July 15, 2010 – Winter is well under way in the southern hemisphere. Good early snowfalls have made for fantastic training conditions at the Snow Farm, New Zealand’s only Cross-Country ski resort. All the main trails are open and groomed for both classic and skating, including the Hanging Valley trail that most visitors to the Snow Farm will know well.

In Australia the Lake Mountain ski resort near Melbourne has the best natural snow cover, and though the other main cross-country ski centers Falls Creek and Perisher Valley have had limited snow falls, cold temperatures have provided for optimal snow-making conditions. The Australian cross-country ski team has just completed two weeks of training camps at Falls Creek on a combination of man-made and natural snow, and is preparing for domestic club competitions throughout the rest of July.

The 2010 FIS Australia-New Zealand Cup (ANC) kicks off at the Snow Farm on August 6. National Teams from Russia, Canada and the USA are booked in for the New Zealand legs of the series and will provide very tough competition for the local skiers. For the Australian competitions, Korea is bringing a large team, while individual skiers from Switzerland and the USA will help to bring the FIS race penalties down. The ANC series concludes with the Kangaroo Hoppet Worldloppet event at Falls Creek on August 28. The fastest skiers from the region are eligible to win the Continental Cup series and receive extra quota places on World Cup for the 2010/2011 season.

Contributed by Finn Marsland/Australian XC Ski Team