Industry News
Thredbo Ski Resort, Australia, is thrilled to announce that Australian pro snowboarder and Olympic medalist Scotty James has come on board as its newest ambassador. The best halfpipe rider in the world currently with both silver and bronze Olympic medals, Scotty James is a four-time Winter Olympian, a three-time world champion, a nine-time X Games medalist and served as Australia’s flag bearer at the 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Scotty grew up competing in Thredbo and has returned to visit, ride and compete many times since. Now coming on board as the resort’s newest ambassador, Scotty James and Thredbo are joining forces to support the development of the next generation of Australian snowsport athletes.
As part of his new ambassadorship, Scotty James has personally donated a mini pipe cutter to the community, enabling Thredbo to build the all-new 13ft MOOKi’s Mini Pipe this winter and for many seasons to come. Located in Thredbo’s Cruiser area, MOOKi’s Mini Pipe will provide skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to have fun and progress their skills. 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 – an ethos he hopes MOOKi’s Mini Pipe at Thredbo will represent for current and future snowsport athletes.
“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. 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.”
— Scotty James
Thredbo General Manager, Stuart Diver said that he is proud to have Scotty on Team Thredbo. “Supporting Australian athletes and our ambassadors like Scotty James to train on home snow is a huge achievement. Scotty is a front-runner for an Olympic gold medal in 2026 and we’re honoured to be part of his journey.”
“He has donated a 13ft Mini Pipe to our community so the partnership is already incredibly mutually beneficial. We thank Scotty for his generous donation and look forward to welcoming him to Thredbo as an official ambassador this winter.”
— Stuart Diver
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.
