Cross Country Director Update - November 2024

Dear XC Skiing Community,

Yesterday the Snow Australia president Daniel Bosco announced the appointment of new National Discipline Committees (NDCs) across all the major disciplines. On the cross country side we have a new NDC chair in Ashleigh Spittle, taking over the reins from long-standing NDC committee member Peter Cunningham. I would like to thank Peter for his mutliple stints in the role of chair over three decades, including a call-back as interim chair from 2022-2024. I would also like to thank outgoing committee members from recent years Peter Ward, Ronice Goebel, Andrew Walker and Anthony Evans, and to welcome new committee members (see linked article below).

We are also confirming today the official Cross Country Skiing National Teams for 2024/2025 that were provisionally posted at the end of September. In the coming weeks numerous members of the team will open their season campaign racing in Scandinavia. This is a start of a big season for the Australian Team, for the first time ever we are aiming to have athletes contesting every single World Cup, as well as competing in the usual combination of World Championship, Continental Cup and National events. As for 2023/2024, all World Cups are set to be broadcast live via FIS TV. Selections for each event throughout the season will be confirmed via the International Event Selection page, I can provide a sneak preview to keep an eye out for Rosie Fordham, Seve de Campo and Bentley Walker-Broose at the first event in Ruka.

The third key article in this XC update is call for assistance in finding a sponsor for the World Championship in Trondheim. This is an expensive event both for athletes and the Snow Australia program. At the Falun World Championship in 2015 we were fortunate to find a local Swedish company who kicked in some funding in return for branding on team headgear and inside access to the championship. Anyone with connections to potential Norwegian companies or benefactors please reach out. Individual donations can also be made to the team via the Australian Sports Foundation.

Wishing everyone a great upcoming summer or winter (as applicable).

Cheers,

Finn Marsland
Cross Country Director
Snow Australia

Read Full Update

In this edition:

• XC National Disicpline Committee
• National Team Selection
• Seeking International Sponsor
• Snowlive
• Competing Overseas