Aerial ski champion Jacqui Cooper donates World Cup trophies to the National Alpine Museum

For years, Jacqui Cooper’s World Cup trophies sat in her linen closet, wrapped in a towel.

The eight crystal globes awarded by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) make her the most successful Australian World Cup skier in history.

But until now, the aerial skier, who was part of the national ski team for 20 years, was unsure what to do with it.

“So I decided to give them a gift,” she said.

The priceless trophies were donated to the National Alpine Museum at Mount Buller, which showcases Australia’s alpine history.

“It’s pretty big, it’s like giving your kids away,” Cooper said with a laugh.

Trophies and costumes donated

Cooper is the only person in the Southern Hemisphere to have won so many Crystal Globes.

She described the World Cup as the culmination of the entire ski racing season, like “the Formula 1 Grand Prix”.

“Same for the FIS.”

In addition to the trophies, she is donating several costumes, including her Olympic outfit from Vancouver, where she was the first Australian woman to make five Olympic teams, summer and winter.

She also offers her flying kangaroo costume, which she wore at Mt Buller during the world cup competition.

“I was the first Australian to win a World Cup on home soil,” she said.

A house full of meaning

Mt Buller holds a special place in Mrs Cooper’s heart.

It was on these tracks that she trained exclusively for competitions.

“When people ask me what it’s like to ski at other resorts in Victoria, I say, ‘I don’t know, because I’ve never been’,” she said.

Ms Cooper therefore said it seemed natural for the trophies to find a new home there.

She admitted that her decision to donate her awards was met with some shock.

“A lot of people were a little confused or sad and angry that I was giving such a gift,” she said.