XC events set to kick off the Australian Championship series this weekend

The opening event of the 2017 Australian Championships and FIS Australia New Zealand Continental (ANC) Cup series kicks off this weekend with the Australian Cross Country Championships in Perisher 22-23 July.
 
Australia’s World Cup Cross Country team members and 2014 Olympians Phillip Bellingham, Callum Watson, Aimee Watson and Barbara Jezersek will be out in force and looking to get their 2018 Olympic campaign off to a good start ahead of selections in January.
 
2016 ANC series winner Bellingham, 26, will be vying for a back to back series win after an outstanding season that saw him on the podium in all five ANC Cups that he contested. 

“I'm looking forward to racing again, although my main focus is looking towards the 2018 Winter Olympics I still want to defend my continental cup title" Bellingham said.

Also competing will be 2016 series winner and 2018 Olympic hopeful Katerina Paul, 21, who will be looking to back up her fantastic 2016-17 season where she podiumed in two Australian Championship events, made her World Cup debut, and also debuted at the World Ski Championships in Finland with an impressive 3rd place in the 5km qualification race.

"I'm excited to be back racing in Australia after my first major season as a senior," Paul said.  "It's always exciting to see who has made improvements over the Australian summer and it's always fun to be racing at home."

With plenty of snowfall at Perisher this week, the courses are looking in great shape for athletes to be put to the test in a Freestyle Sprint on Saturday and the Classic 5km and 10km races on Sunday. 
 
Results from this event will also count towards selection for the 2017-18 Australian Junior Team who will battle it out in the Australian Junior Cross Country Championships at Falls Creek 29-30 July.

Alexandra Rouse
Ski & Snowboard Australia

Images: Kat Paul winning the 2016 series | Phil Bellingham on left at the Perisher XC Australian Open