Cross Country and SkiMo - 2026 Domestic Season Wrap

The 2026 Australian winter brought together established Olympians, emerging athletes and the next generation of cross country skiers and ski mountaineers, with national championships, community events and Australia New Zealand Cup competition highlighting the domestic season.

Despite challenging snow conditions and a shortened winter, athletes delivered strong performances across the competition calendar, while the dedication of organisers, volunteers and the wider snowsports community ensured several major events could go ahead. 

CROSS COUNTRY

Championship racing for the domestic cross country season opened with the ACT Sprint and NSW Distance Championships at Perisher on 18-19 July, followed by the Victorian Junior/U23 Championships at Falls Creek the following weekend.

Vincent de Souza claimed both the Open Men's Sprint and 9km Distance titles at Perisher, while Satara Moon won the Open Women's Sprint and Zara Potocki took out the Open Women's Distance event. At Falls Creek in the Junior/U23 events, Finn Meehan completed the men's Sprint and Distance double, while Thea Harvey and Elle Sankey secured the respective women's titles.

After some uncertainty on snow conditions, the Australian Open National Championships and FIS Australia New Zealand Cup series got underway at Falls Creek on 1-2 August, bringing together leading Australian athletes, including members of the 2026 Winter Olympic Team.

Rosie Fordham opened her domestic campaign with victories in both the women's Classic Sprint and 15km Freestyle, winning ahead of Satara Moon in the Sprint and Isabella Moon (no relation) in the 10km.

In the men’s Sprint Jayden Spring edged out Lars Young Vik in a closely contested final, with Cole Flowers from the USA taking third. Young Vik had to settle for second again in the 15km the next day, this time behind Seve de Campo.

Paralympian Dave Miln also impressed spectators on the weekend, winning both the Sprint and 10km Distance sit-ski races.

Unfortunately the final weekend of Australian Open/Junior championship competition had to be cancelled due to rapidly deteriorating snow conditions. However, national team coaches and athletes put on rollerski time trials for allcomers on the new Jindabyne multipurpose track as a well-received alternative for those who had already made the trip.

Kangaroo Hoppet

The 32nd Kangaroo Hoppet was another highlight of the domestic calendar, with competitors returning to Falls Creek for Australia's premier cross country ski marathon.

Despite limited snow requiring shortened courses across all three events, organisers and volunteers delivered a memorable day of racing.

Young Vik claimed his first Kangaroo Hoppet victory ahead of de Campo and Bentley Walker-Broose, while Fordham secured her second women's title ahead of Maddie Hooker and Isabella Moon.

The Birkebeiner provided another opportunity for emerging athletes to shine, with McCann and Spring taking out the women's and men's races respectively. Zara Potocki and Liam Cullen-Croke claimed victories in the Joey Hoppet events.

Community & Participation

Beyond the championship races, the domestic season provided plenty of opportunities for skiers of all ages and abilities to get involved.

Perisher Cross Country Ski Week brought together juniors, masters and Olympians for a week of racing and community activities, including the KAC Cross Country Classic and the popular Nordic Shelter Twilight Relays.

The 64th Paddy Pallin Juniors also returned to Perisher, welcoming 22 participants aged from just 11 months to 16 years, while the annual Ski de Femme at Falls Creek continued to introduce women of all ages and abilities to cross country skiing through volunteer-led lessons.

The season concluded with a celebration of the wider cross country community at the inaugural Cross Country Ball in Jindabyne. Bringing together over 100 athletes, coaches, volunteers, families and supporters, the event raised nearly $10,000 towards athlete expenses for the 2027 World Championships.

With attention now turning to the northern winter, Australian athletes are preparing for another international campaign, including the World Cup circuit, World Championships in Sweden and World Junior/U23 Championships in Estonia. 

SKI MOUNTAINEERING

Following the sport's historic Olympic debut at Milano Cortina, Australia's ski mountaineering athletes returned to domestic competition for the 2026 winter, with the Australian Cup providing opportunities for established and emerging athletes to continue their development.

Ava McCann was a standout performer, claiming victory at the Australian Cup event at Falls Creek. Her domestic results complemented a successful international campaign, which included the U20 individual title at the French National Championships and two sixth place finishes on the Youth World Cup circuit.

Daniel Trevena also enjoyed success on home snow, securing victory at Falls Creek, while Bayley Sadler recorded a podium finish finishing third overall. 

Aus SkiMo saw its first ever youth podium as Filip Klempfner took out the victory at Falls Creek with Max Dasilva and Justin Klempfner rounding out the podium in their first ever ski mountaineering race demonstrating a passion for the sport and a desire to improve leading into the international season. 

The season also marked a new chapter for four-time Olympian Phil Bellingham, who announced his retirement from international competition following Milano Cortina. Having made history as the first Australian male athlete to compete in two Winter Olympic sports, Bellingham returned to Falls Creek and full-time ski patrolling after an extraordinary international career.

With the sport's Olympic debut providing a significant milestone for Australian SkiMo, the domestic circuit continues to offer an important platform for athletes to gain competition experience and progress towards the international stage.

Across disciplines, the 2026 domestic season highlighted the resilience of Australia's Snowsports community. From elite racing to grassroots participation, the efforts of athletes, coaches, officials, groomers and volunteers ensured that even a challenging winter delivered opportunities to compete, develop and celebrate the sport.