Strong USA Contingent at 2022 Kangaroo Hoppet

After two years of "Virtual Hoppets" the Kangaroo Hoppet is all set for its 30th live edition at Falls Creek on Saturday August 27. Amongst a number of elite international athletes lining up to give Australia's top cross country skiers a run for their money are US Team members Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern, who are currently at Falls Creek for a three week training camp.

As a triple medallist from Beijing 2022 and current World #2, Jessie Diggins is argueably the biggest international name ever to compete in the Hoppet. Julia Kern is no slouch with several World Cup medals already to her name and a world ranking of #20 from last season. US Team coach Jason Cork recently shared some insight into their trip to Australia this winter.

"We’re in Falls Creek to get a block of time on snow to prepare for the 2022-23 World Cup season", reported Cork on a team rest day. "Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and eager to talk about the area. Many of Jessie and Julia’s teammates are in Sweden and Norway to ski in a tunnel and do some rollerski races, and I think our experience has been a bit more inspiring."

Over the weekend Diggins and Kern had a hit-out in the Rocky Valley Rush club race hosted by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club, who also organise the Kangaroo Hoppet. While most of the Australian national team were away for the weekend at the national championship in Perisher, several Australia men gave the US women some rabbits to chase. Triple Olympian Phillip Bellingham was first over the line in the 15km event, just ahead of team-mates John Walker and Nic Blackwell, with Diggins and Kern the next two skiers to finish just over a minute back.

Kern & Diggins mid Rocky Valley Rush. Video from Jason Cork.

"The Rocky Valley Rush was a chance to do some intensity with a bib on, which was a fun, well-run event," said Cork. "This year, the women will begin to race 50km events at the Holmenkollen World Cup, and the Hoppet will act as a bit of a dry run for racing over 30km. We’ll be trying some different feeding strategies and be focused on the pacing for such a long race. We’ve seen the Merino Muster in New Zealand before, so we’re excited to see how Australia does the World Loppet!"

In addition to the US Team athletes, three athletes from Sun Valley in the USA are also out in Australia training. Peter Wolter, Jacob Adicoff and Katie Feldman were at Perisher for the races last weekend, staying with national team athlete Bentley Walker Broose who trained with the Sun Valley team in the USA prior to the winter. Wolter placed 2nd in the Australian 10km classic championship on Sunday, splitting the Aussies on the podium. The Sun Valley team now heads down to Falls Creek for the Hoppet.

Australian 10km Championship podium: L-R Peter Wolter, Seve de Campo, Bentley Walker-Broose, Lars Young Vik (3rd Australian). Photo by Karen Forman.

It seems a pretty good chance that the Hoppet podium next weekend might feature some skiers from the USA.

The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia's biggest international ski event, with participants from 22 nations already entered in the three race distances of 42, 21 and 7 kilometres.