ski marathon series in 14 countries started with the Kangaroo-hoppet in Australia last weekend, but bad weather shortened the distance.
Not everyone skis in August, but several “foreigners” participated in the first race of the 2003/04 Worldloppet series “down under”. The normal 42 km free-technique distance had to be shorted by 50% due to strong winds and horizontal snowfall. The race jury decided to change the racecourse to a 7-km loop that was skied three times.
The home-favorites Ben Derrick and Belinda Phillips won the respective overall men’s and women’s classes.
This season’s Worldloppet series ends with the Norwegian Birkebeiner on March 20th, 2004.
