Falls Creek, June 18.
The Australian Ski Season officially opened a week ago. Since June 7 there
have been 10-15km of cross country ski tracks groomed at Falls Creek, the
training centre for the Australian Cross Country Ski Team. It is snowing
today and more snow is forecast all this week. The tracks will be groomed
again tomorrow – conditions can be seen on the Falls Creek website
www.fallscreek.com.au
The FIS Australia / New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) starts in August with
three events at the Snow Farm in New Zealand from August 2-5. The series
then moves to Australia for two weekends of competitions at Falls Creek in
Victoria and Perisher Valley in NSW, before finishing up at Falls Creek for
the Kangaroo Hoppet and ANC final on August 25.
The winners of the ANC are awarded with an extra quota place and expenses
paid on World Cup for the 2007/2008 season. In 2006 the male winner of the
ANC was Ben Sim of Australia, and the female winner Samantha Bondarenko of
New Zealand. Athletes from any nation are eligible to win the ANC and claim
the World Cup quota places.
Athletes or teams interested in training in Australia or competing in the
ANC events in Australia and/or New Zealand should contact Finn Marsland via
the Kangaroo Hoppet office on info @ hoppet.com.au. Race organisers are able
to assist with some accommodation and transport costs within Australia for a
limited number of international athletes, and prize money is available in
the Kangaroo Hoppet.
The Australian racing season can be followed on the Australian Cross Country
Skiing Website: www.hoppet.com.au/xc
Source: Finn Marsland
