She is working toward making the Winter Olympic team in the future

A 16-year-old former gymnast is hoping to become Australia's first Indigenous athlete to attend a Winter Olympics.

Mikayla George, from Melbourne, saw snow for the first time in July last year during a ski camp at Mount Buller but her natural talent has landed her on the Australian Aerial Skiing Development Squad less than a year later.

A trained gymnast, Mikayla was forced to retire from after a back injury two years ago but was quickly recruited by the Victorian Institute of Sport as a potential aerial skier, according to a crowd funding website to support her training.

Scroll down for video

Mikayla George (pictured), from Melbourne, who saw snow for the first time last year, is hoping to become Australia's first Indigenous athlete to attend a Winter Olympics

Less than a year after she learned how to ski, Mikayla (pictured), 16, is now training with the Australian Aerial Skiing Development Squad

Mikayla (pictured) is currently learning and practicing her aerial jumps and flips with the squad in her hometown of Melbourne

After traveling with the Institute to Mount Buller, she began working toward her new goal of representing Australia in a future Winter Olympic Games.

'The training is really hard. [Because aerial skiing is high risk] everything has to be practiced until it's absolutely perfect,' Mikayla told the Australia Indigenous Alpine Sport Foundation, for which she is an ambassador.

'Just a boot can be several kilos. Then you carry your skis up the hill to the ramp. After the jump you have to get out of the water and then you're wet and much heavier. You take your skis off then you carry them back up the hill and do it again, about 20 times in a session,' she said.

Mikayla continues her trampoline and tumbling training throughout the week and her water ramp training every weekend.

Mikayla (pictured) was forced to retire from her career as a gymnast after a back injury two years ago but was quickly recruited by the Victorian Institute of Sport as a potential aerial skier

After traveling with the Institute to Mount Buller, she began working toward her new goal of representing Australia in a future Winter Olympic Games

'The training is really hard. [Because aerial skiing is high risk] everything has to be practiced until it's absolutely perfect,' Mikayla said

She said most of the athletes in the Australian Aerial Skiing Development Squad are former gymnasts.

'They already know how to flip and roll and how to control how their body moves. I hadn't skied before, I'd never even seen snow, but I've picked it up quickly,' she said.

Mikayla, who is also working on receiving her Victorian Certificate of Education and hopes to go to university, is being supported by the AIASF, which runs snow camp programs for Aboriginal teenagers from disadvantaged families from the city and remote areas of Australia.

The organization is asking for help to raise $8,000 to further Mikayla's training and goal.

Mikayla (pictured) continues her trampoline and tumbling training (left) throughout the week and her water ramp training every weekend (right)

Mikayla, who is also working on receiving her Victorian Certificate of Education and hopes to go to university, is being supported by the AIASF

The money will help her fund a seven-week-long training trip to Utah in the U.S. and provide her with the right equipment and clothing.

'This could be Cathy Freeman all over again in Winter sports if we can get a medal around this kid's neck,' secretary of AIASF Lynda Kimber said.

Ms Kimber said her organization offers to teach groups of Aboriginal teens skiing and snowboarding because they are not contact sports – like those that are typically offered to Indigenous teens.

The organization is asking for help to raise $8,000 to further Mikayla's (left) training and goal

The money will help her fund a seven-week-long training trip to Utah (pictured) in the U.S. and provide her with the right equipment and clothing

The teenagers are selected for their good behaviour and attendance and learn how to ski with teachers and mentors.

'We have to give these children better solutions,' Ms Kimber said.

'We're not saying that the AIASF can solve the problem but this is a great alternative.'