The young Aussie Olympian at heart of a winter sports explosion

Indra Brown has had a whirlwind year. With a debut Olympics behind her and a World Cup season done and dusted, the 16-year-old is about to become the face of winter sports′ new era moment.

After a world-first draft of 180 athletes, 40 were chosen to join the newest X Games League with Brown joining XC Park City. She also represented Team APAC at the NZ World Tour League.

Out in Cadrona, Brown finished third in the women’s freeski, banking five points for her team.

For a traditionally individualised sport, free skiing is now trialling a format for athletes to band together in a competitive medium, introducing a team element to dramatically shift the sport’s landscape.

Now, more rides on athletes showcasing technical prowess and creative flair rather than simply executing the dizzying five-twist aerials fans are accustomed to seeing at the Olympics.

ESPN has already joined in a world-first broadcast deal for snow sports.

“I think it’s just so exciting to see these opportunities and new leagues being created for freestyle skiing and snowboarding...allowing growth (for athletes) in the industry and sport,” Brown said exclusively to nine.com.au.

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“I think is so amazing and incredible for everyone that’s involved in it, so I think it’s only going to go up from there.”

This evolution is spearheaded by initiatives like The Snow League, an idea born from snowboarding icon Shaun White.

In his retirement, White created this team-event competition to capture a more mainstream broadcast audience for winter sports.

Featuring four athletes per team and a head-to-head semi-final to final format, the league follows the snow from Aspen Snowmass to LAAX in Switzerland.

“I think it’s definitely going to push athletes and I especially into just to see the sport in a different lens from not just doing the biggest trick to just showing style, creativity and amplitude, which I think also really impresses just people watching down at the bottom of the half pipe, you know?” she said.

“I think a lot of people don’t know the tricks we’re doing, but to dial it back a little and show where the origins of our sport came from.

“Why it started to get so popular from how impressive it is and incredible it is to be able to watch. I think it’s just amazing for us to be forced almost in a sense to really dial it back and see what we can do and how much we can enjoy it.”

The gamification of skiing and snowboarding is a genuine game-changer for athletes, as the leagues are poised to draw larger global audiences and increase revenue at events worldwide.

“I think being in a sport that is seen as so individual, to be able to come together and get that team aspect and feel I think is so amazing for us athletes,” said Brown.

“I think it only brings out the best of us and our best skiing, and it can only make us want to strive to be the best version of ourselves...not want to upset our teammates, in that sense.

“It’s really exciting for us to be able to get that teamwork aspect and I think it’s also going to bring more viewership to the sport because it’s such a cool and different way of doing the sport.”

“I think people just see it as such an individualised (sport)…So I think it can only be better for the sport and athletes.”

At 16, Brown is coming off a massive breakout season.

With a fifth-place finish at the Winter Olympics, multiple X Games and World Cup podiums and her selection to represent Australia in two new team leagues, the sport is heavily backing her as one of its newest, and youngest, stars.

“Being able to have already done full World Cup season, gone to the Olympics and just gained so much experience and maturity from all of it. I think I’m coming into it in a different lens of just trusting my skiing and not putting any pressure on myself,” she said.

“The result isn’t what I’m focusing on, I’m really trying to just focus on my skiing and landing runs and enjoying myself while doing it because that’s where I find I am able to get the best outcomes from the day.

“The Olympics, just to have that team around me to put on the green and gold…that was such an incredible, special moment to have, especially at my age, and now to only be able to learn and grow from it and just cherish those moments and be excited for what’s next.”

Brown belongs to a young, vibrant Australian winter sports team packed with exciting names like Valentino Guseli and Jakara Anthony - athletes who have already reached the pinnacle of their sports and serve as vital “role models” for the next generation.

“With Australia seen as maybe more of a summer sports country, to have such a great community and theme of winter sports athletes that just brings everyone up and together we have such a great time.”

“I definitely feel welcomed in with warm arms, so it’s amazing to just have maybe the older athletes to just aspire up to and really learn from and just watch what they’ve done in their careers and just try to do as much like them because they’re just such great role models.”