Can Ski Bumps: Meet The Amazing Britt Cox
Her beloved Falls Creek opens tomorrow a week ahead of schedule so what better time to meet the amazing Britt Cox, 4 times Winter Olympian, Crystal Globe World Cup Champion, mentor and surely the happiest athlete Australia has ever had. Our Victorian Editor & Falls Creek instructor Trent Abberfield caught up with Britt for the ‘Kicking Ass’ series in the new issue of Snow Action at newsagents now.
Thanks to Chris Hocking & OWIA for the awesome shots.
“Can’t ski bumps, can’t ski” Glenn Plake used to say.
After 4 Olympics, countless World Cups, including an almost unbeatable Crystal Globe and World Championship winning season, Britt Cox sure can. Now a mentor for up and comers, she is still not done competing yet herself.
I don’t know what you were doing when you were 15. I know what I was not doing: I was not entering my first Moguls World Cup event in Deer Valley and being one of the top 30 to qualify for the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. Britt Cox was that 15-year-old, what a debut!
Where is she 12 years and 3 more Olympics later?
You’ve been to 4 Games, what’s your favourite and why?
Each was so different and the focus was different at each. Beijing was special for me, I was able to approach it with a broader perspective and appreciate the atmosphere for me as an athlete, but also for our amazing team.
Watching how each athlete worked as a part of that team and the family that our team has become, was just a special thrill for me.
How do you continue to find the motivation to keep excelling at Moguls?
I am passionate about what I just love doing every day, whether it is on the snow at Perisher at our winter training facility or jumping into the water to grow as an athlete and person and to help inspire others.
This all fuels my motivation to keep competing as an individual athlete.
The inevitable question, after 4 Olympics where to next?
I knew you were going to ask this. I have had some time off after the Games to consider this as well, I will look to compete next season, a great positive team culture and a culture of excellence keeps me motivated to continue.
What do you enjoy most about your role as a Mentor?
Helping others to achieve as I have achieved, to pay it forward to other athletes as my role models Alisa Camplin and Lydia Lassila did for me. To be kind and to be there for junior athletes.
We train all together, the young skiers and us elite athletes, they see how hard we work every day and get to talk to us. It’s a great honour to be able to watch the next Olympians grow. It’s also fun.
How do young skiers follow in your footsteps?
We have the best pathways across winter sports: Interschools in Vic and NSW; Team Buller Riders; Hotham Free Ski; as well as the Australian Winter Sports Academy in the Snowy Mountains. The Olympic Winter Institute and New South Wales Institute of Sport. We have amazing coaches across the sport and there are clear and recognised pathways to the World Cup and the Olympics. Start with the Interschools for great competition and friendly and supportive local clubs.
Get involved, give it a try.
What would you tell young athletes to help them succeed?
Motivation. You need a clear why behind every goal. You must set goals for yourself and understand the goals that your coaches are setting you.
During the Pandemic I had to learn to focus on the things
you can control, not the things that you can’t. It sounds simple but it’s not. You cant control the snow quality, or the lighting, but you control your fitness and readiness.
Set new goals all the time and make sure that they are achievable. Remember to have fun and be happy.
In 2017 you were almost unbeatable. 7 World Cup wins from 11, and the World Champs Gold to boot. How as that?
2017 was a dream season for me. I won the first World Cup of the season earning the yellow bib, and managed to hold onto it the entire season to win the Crystal Globe.
I had dreamt of being the best mogul skier in the world since I was a little kid, so having that reflected in the Globe was very satisfying and entirely joyous.
How are the knees holding up?
The most common question I get asked on chairlifts around the world has to be “How are your knees?”
To be honest, the impact of mogul skiing is mostly felt in the back. Every mogul skier will experience what we call “mogul back”, which is where the erector spinae muscles become very sore the first few days back in the bumps after a break.
It’s part of the sport and a major reason why it’s important to stay strong and fit.
Some Falls mogul skiers we know are insanely good tree skiers. Will you be doing some of that when you stop competing?
I am so excited to get back up to Falls Creek for a ski this winter. My favourite run is, and always will be, the Summit.
But I do love ripping through the trees in the Maze after a fresh dump of snow.
Good luck trying to keep up we say..
Britt is a Falls Creek skier like me, and I see her happy smiling face on the poster holding aloft that World Champions Crystal Globe from 2017 every day I drive up the hill. – Trent Abberfield
To find out more about Mogul Skiing contact
https://www.interschools.com.au/
OWIA do a great job keeping athlete’s profiles up to date – check on your favourites
