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By popular demand: Scott Johanik working on his V2 Hop Skate at the Northland Endurance Camp in August.  Nice work, Scotty!

Back in town for less than a day and rejoined the CXC crew for trail clearing on the Birkie trail and Chequamegon course.  The trail is in some of the best shape I’ve ever seen in my life.  Looks like a golf course.  Felt good to take in the refreshing scent of a pine forest and get some sap on my hands after 3 weeks of eucalyptus and gum trees.  Lots of folks out pre-riding the Fat Tire trail for the race next weekend.  Rad to see so many riders.  If you  haven’t been up north lately, get up to Hayward and do some riding.  The trails have never been better!

Hucking trees wasn't enough work for Gus who hammered out 150 push-ups on the manicured trail.

Back in the USA.  Still traveling and will get out a more detailed update shortly, but for now, enjoy the kangaroos I saw on my last day in Mt Beauty.

My Australian adventure is winding down faster than I would like.  After the Hoppet, I kept skiing as much as possible, enjoying the sunshine and camaraderie.  That caught up with me yesterday when I woke up absolutely exhausted and took a relaxing day off to catch up on some much needed rest.  Got out for more skiing this morning, though the weather is moving back in quickly.  I’m pretty sure the Dam Wall in Falls Creek could give Mt Washington a good run for the windiest place on Earth.

Wrapped up my final intensity workout on snow for a few months this morning, hammering up the Paralyzer a good six times on my classic skis.  Tomorrow, I’ll get out for a final long ski in the morning, before packing and heading out in the afternoon (read: ahvo).

One of the big highlights I’m looking forward to is catching an Aussie Rules Football match in Melbourne on Friday night – Geelong vs. St Kilda.  It’s the semi-final championship game of the season, equivalent to the NFC championship for the NFL.  Not exactly sure how we got tickets, but I can’t wait for the game, taking place at the MCG Stadium – Home of the 1964 Melbourne Olympics.  Should be a good chance to experience some real Aussie culture.

For now, here’s a shot of a few of my new Australian crew.  All the folks I’ve met Down Under have gone a long way towards helping make this an epic summer (or winter) trip.  Thanks!

Two days after the Hoppet, conditions are perfect for crust skiing.  Finn Marsland, Valerio Leccardi, Esther Bottomley, Nick Grimmer, and I had an epic ski this morning.  Instead of boring you with words, I give you photos from the Falls Creek High Planes and the Bogong Plateau, high atop Australia.  Enjoy!

How's that scroggin?

After ten days of murky, overcast Australian skies, I awoke on Saturday morning to bright sunrays streaming through the window. A vivid bluebird day was the ideal backdrop to the 2010 Kangaroo Hoppet. Three feet of fresh powder fell on Falls Creek during the week and was groomed to perfection under the Southern Cross the night before the race. Over 1000 skiers from around the world toed the line for either the 42km Hoppet, 21km Australian Birkebeiner, or the 7km Joey Hoppet.

Photo: Matt Hull - Falls Creek

The cannon blasted at 9:30am and we were off without a hitch. The field strung out quickly through what locals appropriately call “Sun Valley.” The front runners took turns at the lead and by the time we came through the first aid station at 7km, there was already a five man breakaway, including four-time Hoppet champ Ben Sim, Continental Cup champ Callum Watson, Australian biathlete Alex Almoukov, Swiss sprint Olympian Valerio Leccardi and yours truly.

Sim leading the train

Once we realized we had broken away from the field, the pace settled into a consistent cruise. The local resort television station had a snowmobile documenting the race, making the race feel that much more Pro. The first 10km of the 21km loop are very flat, skirting around the Rocky Valley Dam reservoir. The second half of the loop gets hilly, with a 6km constant V1 climb, dubbed “the Paralyzer.” I took the lead up the Paralyzer and was treated to untracked corduroy snaking up through the snow gum trees. Our little group stuck together over the high point and back down through the lap.

On our second lap, the race got a little more interesting as we lapped hundreds of skiers in the smaller races, darting through tiny gaps and getting cheers from the folks we passed. There was even a pair of snow bunnies who, upon getting passed, called out with their lovely Australian accents, “Hey fellas, mind stopping to give us a quick lesson?” Man, life is full of tough decisions.

The Crew with Antarctic Expedition Training Center and Boat House in background

Before I knew it, I was back with the pack and cruising up the Paralyzer for the second time—a little faster than the first. Leccardi laid down the hammer over the top and shattered our little group into pieces. Unfortunately, I was the caboose of the train and almost derailed on the fast descent. It was fun slaloming past the lapped skiers, but the gap between me and the leaders kept getting bigger. In the end Leccardi comfortably took the win, with Almoukov, Sim, Watson, and I rounding out the Top-5 in about 1 hour 40 minutes—over six minutes ahead of the next skier.

Simbo and Almoukov going for second. Photo: Matt Hull - Falls Creek

Skiers kept coming across the finish line for the next six hours. Among them was my dad, in Australia for the Hoppet—completing his 11^th Worldloppet marathon. We kicked back at the finish line, soaking up the warm Australian sun in t-shirts, enjoying big kangaroo burgers after an exciting day at the races.

Jimbo at Falls Creek Nordic Bowl

I’ve got another week here Down Under and look forward to enjoying some more sun and ideal winter conditions before heading home.

You can also follow along (“like” CXC Skiing) at facebook.com/cxcskiing

Ideal day for the 2010 Hoppet–first time seeing my shadow (and also the sun) in Australia!  Cruised the 42km with a 5 skier lead pack.  Lost a little juice towards the end and finished 5th, about a minute out from champ Valerio Leccardi.  My Dad wrapped up his 11th Worldloppet marathon with a 3:14 42km Hoppet.  Enjoyed a brat while soaking up the rays after the race.  Photos and report to follow. . .for now, we’re off to Mt Beauty for awards and celebration.

Winter Carnival weekend here in Falls Creek with big festivities for the Kangaroo Hoppet.  Last night included opening ceremonies with fireworks, parade including an over-snow fire truck, and Night Sprints.  Similar to the Elite Sprints down Main Street in Hayward, this sprint featured a steep downhill start with some fast corners and short climbs on a short 300m course.  Knockout rounds including quarters, semis, and final were exciting with some hard crashes and lots of spectators.  The men’s final featured and All-Olympic cast, including Australians Ben Sim, Alex Almoukov (biathlete), and Swiss sprinter Valerio Lecardi.  I came in second behind Valerio in a last-second lunge to the line.  Afterwards, it felt good to ski to the top of the Alpine run and rip some tele turns in the fresh falling powder.

The snow looks to be finally letting up, just in time for the Hoppet tomorrow.  I’m heading out the door to do a little course inspection (haven’t even skied the entire course yet!), then go through the pre-race prep, getting skis dialed, big pasta dinner, and packing up for an early race start tomorrow morning.  Saturday’s race should be done by the time Americans are heading to bed on Friday night!

In the middle of Australia’s storm of the decade at the moment.  In addition to the constant snow last week, it’s snowed over 2 feet in the past 24 hours.  Groomers are running almost constantly, keeping the track firm and fast.  I drove down the mountain with some of the Australian’s yesterday in hopes of doing some running on the famous Mt Beauty single track and seeing some kangaroos.  The trails were awesome, even though it was pouring rain and 40 degrees.  The ‘roos must’ve been inside staying dry, because I didn’t see any.

It took us half an hour to dig out Callum’s truck before the trip (I want to get my hands on a Toyota Hilux).  This picture was taken before the big snow storm!  As the license plate says, Victoria is “The Place to Be.”

Kangaroo Hoppet Night Sprints under the lights on the alpine hill – tonight!  Stay tuned. . .

Two hour distance ski this morning with Aussies, Swiss, Americans, and a handful of other internationals.  Couldn’t see from the back of the train to the front it was so long (and the snow was coming down so fast).  Heading off the mountain for the first time in a week this ahvo for a run on the local single-track.  Hoping to see some kangaroos and get some pics. . .