Sprint finish at 2017 Kangaroo Hoppet

Image: Miles Havlick of the USA narrowly edging out Australian XC Ski Team's Phil Bellingham

Perfect snow conditions and bluebird weather saw the 27th Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek over the weekend with Australian Barbara Jezersek and USA's Mile Havlick claiming top honours in the premier 42km event.

Over 1,000 skiers from 22 countries took part in what is the largest international ski event in the southern hemisphere.

The Kangaroo Hoppet is the Australian leg of the Worldloppet series of international ski marathons, which encompasses 20 events from 20 countries across the world. Heavy snowfalls in recent weeks followed by a number of sunny days and cold nights made for well packed snow and fast racing conditions across the stunning Bogong High Plains.

The men’s 42km event was the closest in the race history, with just half a boot between Havlick and runner-up Phillip Bellingham from Mt Beauty, and 4 seconds separating the top four.

Third place went to two-time Hoppet winner Valerio Leccardi from Switzerland, ahead of Callum Watson from Jindabyne. The women’s field was more spread out, with Sydney/Jindabyne based Jezersek skiing a predominantly solo race for first well clear from Mary Rose from the USA and Iris Pessey from France.

Bellingham lead the pack of four men over the final hill into the stadium, however Havlick was on his heels and pulled out to sprint for the line with just 30m to go. Both skiers lunged over the line and Havlick’s outstretched foot delivered him the win.

Havlick has been in Australia since the start of winter, coaching with the local Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club at and also training regularly with national team athletes at the Falls Creek National Training Centre. Racing at the Australian Championships at Falls Creek last weekend Havlick had to settle for minor podium places behind Bellingham and Watson, today he turned the tables to take his first Worldloppet victory.

For Jezersek, this was her third time on the Kangaroo Hoppet podium but her first in the top place and first since becoming an Australian citizen in 2016. A dual Winter Olympian for Slovenia in 2010 and 2014, Jezersek is now one of Australia’s leading cross-country contenders for Pyeongchang 2018. Jezersek made a clean sweep of the Australian Championships at Falls Creek last weekend, and she and Bellingham are now the leaders in the FIS Australian – New Zealand Continental Cup series.

In the 21km Australian Birkebeiner the winners were Seve de Campo from Melbourne and Darcie Morton from Marlo, Morton skiing the latter part of the race with a broken ski. In the 7km Joey Hoppet the first across the line were Seve’s younger brother Fedele de Campo and  Zana Evans from Jindabyne.

Full results are available at www.alpinetiming.com.au/results/r37/