Ski de Femme Turns 30!

Saturday 9 August saw over 220 women take to the snow for the 30th anniversary of Ski de Femme at Falls Creek, and the weather could not have been better. Blue skies, fresh corduroy and an electric atmosphere set the tone for this iconic event.

Organised by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club since 1994, Ski de Femme has been a much-loved part of Falls Creek’s winter calendar. The event offers women of all ages and abilities the chance to try cross-country skiing, or hone their skills in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Led by XC-skiing legend Ronice Goebel, the event has grown over the years, attracting ever-more participants and sponsors. This year, women made the trek from all over Australia (and also from France and Finland) to join the festivities. As Ronice summarised, the day was ‘all about good vibes, coming together and having a good time.’ 

The morning began with a free ski lesson, provided by 20-odd volunteer coaches. These included Olympians, Australian team members and many other dedicated members of the cross-country-skiing community (plus a few male coaches wearing impressive wig disguises). The day provided perfect conditions for participants to explore the trails and work on their technique, whether beginners or veterans of the sport. Many had the opportunity to challenge themselves by trying out rogue technique cues: A brief survey of various coaches’ favourite ‘top tips’ yielded advice such as “don’t ski like you’re going to the toilet” (Jacob Huseby), “pole like a boxing kangaroo” (Hannah Gray) and “your legs are steel springs” (Casey Wright). Hopefully everybody found some memorable takeaways there!

After the lesson, the skiers gathered in the Nordic Bowl to refuel with hot drinks and an impressive spread of home-baked treats. Kudos go to whoever grew their biceps whipping enough cream to make scones for 200 hungry skiers. Then, everybody took part in fun races over 1 km or 2.5 km – warming up with a dance party on the start line. Finally, the day concluded with awesome spot prizes from the event’s generous sponsors – including spa treatments from Lili Pilli, ceramics and headbands made by local artists and Bright Brewery stubbies. The day felt like a huge party - a celebration of an epic sport, an amazing community and the beautiful environment that we’re privileged to enjoy it in. A big thank you goes to all the volunteers, organisers, sponsors and supporters who made the 30th Ski de Femme possible. We’re already excited for next year!