What Canva taught me about snow

In 2012, Canva founder Melanie Perkins set herself what she described as a "crazy big goal".

"We believed that design was something that should be accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few.

“It shouldn't matter where you live, your socioeconomic status, or even your computer experience – design should be accessible to everyone."

When I read that quote on the Canva site, it struck me that she wasn't really talking about software or technology.

She was talking about democratising creativity – access.

The idea that something valuable shouldn't be reserved for a select group of people because of geography, cost, circumstance or background.

Canva went on to transform an entire industry by removing barriers that had previously limited participation.

The more I thought about it, the more I realised Winter Sports World is attempting something remarkably similar with snow.

For generations, snow sports in Australia have been shaped by geography, time and cost.

If you live close to the mountains, can afford accommodation and equipment, and have the flexibility to spend several days away, snow becomes accessible.

But for many Aussies, those barriers remain significant, insurmountable even.

Winter Sports World will change that for families in Western Sydney, students experiencing snow for the first time, people from multicultural communities where snow sports have traditionally been less accessible and for young athletes looking to develop skills without the cost and logistics of repeated trips to alpine regions.

Like design before Canva, participation has often been limited not by interest, but by access.

That’s why Winter Sports World has never simply been about building Australia's first indoor snow resort.

It’s always been about democratising snow.

Many are interested in snow sports but never get the chance to participate.

The traditional model asks people to travel to snow.

Winter Sports World flips that equation.

We bring snow to people.

I often say this project is about more than skiing and snowboarding – it’s about access.

When people hear "indoor snow resort", they often picture a novelty attraction.

What they don't immediately see is the opportunity to remove barriers that have existed for decades.

No six-hour drive; no need for a week-long holiday; no dependence on weather conditions; and no need to wait for winter.

Instead, a school student can experience snow for the first time on a weekday excursion.

A family can spend an afternoon in the snow without committing to a multi-day trip.

An athlete can train consistently throughout the year.

A tourist arriving through Western Sydney International Airport can access a snow experience within minutes of landing on a blistering summer day.

The experience becomes available to more people, more often.

Democratisation isn’t about replacing traditional destinations.

Canva didn't replace graphic designers.

It expanded the market by enabling millions of new participants.

Winter Sports World isn’t seeking to replace Australia's alpine resorts.

Those destinations offer experiences that are unique and irreplaceable.

Rather, we have the opportunity to introduce more Australians to snow who will become ski and snowboarding enthusiasts, build confidence, develop skills and create new market demand.

The evidence already exists.

When indoor snow centres opened across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, they didn't reduce interest in mountain resorts.

In many cases they became gateways into the broader snow industry.

First-timers became enthusiasts.

Enthusiasts became travellers.

Travellers became lifelong participants.

The market grew.

That's the opportunity I see for Australia.

Because ultimately, democratisation is not about making something smaller or simpler.

It’s about making it more accessible.

Why should only some people get access to something that many people would love to experience?