Updated June 24
2020 Australian Winter Events Statement from the Snow Australia Cross Country Committee
Following consultation with championship event organisers, the Snow Australia Cross Country Committee has determined that official State and National Championships cannot be conducted under the current COVID-19 restrictions.
This decision is based primarily on limited resort access, closure of facilities, the restricted availability of volunteers and the operational challenges faced by race organisers to run events under COVID-19 hygiene and distancing guidelines.
The Committee is keeping the option open to run national events (possibly in a modified format) in the latter half of the season. The format of such events will be dependent on any changes in resort access, easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and other factors including potential availability of accommodation for participants. A further statement on national events will be made towards the end of July.
Consequently, the previously circulated Australian Race Calendar is now no longer valid. The earliest date that any official National Championship event would be conducted is the weekend of August 29/30.
However, Australian cross country skiers will still get the opportunity to challenge and test themselves as early as July. A number of race organisers across the ski resorts are planning to run virtual events in various formats. The general concept is that courses will be set and skiers will be able to self-time themselves using Strava or other methods similar to the popular Park Run concept.
Further details of these virtual events will be posted on AUSXC.com and via @AUSXC social media channels. Pending suitable snow conditions, the State organisations are investigating options for running virtual junior events on the weekend of July 17/18 at Perisher and Falls Creek.
Taking into account these exceptional circumstances, the National Selection Committee is reviewing National Team and international event selection criteria. Information on team selection will be released in the coming weeks
Contact: Finn Marsland
Cross Country Skiing Program Director
fmarsland@snow.org.au
Original Post June 21
Due to the hygiene and distancing protocols required to run events during this COVID-19 pandemic, all events on the 2020 Australian Cross Country Skiing Race Calendar are currently on hold.
Some events have already been changed to different formats or cancelled, including the 2020 Kangaroo Hoppet and the HGA events (cancelled) originally scheduled at Falls Creek. Other club events may be held in virtual formats without bibs, timing or officials – potential participants should look for the latest posts on social media or directly from the race organisers for information on this front.
The Snow Australia Cross Country Committee is currently developing COVID-19 safety plans that will need to be in place in order to organise championship events at both junior and open level. However, once these plans are developed and approved, further negotiation will need to take place with race organisers before events can be confirmed.
Confirmed events will be posted on the calendar page on this site.