Press release
Kangaroo Hoppet 2020 – coming soon to a trail near you.
With the Covid-19 restrictions on social gatherings, not to mention domestic and international travel bans, the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, the largest annual snowsports event in the southern hemisphere, will not be staged in August this year on its usual course at Falls Creek in Victoria’s snow-covered Alpine National Park.
Instead, organizers are offering a virtual event – ‘Hoppet 2020 – Do It Your Way’. Participants sign up, (for the princely sum of AUD$10 – about US$7) and commit to carrying out some form of physical activity over a 42km, 21km or 7km route, on or off snow, wherever you like, some time in August.
In return, you get a race bib pdf in your email, a souvenir bandana in the snail mail, and a listing in the participant list on their website at www.hoppet.com.au, and afterwards, you can download and print out your race diploma.
Over 100 international competitors have already signed up for the event including 31 from Canada and 21 from the USA. North American skiers have played a significant role in the event over the years starting with Betsy Youngman and John Aalberg who took the top spots on the podium at the first Hoppet back in 1991.
Organizers have saved the bibs numbered 1 to 10 for people who have special links to the event and will be profiling them over the next three weeks on the Kangaroo Hoppet Facebook page. First cab off the rank with bib #10 is Betsy Youngman who will be doing her 42km Kangaroo Hoppet on roller skis in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Entries are being accepted through August at www.hoppet.com.au and organizers are hoping for their biggest ever number of international participants.
