Perisher congratulates homegrown champion Cooper Woods on historic Olympic gold🥇
13 February 2026
Perisher is celebrating today after Australian moguls skier Cooper Woods claimed Australia’s first gold medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering a stunning victory in the men’s moguls final.
Cooper, who joined Perisher’s Winter Sports Club program at 12 years old, rose through local training pathways to become one of Australia’s most exciting winter athletes.
“This would be a dream come true for Cooper and we couldn’t be more proud of him and his team-mates’ performances last night,” said Andrew Rae, Perisher Snowsports Senior Manager. “To see an athlete who grew up on our mountain become an Olympic champion is truly inspiring for our community and the next generation of skiers.”
Cooper’s success is shared not only with teammates and supporters but also with his uncle Toppa, a long‑time coach and mentor who has played a significant role in supporting Cooper throughout his skiing journey. He has a deep respect at Perisher, shown with the naming of the moguls training course ‘Toppa’s Dream’.
Perisher’s commitment to athlete development in 2025 included an investment into the moguls course, delivered through a partnership with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA). This collaboration enabled the addition of two state‑of‑the‑art snow guns, ensuring world‑class training conditions for Australian moguls athletes.
“These upgrades have been invaluable for athletes training at Perisher and we’re committed to supporting high-performance pathways,” said Nathan Butterworth, Perisher’s Vice President & General Manager. “Cooper’s win is all anyone is talking about this morning, and we’re celebrating Cooper’s achievement, as well as the community of coaches, mentors, staff and family who helped shape his journey.”
Cooper’s gold medal is Australia’s seventh Winter Olympic gold and underscores the strength of Australia’s freestyle skiing program and the importance of strong development environments like Toppa’s Dream and Perisher’s Winter Sports Club.
Image of Toppa’s Dream moguls course at Perisher
Photos of Cooper Woods winning gold
Media contact:
Dani Wright
Senior Manager - Communications
Vail Resorts Australia 
