USA sweep as Kanga Hoppet fires up again at Falls Creek

ALMOST 1000 cross country skiers from 22 countries descended on Falls Creek last Saturday for the 30th staging of the Kangaroo Hoppet XC Ski Marathon. The Hoppet, part of the prestigious Worldloppet Ski Federation of marathon events, is the largest annual snowsports event in the southern hemisphere and attracts elite and citizen skiers from around the world. Perfect weather and tracks greeted the skiers as they wound their way through the course from the Falls Creek Nordic Bowl across the Bogong High Plains. The USA took out the men's and women's main 42km events with Peter Wolter and Jessie Diggins making it a US double. In the men's, a large pack skied together for 10km before Wolter put the foot down at the top of the course and was able to break the pack after 15km, winning in a time of 1:28:08. Campbell Wright from New Zealand and Lars Young Vik from Australia battled for the minor placings before Wright was able to edge ahead of Vik coming into the finish. Jacob Adicoff of the USA was fourth, with Aussie Olympians Seve De Campo and Phillip Bellingham in fifth and sixth. In the women's Diggins positioned herself well in the lead pack on the tough Paralyser climb and was able to get a break on teammate Julia Kern as the skiers descended from the Bogong High Plains, winning in a time of 1:31:50. Kern was able to put a good break on Aussie Olympian Casey Wright, who beat Kat Paul for the final podium placing. In the 21km women's Pheobe Cridland (59:17), Heli Laajoki and Emily Champion took the podium places and Noah Bradford (55:44), Declan Bourke and Adam Bennet took out the podium in the men's. In the 7km, which highlights the Australian skiing stars of the future, victory in the women's went to Damika Morton (16:39)ahead of Maddie Hooker and Rosie Franzke. The men's podium was filled by Jayden Spring (15:52), Alberto Allan and Clancey Harvey. After a two–year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, it was great to have the Hoppet back on the international stage. Race director, Ben Derrick, paid tribute to all the volunteers that come together for the event. "We have over 100 volunteers involved in staging the event that are made up of local skiers and non–skiers alike," he said. "After a couple of years of forced cancellation it was great to see the enthusiasm and passion that our community brings to the sport." The 30th staging of the Hoppet is an amazing achievement for all involved in the event. "The far–sighted and aspirational dreaming and planning from the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club in the late 1980s has really paid enormous dividends for the sport and the local community," said Derrick. "It is a celebration of everyone who has been involved in the event". The Worldloppet series move on to New Zealand for the Merino Muster next week.

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