AUSTRALIA'S top cross country skiers will be competing at Falls Creek this weekend (July 30/31) in the Australian Open Cross Country Sprint and Distance championships.
Members of the Australian Cross Country Ski Team will be hoping to put in strong performances.
They ramped up their 2022 domestic season in late June, participating in their first national on–snow training camp at Falls Creek.
Some 26 junior and senior athletes, plus coaches, came together to make the most of the phenomenal weather conditions in the first full cross country program camp since before the COVID pandemic.
The training camp was a success with the help of NSW/ACT coach Alexei Sotskov, Victorian junior coach Robbie Catto–Smith, XC director Finn Marsland and former national team athlete turned coach Paul Kovacs.
They were joined by Kate Mulcahy, all the way from California, who is out for the season as the Falls Creek National Training Centre coach.
"It was fantastic to finally bring together most of our senior and junior skiers for a week of organised training," coach Sotskov said.
"The focus of the camp was to set a tone for the Australian on–snow training, define new developments in the sport and in the technical aspect of the movements.
"We also managed to run a time trial race to allow athletes to have an understanding of their level of preparedness for the FIS and national–level races.
"This camp gave us coaches an additional assurance that the team is on track to have a productive training and racing season."
Training sessions for the week included level three intervals, short double pole and free skate time trials, long distance training and technique work.
Off–snow activities included physical screening with national team physio Tim Retchford, discussions on training theory and international planning, as well as a scavenger hunt on snow and evening trivia.
Back for her first Australian winter since 2019, XC athlete Katerina Paul said it was fantastic to come together with her teammates for base level testing and team bonding.
"Training camps are an essential part of being an athlete, it was great to train together under a variety of talented coaching staff to work on technique and fitness," Paul said.
"Most importantly, it is a chance for all the athletes to strengthen the bond as a team and motivate each other."
