WATER JUMP GRAND PRIX COMING TO BRISBANE

The inaugural FIS Freestyle Ski Summer Grand Prix Series is currently underway, with World Cup aerial skiers turning what is usually their off-season training into a summer world class competition.

The first two rounds of the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski Summer Grand Prix Series were held in Mettmenstetten, Switzerland and Utah, USA over the past two weekends.

The third and final event of the series is coming downunder to Brisbane's Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Center at Sleeman Sports Complex on Saturday 9 September, where individual medals will be up for grabs at the 2023 Snow Australia Water Jump Grand Prix, before the overall Series Champions are crowned.

It is the first time in history that the Olympic training facility in Queensland will be used to host an international FIS event, with almost 20 athletes from Australia, Switzerland, Ukraine and America set to compete.

The women’s event will be headlined by three-time Australian Winter Olympians Laura Peel and Danielle Scott. Peel has competed in the other two Grand Prix events, securing two silver medals and is a hot favourite for the overall women’s series title if her fine form continues.

Dual World Champion Peel said she is thrilled to have her first opportunity to compete on Australian soil and hopes this event is only the beginning for bringing more aerial skiing to Australia.

“I started competing in aerials in 2010, so it’s crazy to think I’ve never competed at home before,” she said.

“So much of our training is done on the water ramp, it gives us another opportunity to showcase our skills, and to share the sport we love so much with a different audience.

“I’m really excited to compete in Australia and also to share our amazing facilities with other teams. I think they’re going to love training and competing at the Geoff Henke Water Ramp and I hope we’ll see more and more teams in the future.

“I would love to see an on snow World Cup followed by a Water Ramp event in Australia (or vice versa) one day! That’s something pretty special that could only be done in Australia.”

In the men’s event, 2023 Men’s Aerials World Champion Noé Roth (SUI) will be one to watch, coming into the Series final with a gold medal from his home event in Mettmenstetten.

Fans are invited to attend the 2023 Snow Australia Water Jump Grand Prix in Brisbane, with FREE tickets to watch all the action.

Gates open at 12.30pm on Saturday 9 September, with finals from 1pm.

What can fans expect to see when they head to the Sleeman Sports Complex? Peel says to expect athletes taking their aerial maneuvers to a whole new level!

“Aerials is a spectacular sport to watch and in a water ramp competition athletes are really going to be pushing the degree of difficulty as there’s a little bit more room for error and external factors such as weather have less of an impact,” she said.

“Audiences can expect to see some of the best athletes in the world performing some of the most difficult jumps ever seen before, and they can enjoy it all in shorts!”

While tickets are free, spectators must register their attendance HERE