WJC-U23 Team Preliminary Selection

The Snow Australia Cross Country Skiing Selection Committee has made a preliminary selection of seven athletes to compete at the 2022 FIS World Junior and U23 Cross-country Championships. The event was originally to be held in Zakopane, Poland, starting at the end of February, however the FIS Council have yet to determine a new venue after Poland was unable to conduct the cross country skiing events.

Junior Athletes:

• Rosie Fordham
• Zana Evans
• Lily Murnane
• Hugo Hinckfuss

U23 Athletes:

• Tuva Bygrave
• Lars Young Vik
• Bentley Walker-Broose

These preliminary selections are based on performances in FIS competitions between 2019-2021. Noting the limited opportunities for many athletes to take part in FIS or selection races in the past two years, the Selection Committee will also consider performances in international competitions up until January 31 before making the final team selection. However, it is recommended that younger competitors aim instead for the 2023 World Junior Championships scheduled to take place in Whistler, Canada.

Of the Junior athletes, Fordham, Evans and Hinckfuss represented Australia at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Switzerland, while Fordham and Murnane competed at the 2020 World Juniors in Germany alongside Walker-Broose and other athletes now moved up into the U23 category. Bygrave and Vik also have international experience - Bygrave competed at the 2021 World Championships in Germany, and Vik raced a World Cup in Sweden in January. All Australian athletes competing at this level have been granted Australian government travel exemptions to enable them to travel overseas to compete.

The Australian Team for the World Junior/U23s will be led by Alexei Sotskov, who is employed by Snow Australia in a dual role heading up the NSWACT XC programs during the Australian winter and coaching AUSXC teams during the northern hemisphere season. Pending confirmation of the final event dates, Sotskov will be joined by AUSXC Head Coach Valerio Leccardi, returning from the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

To assist in reducing some of the direct costs to the athletes, Sotskov has initiated a new fundraising project with the Australian Sports Foundation. The aim is to raise $9,500 to cover the expense of one of the vans used by the team throughout the season. Though other team fundraising activities curtailed due to Covid-19 restrictions, some of the accommodation expenses at the WJC-U23s will be offset by funds raised via the Sundeck Cup in August. Tax-free donations can be made here.

📷 | Youth Olympian Zana Evans racing in the distance event at the 2021 AUS XC Open in Perisher