FREESTYLE SKIING: Australian aerial skier Danielle Scott has just landed in Ruka, Finland - a place where you see about three hours of daylight at this time of year - all in the name of competing at Sochi 2014. 

If you know only three things about Scott, know that she has dreamt of being an Olympian since the age of five; that she was personally recruited by Australia’s most successful World Cup aerialist Jacqui Cooper; and that Lydia Lassila describes her as “a natural competitor… with a beautiful jumping style.”

Those three things give you somewhat of an idea of the passion and determination that fires up this 23-year-old in a sport with such a rich Australian history.

Scott’s dream of competing at the Winter Olympics has humble beginnings. Sitting in her family’s Gordon (NSW) living room watching the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the teenager saw another tiny blonde lighting up her television screen.

“When I saw Alisa [Camplin] come on, I instantly wanted to know more. I thought: who is this incredible athlete, in such an amazing sport, and doing so well for Australia?”

Like Australia’s first aerials gold medallist, Scott was a talented junior gymnast - indeed the youngest to receive an AIS scholarship at the age of seven. She had never been on snow - but then again, neither had Camplin when she was first “discovered.”

“I jumped on the computer and started researching the sport - that was when I knew I could do it,” Scott recalled.

“I didn’t even think about not having skied before, I just imagined myself flying that high in the air and gracefully landing back on the snow like Alisa had just done. It seemed like it would be an unreal feeling and something that I was excited to pursue.”

From then, things began to move quickly.

“Jacqui [Cooper] was taking care of the recruitment at that stage in the program and I was lucky enough to meet her through the selection process,” Scott explained, admitting she was “a little bit star-struck” by the five-time Olympian.

“Mum, dad and I met with Jacqui and plans started to fall into place to join the team. She really guided me in the right direction and set me up to become the best aerial skier I could be.”

After adapting to skiing, Scott learnt some of the acrobatic skills on the trampoline where her years of gymnastics helped with body awareness.

During her debut season in 2011/12 Scott qualified for every World Cup final and was crowned the FIS Rookie of the Year.

“The Rookie of the Year Award is something I am really proud of. For my first season on the World Cup Tour, I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to do my best and land my jumps, so to be recognised for my performances and make every final, it was really something special.”

Her 2012/13 season was equally as successful, also qualifying for every final and topping it off with a bronze medal at the 2013 World Championships, on her 23rd birthday.

“The World Championships bronze medal has obviously meant the most to me, as it was my breakthrough podium. I had been so close all season and finally, to win a medal on my birthday was something I will never forget and lead me to chase bigger and better things.”

Nowadays Scott competes with the top athletes in the world, including Vancouver Olympic gold medallist Lydia Lassila.

“Training and competing alongside Lydia has been a wonderful experience. She is a lot of fun, very helpful and of course, very inspiring. Her determination and bravery is something I admire and I have learnt a lot from training and competing alongside her,” Scott said.

As Lassila prepares to defend her Olympic title, she will be surrounded by a bevy of strong Australian aerialists. Australia can qualify four females, with Sochi Test Event silver medallist Laura Peel, World Cup finalists Renee McElduff and Samantha Wells, as well as the impressive Scott all in the mix.

“It’s really great and exciting for the future of our sport. It's so nice knowing that there is great depth in our program that will allow it to continue to flourish for a long time,” Lassila said.

With only two, albeit illustrious, full international seasons under her belt, Scott is key to Australia’s progress.

“Danielle is a natural competitor and a great fit for aerial skiing. She has a beautiful jumping style and great, easy going personality,” Lassila said.

“I think her ability to stay calm when put in stressful situations gives her the edge over other competitors - not an easy feat - she manages it well!”

Scott’s secret comes down to a relatively simple formula: her love of the game.

“I love what I do and that’s what makes success so much sweeter. I find competing fun and I really do enjoy the competition days. That doesn’t mean I don’t get nervous though!” she admits.

“My training mantra is to never forget that feeling of satisfaction after doing your best and wanting to strive for more. There are plenty of hard days out there, so sometimes I just have to remember that feeling.” 

Scott has locked down two new triple twisting double summersault tricks (a full-double-full and double-full-full). She also got a head-start on training with a camp at the Lilydale water jump facility in Melbourne, and spent time in the bungee perfecting timing and vision on the harder tricks.

“My goal for Sochi is to perform my jumps at my full potential, and build that experience for the rest of my career. I hope to have a top-10 finish, and ultimately a top-five.”

The 2013/14 World Cup season begins in China in December before the XXII Olympic Winter Games begin in Sochi, Russia on 7 February 2014.