Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre

A New Era in Winter Sports Training

Sleeman Sports Complex is now home to the southern hemisphere’s first year-round ski-jumping facility! The Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to training and developing elite winter sports athletes.

This $6.5 million facility was delivered through a collaboration between the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA), the Federal Government through Sport Australia, the Queensland Government, and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

Construction Timeline

Pool Construction
The first component, an extra-deep, Olympic-sized swimming pool, was completed in 2012.

Ramp Construction
Construction on the ramps began in August 2019, and by September 2020, aerial and mogul athletes were already testing the ramps.

The facility stands 37m tall from the pool deck to the top of the balustrade on the Triple ramp, equivalent to half the height of Brisbane’s Story Bridge. It comprises 289 tonnes of steel, 14,744 bolts, and 5,000 substrate fixings.

Built by Buildcorp with project management by Colliers International, this facility is a marvel of modern engineering.

A ski jumper is mid air in front of multiple ski jumps of different heights

Design Features

Purpose-Built for Year-Round Training
The facility is designed to simulate a snow ski ramp, enabling athletes to train for Olympic skiing events throughout the year.

Dual Surface Ramp
The ramp features two different surfaces—flexible nylon brush and firm plastic brush—with inbuilt sprinklers that release water to mimic a low-friction snow ski ramp.

Variety of Ramps
The structure includes ramps ranging from 8m to 36m in height, catering to various aerial ski disciplines including mogul, triple, double, and single jumps for both intermediate and advanced athletes.

Speed and Elevation:
Athletes can reach speeds of up to 70km/h and launch up to 17m above the water, replicating competition conditions.

Safety Measures
A bubble aeration system softens landings to reduce the risk of injury, and a trampoline with a bungee harness system helps athletes develop their skills safely.

Proximity to Other Facilities
The training centre is conveniently located near the Olympic-sized pool, the Diving Australia Dry Dive facility, a fitness centre, and an athlete rehabilitation centre, offering comprehensive support for athlete training and recovery.

Testimonials

AOC CEO, Matt Carroll

“It’s fantastic to see this world-class facility come to life and have Olympians showcasing their skills in Brisbane. This means Australia’s best talent can be identified, developed, and reach peak performance right here at home, close to family and community.”

OWIA CEO, Geoff Lipshut

“This is a huge step forward for athletes at the next Olympic Games and for our athletes of tomorrow. This facility opens opportunities for gymnasts to transfer their skills into aerial skiing and for many young Australians to get involved in winter sport.”

Acting Manager of Sleeman Sports Complex, Angus Macdonald

“Watching the incredible skills of these high-performance athletes and for our venue to play a small part in Australia’s push for Winter Olympic gold is truly rewarding. This facility adds to SSC’s reputation as a hub for elite training.”

Frequently Asked Questions

The facility was funded through a partnership between the Federal Government, the Australian Institute of Sport, the Queensland Government, the AOC, and the OWIA. The Queensland Government provided the location, with the Federal Government and AIS contributing $4.5 million and the AOC covering the remainder.

Previously, Australian athletes had to travel overseas to train at year-round facilities, which was costly and inconvenient. This facility allows high-performance athletes to train at home, investing time and resources locally. It also offers a pathway for developing future talent.

Queensland is the perfect place for this facility, with the climate allowing year-round usage. SSC has long been a training and development base for community, emerging and high performance athletes across a wide range of sports. It has a number of complementary facilities that will assist with athlete training, such as the Olympic-sized pool and the Dry Dive facility which has suspended harness, trampolines and foam pits for rehearsing manoeuvres. The proximity to other sports, such as gymnastics and diving offers a talent discovery and development pathway option to find the next generation of jumpers. The complex also offers a range of other supporting amenities like accommodation, fitness centre, and athlete rehabilitation, which makes it an attractive option for training camps.

Queensland’s winter sports legacy began with Brisbane’s Steven Bradbury, Australia’s first Winter Olympics gold medallist. The state aims to continue this legacy by being the development hub for future winter sports champions.

Geoff Henke AO, the current Chair of the OWIA and former Vice President of the AOC, has been a champion for winter sports in Australia. The facility is named in his honor for his contributions to the development of winter sports and athletes.