Australia is expected to field its biggest ever Winter Olympics team at the 2014 Games in Russia but two-time medallist Dale Begg-Smith isn't likely to be a part of it.
With the Sochi event just 15 months away and Australian athletes entering the first main phase of qualifying over the upcoming northern hemisphere winter, Olympic Winter Institute boss Geoff Lipshut said the team should surpass the 40-member squads of 2006 and 2010.
"My guess is the biggest team size ever," Lipshut said.
"I'd say heading towards 50 - and I think that's a consequence of all the new disciplines."
The new Olympic sport of slopestyle has opened the door for Australian skiers to potentially nab two medals in Sochi with Anna Segal the 2011 world champion and Russ Henshaw the bronze medal winner at the same event.
Lipshut rated the pair still in the world's top four in a rapidly developing sport that sees skiers and snowboarders conduct a series of tricks in a purpose-built terrain park.
While delighted to have two more athletes with genuine designs on a podium finish, Lipshut did concede they'd likely be without another, with Begg-Smith not seen in top flight competition since the end of 2010.
"At the moment probably not," Lipshut said when asked if the gold medal winner from Turin and second placegetter from Vancouver would back up for a third Games.
"Dale could make a comeback if he wanted to so it's not out of the question. He has been training. But we do know he's not skiing this side of Christmas."
Australia's two other medal winners from Canada two years ago, Torah Bright and Lydia Lassila, have also been in hiatus but will ramp up their training this season as they bid to add to their golden haul from Vancouver.
Snowboarder Bright split with brother and coach Ben after a break following the 2010 Games but began easing back into international competition earlier this year and is eyeing a third Olympics.
Aerial skier Lassila took time out to have a baby but is now in full training, completing a camp in Switzerland this week.
She intends on completing a full World Cup circuit in 2012/13.
Australia's other great hope looks to be Alex Pullin in snowboard cross.
The Victorian had a scintillating 2010/11 where he won the world championship and world cup crowns but struggled to replicate that form last season.
Despite controversially cutting alpine skiing from their scholarship program Lipshut remained confident Australia would have at least one racer for Sochi, Greta Small looking a good bet of qualifying.
