Aussie Teen Skier Wins X-Games Silver on Debut

Indra Brown doesn't do small beginnings. The 15-year-old Australian just won silver at the X-Games in Aspen on her very first try, competing against the world's best freestyle skiers in the superpipe event.

Fresh off being named to Australia's Winter Olympics team for Milan Cortina, Brown proved her three World Cup podium finishes weren't beginner's luck. She was the youngest competitor at this year's X-Games, but you wouldn't know it from watching her performance.

Despite heavy snow slowing down the halfpipe, Brown opened with an impressive 80.00 score that put her in fourth place. Her run included flawless back-to-back 900s, followed by a 720, back-to-back switch 360s, and a spectacular alley-oop finish that had the crowd cheering.

Then she did what champions do. Brown improved her second run to 88.33, jumping into second place, and boosted her final score to 90.00 even with the pressure of going last.

Teen Skier Indra Brown Wins X-Games Silver on First Try

Britain's reigning world champion Zoe Atkin took gold with 94.66, while Canada's Cassie Sharpe claimed bronze at 33 years old. That means Brown stood between two of the sport's most accomplished athletes, holding her own with grace and skill.

Why This Inspires

Two-time X-Games gold medalist Maggie Voisin summed up what everyone was thinking during commentary: "She's like, I have three World Cup podiums, I now have an X-Games podium. Why not an Olympic medal?"

Australia's Olympic chef de mission Alissa Camplin-Warner hopes Brown will enjoy the Olympic experience without too much pressure. But the teenager's performances speak for themselves, building momentum with each competition.

Fellow Australian Tess Coady also impressed at the X-Games, finishing fourth in snowboard slopestyle. The Olympic bronze medalist from Beijing will join Brown at the Milan Cortina Games next month, competing in both slopestyle and big air.

Brown's journey from Melbourne to the X-Games podium shows what happens when young talent meets fearless determination, and the Olympic stage is waiting to see what she'll do next.