Is there anything cooler that watching the next generation of champions start their journey?
This weekend, Scotty James backed up his victory at the Banked Slalom and hosted the first-ever MOOKi’s Mini Pipe Cup – a jam format kids event created to support the development of the next generation of aspiring Australian athletes.
150 kids aged 7 – 17 took the opportunity to spend the day riding with Scotty in the newly built MOOKi’s 13 foot Mini Pipe. As part of his new signing as Thredbo Ambassador, Scotty also generously donated a mini pipe cutter to Thredbo, enabling the resort to build the all-new mini ditch in the Cruiser area, now officially open to the public.
To further support the future stars of Australian snowboarding, Scotty launched a brand-new MOOKi’s Mission Grant for kids at the event. Stoking out to two young riders who showed remarkable determination, effort, dedication and genuine passion for the sport, these massive prize grants included $1,250 cash and a 2025 Thredbo Season Pass and were awarded to up and coming rippers Hayden Jacobs and Airish George.
By donating the mini pipe cutter, hosting this new event and launching the new grants, Scotty says he is working with Thredbo to create opportunities for the next generation of Australian 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,” said Scotty James.
In addition to the 13ft Mini Pipe, Thredbo also opened Australia’s first-ever 22ft Halfpipe for Olympic training during a Southern Hemisphere winter snow season today.
Supporting athlete development ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Thredbo built this new Halfpipe as part of a world-class on-snow training facility with The Stomping Grounds Project. Enabling Australians to train for the Olympics in their backyard, this new training ground will host a huge lineup of elite snowsport athletes over the next month.
One of these athletes includes Scotty, who will spend the next three weeks training in the halfpipe and continuing his work as an ambassador inspiring next generation.
We love seeing Scotty investing in junior snowboarding, great things ahead!
