Falls Creek extend support of XC Team through to 2025

Snow Australia and the Falls Creek Alpine Resort are pleased to announce an extension of the cross country skiing National Training Centre partnership through until 2025. The partnership includes annual cash and in-kind support, and a mutual commitment toward the development of the sport.

Falls Creek has been the official home of the National Team since 2004, with a dedicated Falls Creek Training Centre coach in place throughout the winter since 2011. The relationship has helped Australia produce a steady stream of cross country skiing athletes competing internationally at World Junior Championship and World Championship events, and an increase in Winter Olympic participation from three athletes for the first time in 2006 to six athletes in 2018 and 2022.

Kat Paul, Zana Evans and Phoebe Cridland on the podium at the 2022 Australian Championships at Falls Creek.

Snow Australia's current XC Program Director, Finn Marsland, was the National Team Coach when the Falls Creek agreement was established in 2004.

"Quality training opportunities and a strong domestic competition circuit are essential for athlete development," said Marsland, who grew up skiing at Falls Creek from an early age. "Over the years the faces behind the grooming machines have changed, however throughout this partnership Falls Creek's commitment to world-class trail grooming for both training and competition has been unwavering."

During the partnership renewal discussions, Snow Australia discussed at length the proposed Falls Creek Lakeside Development Project and the potential impact of winter access to the ANARE shed along the High Plains Road. Without viable alternatives for both race courses and on-snow skier access from the village, Snow Australia does not support road clearing past Windy Corner during the winter months. Falls Creek Alpine Resort confirmed that a decision to clear the High Plains Road during winter had not been made, and would not be made in the future without further community consultation including with cross country ski clubs and other user groups.

"Though we have different views on the winter activation of the Lakeside Development Project, both organisations are committed to seeing Falls Creek remain the premier cross country skiing resort in Australia," said Marsland. "This can only be done with the support of the local skiing community. We look forward to working together with the Falls Creek Alpine Resort and all cross country skiing stakeholders to resolve this issue and to develop long-term strategies for the improvement of trail infrastructure and public facilities.

2023 will see the Australian Open Championships return to Falls Creek on August 19-20, the weekend before the Kangaroo Hoppet. National Team on-snow training camps commence at Falls Creek at the end of June, with a new full-time National Training Centre coach to be recruited before the 2023 winter.