Cross Country Director Update - August 2025
Published Mon 18 Aug 2025
National coach Alexei Sotskov with athletes Satara Moon and Isabella Moon
Dear XC Skiing Community,
So much has been happening over the past month it has been hard to keep track. There's been a stack of club and school events, great action at state and national championships, record numbers at Ski de Femme and the Sundeck Cup, a huge XC Week at Perisher, but most of all there has just been some fantastic skiing to be had. When back in the office I've been incredibly envious of the off-track Strava routes that I'm viewing on the main range and across the high plains.
Last weekend saw the first combined Australian Open and Junior Championship since 2013. Despite challenging waxing conditions for the Classic Sprint, I would say the event was a big success. In September/October the XC National Discipline Committee will be reviewing the structure of the championship racing schedule once again. I would encourage anyone with constructive feedback on race formats and timing to provide feedback via the NDC members, athlete representatives, ski clubs or state organisations.
With the championship races concluded, so too is the FIS Australia - New Zealand Continental Cup. Congratulations to the winners Rosie Fordham and Seve de Campo who have secured quota places on World Cup for next season. Further details on the races and the Continental Cup standings are included later in this update.
It is worth mentioning that these championship races also included the first-ever FIS Para XC races in Australia. To make this happen sitskiers Dave Miln and Matt Brumby raced alongside VI athlete Taryn Dickens on a bespoke course. All three athletes are aiming for the 2026 Paralympics in Milano-Cortina. I'd like to give a big shout-out to the efforts behind the scenes by Biathlon Australia and Snow Australia staff who have been working to make this possible, and also to the athletes themselves who are fighting hard to blaze a trail for other Para athletes to follow.
The season is far from over, with NSW Interschools and the Kangaroo Hoppet coming up this week, and then plenty of spring skiing on the cards for September. Hoppet skiers with an eye for the back-country may be interested to take a peek at the Ski Mountaineering event scheduled at Falls Creek on Hoppet Sunday. More details in the SkiMo article below.
I look forward to joining many of you at Falls Creek this coming weekend - it will be another Joey Hoppet with the family for me but perhaps next year I'll upgrade to the Birkie again after a break of 15 years!
Best regards,
Finn Marsland
Cross Country Skiing Program Director
Included in this update:
- AUS Championship Wrap-up
- Perfect Conditions leading into Kangaroo Hoppet
- Fordham and de Campo secure the 2025 Continental Cup
- Falls Creek SkiMo Challenge August 24
- Bumper XC Week at Perisher
- Ski de Femme Turns 30!
- Cross Country Skiing ANC series gets underway at Perisher
