We thought this day would never come, and yet, here we are. Mark the date down in your diary as history will be made when Thredbo, together with Scotty James and the Stomping Ground build Australia’s first ever 22ft Winter Halfpipe for athletes Olympic Training.
This is huge. It means our best halfpipe riders, both Scotty James and fellow Thredbo Ambassador Valentino Guseli, will be able to train right here, at home, in Australia. Slopestyle and Big Air riders will also have a 65ft jump to train on at a world-class training facility on the mountain at Thredbo.
But wait, there’s more.
Olympic silver and bronze medalist, and best halfpipe rider in the world, Scotty James, is not only Thredbo’s newest ambassador but he’s also donated a 13ft MOOKi’s Mini Pipe to the snow community. The four-time Winter Olympian, three-time FIS World Champion and nine-time X Games medalist has given Thredbo a mini-pipe cutter to help the next generation of riders hone their skills in Thredbo’s Cruiser area.
The name MOOKi holds special significance for Scotty, as MOOKi was Scotty’s childhood nickname and has evolved into a character that symbolizes always shooting for the moon and dreaming big.
“As I join Thredbo as an ambassador, I’m very excited to be part of a partnership that not only supports my journey toward the 2026 Olympics but also invests in the future of snowsports in Australia,” said Scotty James.
“Through the development of both the full size and mini pipe, our goal is to create opportunities for the next generation of athletes to train, thrive and excel. It’s really special for me to be helping contribute to the growth of the sport right here in Thredbo where I grew up competing. It’s a full circle moment.”
To support athlete development ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Thredbo is working with the Stomping Grounds Project to build a world-class on-snow training facility. Set to be the new training ground for athletes including Thredbo ambassadors Scotty James, Valentino Guseli, Tess Coady, Abi Harrigan and more, Thredbo is proud to enable Australians to train for the Olympics in their backyard.
Situated at the top of the Cruiser area from August through to mid-September, the new facility will feature Australia’s first-ever 22ft winter halfpipe for Olympic training during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter snow season.
For the second year running, the facility will also feature a 65ft jump for athletes to train on. Last winter, this jump attracted an elite rider lineup including Mark McMorris, Anna Gasser, Clemens Millauer and the national teams from Australia, the United States, Canada, Austria, Japan and China.
