Slovakian gold medal skier to race in 42km Hoppet - Official Home of Falls Creek Alpine Resort

(Updated Monday 16th August 2010)

Former Russian cross-country/biathlon athlete Anastasia Kuzmina and her husband Daniel Kuzmin will carry out long,slow training at Falls Creek in preparation for participating in the 20th 42km Kangaroo Hoppet.

Daniel, the Slovakian Biathlon Team Manager and partner, said: "We looked at numerous countries for Anastasia to train in our summer and selected Falls Creek in Australia. "I trained and competed in Australia, particularly Falls Creek, in 1997 and 1998 and took part in the Kangaroo Hoppet, the opening race of the Worldloppet series of long distance ski marathons, each year. "We rented a car on arrival in Melbourne and we are very grateful for the support of the organisers of the Hoppet and Falls Creek Resort Management who've provided complimentary resort entry and parking. An Olympic gold medal winner Anastasia Kuzmina who now represents Slovakia is one of a number of overseas entrants in the 20th 42km Kangaroo Hoppet held at Falls Creek every year on the last Saturday in August. "Our plan is to train at least twice a day on the groomed trails leading up to the actual race." Slovakia's Anastasia Kuzmina surprised her counterparts from the northern hemisphere powerhouse nations (including the Russians) when she clinched gold in the Biathlon Sprint event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver earlier this year. It was the nation's first Olympic gold medal and Anastasia became a national hero in her new home. Anastasia also won a silver medal in the Biathlon category events which emphasised just how talented she is. To have an Olympic gold medal winner participating in this year's Kangaroo Hoppet is quite a coup for Falls Creek. There's about 21 different nations from north of the equator making the long trek down under to enter the 20th Kangaroo Hoppet. Hannes Larsen, a Worldloppet Master who has entered more than 150 of the citizen-style races world-wide, has indicated he'll be at the start in this year's Kangaroo Hopet.

Watari Omori, Andrew Mock & Ben Sim Pic: David de Gama

(Updated Thursday 12th August 2010)

The fresh snow this week has resulted in the opening of another ski lift, the iconic Lakeside Poma, in Sun Valley.

This adds additional ski lift capacity for the resort's many guests who enjoy the well groomed trails in what is undoubtedly the most popular area of Falls Creek Alpine Resorts. Whilst there is some great terrain opening up for the more accomplished skiers and boarders off the Summit Chairlift Sun Valley is the domain for intermediate snow enthusiasts. Cross-country skiers are taking advantage of the gradual increase in the amount of groomed trails leading up to the Kangaroo Hoppet which is held in late August. Ditto for the alpine skiers and in the snowmaking areas there's over a metre depth and the average natural snow depth at Falls Creek is hovering around 70cm. If the unusual weather pattern we are experiencing continues we'll have even more snow for the weekend.

Laif Moegel skiing the Village with fresh snow 12th Aug 2010 Pic: Matt Hull

(Updated Wednesday 11th August 2010)

An interesting weather pattern has had an upside for snow enthusiasts - more snow overnight which enabled the alpine resort to open its popular Tube Park in the Village Bowl.

The long term gain (from the current snowfalls) is that the 'pointy end' of the winter season, enjoyed by skiers and boarders, is assured. International riders and cross-country skiers are about to arrive in Falls Creek to participate in annual events such as Stylewars and the marathon-length Kangaroo Hoppet which takes place on the last Saturday in August. In between those two exciting events is an inaugural dog sled exhibition race under lights, a live broadcast by high-profile FOX FM personalities, a visit by footy legend Jason Akermanis and the annual Big Air comp in the alpine resort's renowned Terrain Park.

6 year old Will from Melbourne. Pic: Chris Hocking

(Updated Tuesday 10th August 2010)

The heavy snowfalls in late July provided excellent cross-country skiing, with many describing last weekend's trails along the lines of 'as good as it gets anywhere in the world'.

With more snow predicted for later this week, things are looking good for a great course for the twentieth 42km Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek which is held on the last Saturday in August (28th) each winter at Victoria's largest alpine resort. It, the Hoppet, is the highlight of the Australian cross-country season. The event has reached a significant milestone celebrating the 20th year it has been held at Falls Creek. "Who would have thought back in 1991 that the Kangaroo Hoppet would still be around twenty years later, asked Alan Marsland who has been at the helm of the event since it began. In fact Marsland was spruiking the concept of staging the first race in the Worldloppet circuit even before he got the green light to host the most significant cross-country race in Australia. He was supported from day one by what he calls the true believers in the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club and their friends in the Mount Beauty /Falls Creek communities. The 20th marathon-length Kangaroo Hoppet is expected to entice Winter Olympians from north of the Equator and some of the elite Australians. It also encourages a swag of recreational cross-country (and alpine) skiers to have a crack at completing a very demanding race. Over 1200 skiers are expected from more than twenty nations, to be at the start line when the gun is fired on August 28. The Kangaroo Hoppet has established itself as the largest annual international ski event in the southern hemisphere. The combination of 42km, 21km and 7km events on the same day ensures that skiers of all ages and abilities have the chance to take part in a major international event.

Pic: Ken Bell