Downhill Mountain Biker Cassie Voysey is not like most 17-year-olds doing their HSC and keeping their heads down.
Voysey, from Engadine, also has her head down but it's a more physical challenge than the average Heathcote High student choosing what subject to do.
The current Australian under-19 Mountain Bike Downhill champion must make her choice going down super steep hills compromising between the shortest possible line and the line that can be travelled at the highest speed.
This time next week Voysey will be in Austria competing at the UCI Downhill World Cup in Leogang then travelling to Innsbruck for a stop on the the Crankworx World Tour.
Every year, the Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes in the world to compete in the most diverse disciplines at the highest level.
Voysey said because she was still a junior she was using her first trip to Europe as a stepping stone to gain more competition experience.
"I've competed in New Zealand and Canada before where it is a bigger cycling discipline than here but in Europe it's a massive sport," she said.
"Downhill is my favourite because its more technical than other races and a lot more fun."
Competing in the Downhill and the Slalom, Voysey has two coaches who keep her mind and body prepared - a fitness coach from Vision Engadine and David Sharp a technical bike trainer from Sydney's north where there are accessible mountain bike cycling tracks.
All things going to plan Voysey will then be one of 700 elite athletes representing 50 countries at the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships which are held in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada from August 28 to September 1.
"I'd like to take my cycling as far as I can go," the Australian Inter-school,Oceania and National champion said.
"I'd like to make it as a professional".
