Cross Country and SkiMo World Champs wrap up

Six Aussie athletes have wrapped up their campaigns at the Cross Country and Ski Mountaineering World Championships.

In Slovenia, Lars Young Vik scored the best Australian result since 2007 in the men’s sprint classic, finishing 40th and backed that up with 18th alongside Seve de Campo in the Team Sprint.

Young Vik described his individual result as “bittersweet” as he gets closer to progressing out of the prologue.

“I did some good preparations leading into the race and managed to execute my race plan, hitting the transitions I wanted and paced it quite well,” he said. “Annoying to be so close to top 30 and making it through to the quarter finals.”

The 22-year-old was buoyed by the opportunity to race with De Campo in the team sprint, saying the pair have big plans for the future.

“We do so much racing together throughout the season and it's really a highlight when we get the chance to compete together,” said Young Vik. “We knew it would be tough for us to make it in the top 15, having to beat some really established cross country nations, but at the same time we were not that far away.

“We're a young team and I know we will only get faster over the next couple of years. You will see us in the final at World Champs Trondheim 2025.”

De Campo’s week of racing has included the sprint, team sprint, skiathlon and 15km individual race, a hectic World Championships program in what has been a hectic northern winter.

“It's definitely been a busy season for me, lots of globe trotting and it’s crazy to think back now to November in Norway when it all began,” he said. “I'm now about to head back home to Australia and pretty much call the season there.

“It's been really good for me this season taking a step in the right direction and I've really just been grateful and enjoyed my racing.”

Ellen Lie and Phoebe Cridland have had solid campaigns on their World Championships debuts, with their best result coming in the team sprint where they combined to finish 17th.

Phil Bellingham continues to be arguably the busiest man in snowsports. He finished February competing at the Cross Country World Championships in the sprint and skiathlon before heading to the Ski Mountaineering World Championships in Spain where he placed 46th in the sprint, 49th in the vertical and 51st in the individual.

He was joined in Spain by Kate Zander who was 24th in the individual, 31st in vertical and 40th in the sprint.

The pair then combined to finish 23rd in the Mixed Relay on the final day of the Championships.

FIS Cross Country World Championships results
ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Championships results