The 18-year-old was an elite gymnast – she was the national champion for her age in the floor routine three years in a row – but had not contemplated taking to the slopes until last year.

“I used to watch aerial skiing and thought it would be cool to have a go at, but I never knew I would be doing it one day,” she said.

“If you are good at gymnastics but not the best by the time you are 16, you can get recruited for aerial skiing ... that’s what happend to me.

“It’s easier to teach a gymnast to be an aerial

skier than to convert someone from another

sport.”

Casey now has her sights set on competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.

“It’s been exciting to watch the Australian team at the Olympics and I would love to achieve what they have and compete in 2014,” she said.