Australia's winter Olympians make a splash with ski jump pool
RESENDING AMENDING SCRIPT REMOVING REFERENCE IN SECOND PARAGRAPH TO FACILITY BEING A WORLD FIRST
VIDEO SHOWS: WINTER ATHLETES PERFORMING JUMPS INTO SWIMMING POOL AT NEW FACILITY OPENED IN BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA. SOUNDBITES FROM FREESTYLE SKIER DANIELLE SCOTT
SHOWS: BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (OCTOBER 1, 2020) (AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE - EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SKIING DOWN JUMP, PERFORMING AERIALS AND LANDING IN SWIMMING POOL (FIRST SHOT IS MUTE)
2. POINT OF VIEW SHOT OF ABBEY WILLCOX PERFORMING JUMP
3. SLOW MOTION SET UP SHOT OF DANIELLE SCOTT
4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN FREESTYLE SKIER, DANIELLE SCOTT, SAYING:
"So for the development of the sport in Australia, this is huge. To be able to have kids filtering through, trying this sport and seeing what it is all about, is going to bring so much more success because we work at the mercy of other countries and to send kids overseas is just too much, so I am pretty excited for those future generations."
5. WHITE FLASH
6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN FREESTYLE SKIER, DANIELLE SCOTT, SAYING:
"So this water absolutely is pretty key in that we have taken all bits and pieces from other facilities around the world and put them together to find that perfect balance. So I think we are pretty happy with it so far and I can't wait to get off the bigger jumps to test them out."
7. WHITE FLASH
8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN FREESTYLE SKIER, DANIELLE SCOTT, SAYING:
"So for my preparation personally, this facility is huge. I am coming back from a knee injury which gives me the flexibility to train at any point in time that I need to. With Covid as well, our schedule is all over the place, so it is allowing us to focus on the things at hand and put some good quality training time in."
9. VARIOUS OF ATHLETES PERFORMING JUMPS INTO POOL (MUTE) (TWO SHOTS)
10. ATHLETE JUMPING INTO POOL / FEMALE ATHLETE GETTING OUT
11. VARIOUS SLOW MOTION SHOTS OF ATHLETES PERFORMING JUMPS
BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (RECENT) (AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE - EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
12. POV SHOT DANIELLE SCOTT
13. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS SHOWING JUMP FACILITY (THREE SHOTS) (MUTE)
STORY: Australia's sports organisers haven't let a a lack of snow in the country hamper preparations for Beijing 2022, after building a ski jump where freestyle skiers land in a swimming pool.
The $6.5 million (AUD) project in Brisbane is a year-round outdoor aerial facility and a collaboration between the Australian Government through Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Queensland Government, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA).
The 'Flying Kangaroos' aerial ski team members Danielle Scott, Abbey Willcox, Gabi Ash and Airleigh Frigo were the first to trial the facility, beginning this week with single and basic double somersaults. They will progress to larger jumps and more complex skills throughout the testing phase.
From the top of the 37 metre high facility, athletes can reach maximum speeds of over 70kmh and launch up to 17 metres above the water, trialling and perfecting aerial manoeuvres in the safety of the water-landing before transferring them to the snow.
Australia does have some outdoor skiing areas in New South Wales, but many of its athletes have to travel abroad to train, and the new facility means they now won't have to do so.
(Production: Iain Axon)
