Celebrating the Largest Annual Snowsports Event: Kangaroo Hoppet

Falls Creek will be a winter wonderland of cross country ski action on Saturday 26 August 2017, when the ski world comes together for the southern hemisphere’s largest annual snowsports event, the 27th Kangaroo Hoppet.

In excess of 1,000 cross-country skiers from elite superstars to aspiring beginners and outdoor enthusiasts will click into a pair of skinny skis and line up at the Hoppet Start in Falls Creek Nordic Bowl, alongside ski friends from 26 countries. In a big day of racing, the Hoppet offers a unique combination of top-level sporting competition and great family fun. Whether it takes two hours or six hours, the Kangaroo Hoppet provides a unique opportunity to ski the Bogong High Plains of Victoria’s Alpine National Park, on groomed trails.

Race Director, Ben Derrick explained that the Kangaroo Hoppet brings together a worldwide family of ski friends. 

“Being part of the Worldloppet series of 20 cross-country ski races, the Kangaroo Hoppet attracts an increasing number of overseas skiers wanting to do something they love, in a new and different alpine landscape. What better way to see the world on skis and be welcomed in an atmosphere of personal challenge, family fun and camaraderie. It’s about making lifetime friends doing a great lifestyle sport,” Derrick said. 

With the great snow falls in early August the course is in immaculate condition as we lead up to the event. “It is not always that we have enough snow for the full course,” Derrick continued. “However, with the last dump, combined with some very astute grooming from our course preparation team, we are confident at this early stage that we will have the full 42km course that showcases the magnificent Bogong High Plains.” 

The course starts and finishes in the Falls Creek Nordic Bowl, with three loops extending out onto the Bogong High Plains and into the Alpine National Park: 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, 21km Australian Birkebeiner and 7km Joey Hoppet. There are events for all ages and abilities. Many skiers will test themselves against the world’s leading cross country skiers over 42km or that ‘friend’ who finished ahead of them last year, or perhaps try the less challenging 21km event that takes in the beauty of the Bogong High Plains. The event for all abilities is the family-friendly ‘Joey Hoppet’ which takes in a 7km loop around Sun Valley. Races are freestyle technique with classical tracks provided.

While all eyes will be on the elite skiers leading the pack in the main event competing for podium places, for Australia’s aspiring future Olympians the eight AGL Energy in Action scholarships ($500) are also hotly contested. Awarded to the first male and female in the U18 and U14 in the 7km Joey Hoppet, first U23 in the 21km and to the first Australians in the 42km main event, it is no coincidence that all members of Australia’s last two Winter Olympic cross country teams are former AGL Scholarship winners.

2017 marks the tenth year of support by major sponsor AGL Energy, owner and operator of the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme and Australia’s largest retailer of renewable energy. For more details, visit: www.hoppet.com.au. 

Who’s Who Up Front 2017 Hoppet  

For the lycra-clad super athletes in the field, 2017 shapes up as the closest event for many years.

Three time winner and Swiss Olympic star, Valerio Leccardi is back with the aim to add one more record equalling win in the event. Last year’s winner Matt Gelso from the USA has flown in late to defend the title he fought hard for last year. Matt is back on track after a serious car accident a few months ago but is raring to put some form on the track against the other elite skiers.

However, the time is right for an Australian to take out the event for the first time since Ben Sim topped the podium in 2009, and locals reckon that we have just the man in Phil Bellingham, Sochi Olympian and runner up in 2015 and 2016. Phil has been back in Australia for some months since the last northern hemisphere season and is living and training up at Falls Creek.

Two Australian team mates will be looking to spoil that party with Paul Kovacs and Callum Watson showing very strong form in the lead up events. US skiers Miles Havlick and Jeremy Hecker could produce the surprise of the day. The 42km event always throws up some surprise results so look out for a number of up and coming elite athletes as they aim to establish themselves amongst the elite.

Although the young guns had better watch out for old time superstars Anthony Evans and Cameron Morton who always manage to work themselves into the lead group. 

The elite women’s field is looking equally as even. Sochi Olympian Barbara Jezersek will be looking for her first win representing Australia as her new country of citizenship but will face tough opposition from seven time French national champion Iris Pessey.

Pessey has been working and training at Falls Creek for the winter and has shown very strong form on the race circuit in 2017. Runner-up from 2016, Mary Rose from the USA is back to see if she can go one place better after getting pipped by less than 1 second after 42km last year. Mary’s credentials are very strong in marathons and she has the experience and drive to go all the way in 2017.

Perennial podium placer Aimee Watson will be seeking her first win and sprint superstar Kat Paul is showing signs of developing into a long-distance force after her 5th place in last year’s event. Bronze medal winner from the 2017 Asian games Casey Wright has flown back to Australia from her training base in the US to compete in the 2017 event. Casey will be a key driver in the final results for the elite women.

2017 sees the first elite Paralympic skier since Brian McKeever from Canada finished fourth in 2009 to have a genuine chance at stepping up to the podium place in the main event. Keiichi Sato from Japan has very strong international ranking points and is a genuine contender once the lead pack sorts themselves out on the first lap.

Keiichi leads a strong team from Japan that may throw up some surprises in the top 10. 

The week leading up to the Kangaroo Hoppet also provides a feast of skiing at Falls Creek, together with a host of social and festive activities in Falls Creek and the nearby sub-alpine town of Mount Beauty.  

Hoppet week has a range of social and sporting activities leading up to the race itself.

On Saturday the centre of attention is the Falls Creek Nordic Bowl, with all three events starting and finishing in the same area, bringing visitors and participants together to share in the excitement. 

In the evening participants and friends have the opportunity to relive the events of the day at a social evening in Mount Beauty, which includes the presentation of age group and special awards.

For live timing and results visit: www.alpinetiming.com.au/results/r37/

For more information on Falls Creek events visit: www.fallscreek.com.au/event-search/ 

Article courtesy of Falls Creek & Mt Beauty This Week