Australian Masters and Olympic XC Teams Training in Italy
Published Thu 29 Jan 2026
The Australian Masters XC ski team has been training in Toblach/Dobbiaco for the last few weeks. The 2026 Masters team is the biggest ever, with 24 competitors and a support team of six, ranging from past Australian national team members and expert skiers to relatively new skiers with only a few years experience. They are all looking forward to the Masters World Cup 2026, being held in Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy, with races starting on Saturday 31 January 2026.
Races at the Masters World Cup include 5km, 7.5km, 10km, 15km, 20km and 30km distances, dependent on age group, in both classic and freestyle techniques, and also 4 x 5km mixed technique relays.
Training for the Masters has included skiing in the trails around Toblach/Dobbiaco township, in the valleys of the Drei Zinnen (three chimneys) peaks, the Val de Casies, and the Val de Fiscalina, as well as races such as the Dolomitenlauf in nearby Austria.
Adrian Blake, Joost Wichgers, Zac Zaharias and Peter Lambert at the 2026 Dolomitenlauf
On 28 January the Masters were delighted to be joined in Toblach/Dobbiaco by the recently announced Australian XC team preparing for the Milano-Cortina Olympics. The Masters appreciated the opportunity to meet with and give support and encouragement to the Olympic team at a function hosted by Masters Team Captain Zac Zaharias, also owner of Peak Learning Adventures, a sponsor of the Australian Team van supporting the crew throughout the season.
Masters and the XC National Team in Dobbiaco
More information about the Masters World Cup including results as they happen is available on the Sappada 2026 website.
