bug, favourite music is Ziggy Alberts and favourite other sport to watch/do is surfing.