Indra Brown Becomes Youngest Australian to Win World Cup Freeski Halfpipe Gold
Fifteen-year-old Indra Brown from Melbourne, Australia, has claimed her first World Cup freeski halfpipe gold medal in Calgary, Canada. This notable achievement came during only her third World Cup start, following a bronze medal at Secret Garden in China and a silver at Copper Mountain in the US. Brown's victory makes her the youngest Australian ever to win a World Cup event in the sport.
At the Calgary competition, Brown led after the first run with a score of 85.20, narrowly ahead of Zhang Kexin of China, who scored 84.20, and Svea Irving, who secured the bronze with 83.20. Brown's performance also matched the FIS Freeski World Cup record previously set by Jennie-Lee Burmansson in the 2017–18 season.
Currently, Brown tops the World Cup standings with 240 points, holding a 55-point lead over Zhang Kexin. She is the only Australian athlete with more than two podium finishes in freeski halfpipe World Cup events, surpassing compatriots Davina Williams and Amy Sheehan, who each have two podiums.
Final selections for the Australian Olympic team for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy are expected following the Aspen Snowmass World Cup scheduled for January 8–10.
