August 24, 2013 (Falls Creek, Australia) – As the XXII Winter Olympic season gets underway the Russians have once again served notice that they mean business this season as Alexander Legkov lead a Russian sweep in the men’s 42km FR race at the 23rd Kangaroo Hoppet. Ilya Chernousov claimed second and his brother Alexey was third. The top North American was August Teague (USA) from Aspen, Colorado, a member of the Aspen Valley Ski Club (AVSC) and coach for the Far West Nordic Ski Education Association.

Marina Chernousov, 16th overall, took the women’s top step over American Lauren Fritz from Alaska, an APU Nordic Ski Center skier, with Japan’s Chisa Obayashi in 3rd. Fritz won the 2013 Boulder Mountain Tour and recently won the women’s Sprint at the FIS Australia/New Zealand Cup in Perisher Valley. The USA’s Jessica Yeaton, also from Alaska and currently skiing for Montana State University, was 5th.

Results here.