Meet Nicole Parks. At the age of 21, Nicole Parks made her Olympic debut in Sochi in 2014, competing in the Freestyle Skiing discipline of Moguls where she reached her goal of finishing in the top-20, ending the Games in 15th place. Nicole made her World Cup debut in 2010 and won her first Australian title in 2011.

We sat down with Nicole to learn more about the sport, and also her journey to Olympic success...

Tell us about your Olympic experience

My Olympic experience was everything I thought it would be. I went into the Olympics physically and mentally strong. I had no niggling injuries, felt at my strongest, was skiing to the best of my ability, and had a good grip on the nerves that were expected. I enjoyed every moment of it from competing alongside my amazing team mates, skiing a challenging course, experiencing the village, and the Russian culture. It was definitely worth all the hard work, all the sacrifices, up and downs, and training.

My Olympic experience has made me want to achieve more, progress further, and take on 2018 Winter Olympics.

Tell us how you got into the sport

My Father, Andrew Parks, was a brilliant skier back in the day and he loved to ski moguls, so Dad and Mum did their research and enrolled me in the Winter Sports Club Program when I was 7 years old. From there I participated in a couple of disciplines through the program, but after the first season I realised my love for mogul skiing. The following year I joined the season long mogul program through Winter Sports Club, trained very hard, and followed the pathway right through to the Australian National Team.

Winter Sports Club – what are some of the best memories you’ve got?

I have so many favourite memories from Perisher Winter Sports Club. Everything from free skiing to hiking the mogul course multiple times a day, to competing with some of my best friends, skiing on one ski, trampolining at the Skitube, digesting way too many lollies, jaw breakers and cordial snow cones, and making friends who to this day are still my best mates.

But I think my favourite memory that stands out would have to be the day Mathew Graham and I stayed back after a competition and tried 720’s and10’80s. The deal was, Mathew would do a 10’80 first, then I would attempt a 720. Matt and I both stomped our first attempts. I still remember the adrenaline going through my body, and the massive smiles we both had.

What are some of the most unexpected things involved with this sport?

One of the most unexpected things involved with mogul skiing is how strong our friendships are within the team, and the international mogul teams. Mogul skiing is an individual sport, and it’s everyman for themselves, but we are all there for each other, and all want each other to do their best. 

What goes through you’re in the lead up to a competition?

I have a routine I stick to in the lead up to a competition. The two official training days before a competition I make sure I use that time wisely, choosing a line quickly that works to my advantage, and save most of my energy for competition day.

The night before I’ll watch footage of my skiing from both training days, have a good meal, go to bed early, and visualise my run over and over again. The day of the competition, I have a 30 minute warm up that allows me to feel ready to get straight into it, and also gets my head into the right frame of mind. I try to keep my mind as blank as I can, and when the time comes, I buckle up my boots and that’s the moment I know its game on. I do a few visualisations, remind myself of the key things I need to do, tell myself to ski smart, put a smile on my face, then push out the gate.

What’s a major challenge or hurdle you’ve overcome in your career?

I was 17 years old and got the opportunity to compete at my first World Cup. I handled it really well, had so much fun and I ended up placing 31st. 2010 was an Olympic year and it turns out that if I had placed just one position higher, I would've been competing at the Vancouver Olympics. I never thought something like that would get to me as much as it did. It took me a while to get back into training with high motivation, but I definitely jumped over that hurdle and, in the end, it made me stronger and fuelled my fire for the Sochi Olympics Games.

What was your breakout moment when you realised you wanted to ski moguls for a living?

When I competed in my first world cup event, I loved everything about it. The course, the bibs and accreditation, the competitors.

I didn’t make finals, which meant I got to stand at the bottom and watch the best mogul athletes in the world compete. I couldn't take my eyes off the course and I remember thinking that these athletes are so amazing, and that I have a long way to go until I’m at their level. It was so spectacular, the tricks they were performing, the speed and control, even the crashes were impressive. That was definitely the moment when I realised this is what I want to do for a living. 

Recovering from injury is a long process, how do you stay focused on the big goal?

I always knew that being in the sport of mogul skiing, at some point I would have to deal with a major injury such as ACL reconstruction. I think I started mentally preparing for it a long time ago without even realising. While I was competing overseas last season, I ruptured my ACL, tore my Meniscus, and fractured my Tibia and Fibula.

Rehab is a long and slow process, but I know the importance of not pushing or speeding it up. I know that if I am smart about recovery I won’t have any setbacks, and I’ll come back stronger than before. To stay focused on the big goal, I make sure I’m putting in 100% with recovery, remind myself what my goals are and that I’m capable of them, and that I’ll be back into it before I know it. 

Who did you look up to when you were going through Winter Sports Club?

When I was going through Winter Sports Club I had a few people I looked up to. Manuela Berchtold is a two times winter Olympian for mogul skiing and a Jindabyne Local. I’ve always looked up to her, and still do. I also used to look up to the NSWIS crew at that time, Dave Graham, Ramone Cooper and Sam Hall, they were all such amazing skiers. When they would train on the same day as me, I would sneakily try and get on the same chair lifts with them and squeeze some advice out of them.

Who do you look up to now that you’re an Olympian?

Being an Olympian has made me realise who’s been there and supported me the whole way, so really I have so many people I look up to. Manuela Berchtold, my family, especially my Mum and Dad, all my coaches I’ve had over the years, Sarah Burke, the top skiers and athletes at the moment - Hannah Kearny, Sally Pearson, Mathew Mitcham, and all my team mates. There are so many inspiring people out there.

In the summer months, how do you maintain the focus and motivation for a winter sport?

With the sport I do, I hardly get a summer due to competition and training  schedules in Australia and overseas. But when I have a month and a bit off, in between Australian and Northern seasons, I do a lot of dry land training, gym work, trampolining, water ramp camps, and fitness testing. By the time that month is over I can’t wait to get back on snow.

Leaving your family and friends to train and compete overseas, tell us what that’s like…

For the first couple of years it was really hard, I haven't had a Christmas at home with my family for over 9 years. There are lots of Skype calls, emails, and Facebook posts over the time that I'm away. Every Christmas I’ll Skype my family and watch them open presents, that’s always a fun call. Last Australia day my friend Skyped me for over four hours, she had strapped her phone to her head, so I could have the same view as her, it was a very hilarious 4 hours.

When you’re not in training, where do you love to ski with friends?

I love skiing at my home mountain Perisher. I always love going up there with my friends and finding hidden runs that no one has skied that day. I also enjoy Park City and Winter Park.

What’s a run you have to do twice?

Rock Garden under the ridge chair at Perisher. It's always so much fun, I could ski that run till my legs fall off!

It’s great seeing more and more females in this sport – where do you see Moguls as a sport headed?

More and more females are joining this sport each year. Females are starting to compete back fulls, d-spins and loops as their top and bottom airs. They’re really starting to push the degree of difficulty and the progress of the sport.

I’d really like to see Dual Moguls become an Olympic event, that would be an awesome way for the sport to develop.

Is the lifestyle of an Olympic skier what people think?

If the lifestyle of an Olympic skier is seen as training, training, gym, training, training, gym, competition, competition, a tiny bit of paid work, some interviews, a few photo shoots, airports, hotel rooms, mogul course after mogul course, and more training and competitions… Then yes it is what people think… But honestly, it’s a really fun life.

When you look back on your career, what do you want people to remember you for?

I would like to be remembered as someone who continually worked hard, trained hard, competed hard, pushed herself and consistently worked to find a new personal best. I would also like to be remembered as a great team member and a worthy representative of my family, friends, Jindabyne, and Australia.

You’ve travelled a fair bit as a result of your career, where’s your favourite location and why?

My favourite location would have to be Zermatt, Switzerland. It’s absolutely stunning, green grass, big cows, sheep and goats roaming the area, and the Toblerone mountain they call the Matterhorn. It’s the most unique mountain I’ve ever laid eyes on.

The skiing on the glacier is very interesting, over 150 people jammed in a gondola to the top of the glacier, then skiing a steep, mostly icy course at a very high altitude. It’s very good training and a very stunning place.

If you weren’t an Olympic Mogul skier, what would you be doing?

I know for sure I’d be trying to go far in some sort of sport. Potentially Karate, or even half pipe skiing. I know for sure I would definitely not be trying to pursue a swimming career, I swim like a brick! But outside of sport, I think I would resemble a lost puppy.

I’ve recently completed a Personal training course and I also work as a trampoline coach here in Jindabyne. I really enjoy working with younger athletes, and think that perhaps I would maybe have ended up working in the development of younger athletes.

What’s some advice you can give young athletes who want to be where you are now?

My advice to the young shredders out there would be:

• Train super hard, if you're always putting in 100% you'll know you’ve done everything you can to get to where you want to be.
• Take every opportunity you get, you might not get that opportunity again.
• Ask for help. You can’t achieve a huge goal on your own, so don’t be shy to ask for help.
• Find a really good group of friends that will support you the whole way. People underestimate the power of who you surround yourself with. Find a group of friends that are supportive, inspired, motivated, and have goals of their own.
• Visualise everything! Your winning run, you on the podium, you with that medal around your neck.
• Start figuring out what works and doesn’t work for you when it comes to training and competition, that way you’ll be in a good routine and be able to perform at your best early on.

What was the best advice you were given, and who was it from?

• "The key to success is self belief” from Layne Beachey 
• “Believe in yourself!!” from my Coaches
• “Believe in yourself!” from my Teachers
• “Believe in yourself!” from my friends and family - It's finally starting to stick!