XC National Team for 2023-2024

Snow Australia is pleased to announce the selection of the Cross Country Skiing National Team for 2023/24. Twenty-seven athletes will take their place in the World Cup, Continental Cup, U23 and Junior teams, including five Winter Olympians and five athletes making their debut on the team.

* Discretionary selections
** First year on the National Team

Some of the Australian Team at the 2023 World Junior-U23 Championship in Whistler, Canada

Major events for the team during the upcoming Northern Hemisphere winter include the 2023/24 World Cup series, the 2024 World Junior & U23 Championships, and the 2024 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). There is no open World Championship this season, however the team will be contesting more World Cups compared to 2022/2023, starting with events in Sweden and Norway in December.

Australian Team Head Coach Alexei Sotskov, continuing into his second year in the role, is looking forward to the season ahead.

"A season with no major championships is a perfect time to experiment with training volume, strategies and approach," said Alexei from the USA, where he is spending time with family before joining the team in Europe. "Our main goal is clear: building a solid foundation for the 2025 World Championship in Norway, and on towards the 2026 Olympics in Italy. The Trondheim World Cup in December is a great opportunity for the team to get to know the 2025 World Championship tracks and venue."

In January the bulk of the Junior and U23 teams will be based in central Europe, preparing for the YOG in Gangwon, Korea and the 2024 WJC-U23 in Planica, Slovenia. Australia expects to have four athletes competing in Cross Country Skiing in Gangwon, and up to 12 athletes competing in Planica. 

Rosie Fordham made her major international debut at the Youth Olympic Games in 2020, raced at the World Junior Championship in 2020 and 2022, and is now preparing to contest her second U23 World Championship. The 21-year-old also aims to make her World Cup debut in Switzerland in January.

"The Goms World Cup will be a big step forward for me," said Fordham. "The experience will help with a smooth transition from U23 to senior racing in the coming years.

"I’m also excited for another U23 Championships and hoping to build on my 30th place from last year with a stronger finish in Slovenia."

One of the athletes in line to represent Australia in Gangwon is 17-year-old Samuel Johnson from Canberra. Johnson had a breakthrough 2023 Australian winter, ending up as the #1 ranked male youth athlete (U18) for both Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon. This northern winter Johnson will continue to compete in both sports, with the YOG at the end of January as the primary focus.

"I am excited to represent Australia internationally in XC skiing for the first time after a successful and rewarding domestic season," said Johnson from Canberra, where he recently finished his final Year 12 exams. "I'm looking forward to building skills, fitness and connections both within the team and internationally in the upcoming season."

Final YOG quota places will be confirmed by FIS in December. All information about YOG selection and nomination is available in the Gangwon 2024 section on the Snow Australia website.

Preliminary Event Schedule
(events supported by Australian Team coaches)

• December 1-3 - Norwegian Cup - Gålå NOR
• December 9-10 - World Cup - Östersund SWE
• December 15-17 - World Cup - Trondheim NOR
• December 30 - January 7 - Tour de Ski - Toblach ITA, Davos SUI & Val di Fiemme ITA
• January 13-14 - Austrian Cup - Saalfelden AUT
• January 26-28 - World Cup - Goms SUI
• January 28 - February 2 - Youth Olympic Games - Gangwon KOR
• February 5-11 - World Junior/U23 Championship - Planica SLO
• February 17-18 - World Cup - Minneapolis USA

Donations to the Australian XC Ski Team can be made via the Australian Sports Foundation. All funds raised between now and February go directly towards athlete expenses in this season.

2023/2024 International Event Selection

Many athletes have already qualified for international events this season, This International XC Event selection page is updated during the season as additional athletes qualify and selections are made.

Further Information

Finn Marsland, Cross Country Program Director, fmarsland@snow.org.au