XC SKI WEEK GETS A MAKEOVER

XC Ski Week Gets a Makeover !

Cross Country skiing in Perisher has a few challenging weeks ahead of us. With Sydney locked down for most of the rest of our winter season it will be up to those of us still here to maintain and promote XC enthusiasm for the members of our community who will be able to travel to Perisher.

We have significant resources - good snow, a committed volunteer group and a strong community of XC enthusiasts. We also have a very committed coach who is managing our athlete program, albeit one with a lot of uncertainty. Interstate travel is unlikely in the near future. There are 3 FIS sanctioned events scheduled from this coming weekend, concluding on Aug 22. (1 in VIC and 2 at Perisher). It is unknown at this stage if the FIS events will proceed but the one scheduled for this weekend has already been changed to NSW and VIC state based (Non-FIS) events. This is a selection year for the Bejing Winter Olympics and I imagine there is a lot of anguish in the minds of our elite athletes.

What can we do to maintain enthusiasm and promote our sport? We can start by presenting our traditional events and activities for as many skiers as can get to them.

Available options have been discussed with various race organisers and we have come to the conclusion that any events being held in NSW this winter will be run on the Perisher trail system including access to the Porcupine/Mt Wheatley trails. Presentations will be held at the Shelter (outside, of course) and we will approach event organisers to come up with snacks that can be handed out COVID-safely – something different and give the sausage sizzlers a break.

Starting tomorrow, Friday (29 July), the NSWACT XC SPRINTS will be held to give our athletes a good run. Then the Kosci Tour on Saturday and the PXC Cup on Sunday. We will endeavour to come up with interesting variations of our trails that will include Porcupine Link, Rock Ck and Valhalla - Dan the Groomer will get a workout!

XC WEEK starts on Saturday August 7, 2021 with two FIS events followed by the Boonoona Open.

The FIS events - Sprint Sat, Distance Sunday - will be organised by those who can be there to organise with whoever can be there to participate and should be concluded by midday Sunday.
The Boonoona Open starts at 1 pm, probably with a much-reduced field because of the lack of Sydney participants.
The Charlotte Pass Open will be run from the Shelter, usual start time but again without the usual feast from KAC
Charlotte Pass Open– we will lobby Stephan for some treats to be delivered by skidoo.
The Night Relays will become the Twilight Relays with some kind of sustenance outside the Shelter at about 6pm. Start time for the Relays will be 5pm.
Coffee Tours will proceed as usual – look for the smoke signals rising out of the National Park at about 10am to guess the location of the coffee.
The KAC will start at the usual time – they do have permission to use the road so we will come up with an interesting route that might not go all the way to C Pass but will finish up outside the Nordic Shelter. This time the scrumptious snacks will come from Duane at from Alpenhof.
The Sundeck Handicap should run as normal and Cliffy has promised mouth-watering snacks to be delivered to the Shelter from the Sundeck Hotel.
Snowy Mountains Classic is on, maybe not all the way to Porcupine this time, but enough of a test for the strong and hardy.
We aren't sure what Wayne and PC have in mind for XC Week Presentations but it will be something good from outside the Shelter - presentations for all events will be held outside the Shelter.

Why are we telling you all this? We will need help all through XC Week – to share the load with running the events, but also by encouraging the locals to come along and participate. The usual event organisers and participants from Sydney will still be in lockdown (except for Gus and Ian Hordern who will represent KAC) - so it will be up to the locals to make sure that events and activities have people to run them and participate in them. How can you help?

Participate in the events and activities. There is a Local Events Calendar on the PXC website with information and access to on-line entries.
Offer to help event organisers - contact me on nswxc1@gmail.com
Offer to help at events and activities on the day - give the BBQers a break, collect flags, carry stuff, look for something that needs doing…..
Help look after the Nordic Shelter - be a COVID Marshal (link on the daily Grooming Report), which doubles as a Meet-and-Greet. It really is a social hour.
And PARTICIPATE - make the work of the organisers and other volunteers worth it.

XC Winter 2020 was quiet, relaxed and a bit lonely. XC Winter 2021 is more complicated but offers us the opportunity to share it more actively with our friends. Join us!