A number of members have played important roles in shaping the development of cross country skiing in Victoria and at the National level. Namely:
Allan Marsland — Race Director for the Kangaroo Hoppet and Australia’s Worldloppet representative since 1991. He was the National Cross Country Chairman for three years 1993-1995 and on the National Cross Country Committee since the mid 90’s to 2010. He has been a member of the FIS Popular Cross Country Race Committee since 1996. Currently he is Chairman of Ski Cross Country Victoria.
Brian Keeble — National Cross Country Committee Victorian delegate and National Technical (TD) Co-ordinator for many years. In 1996 he acted as TD at the Sapporo Ski Marathon Worldloppet event in Japan. He was the first Australian to be accredited by FIS to act as a TD for an international overseas cross country ski race. He has managed numerous teams at Junior and Senior World Championships, the latest being at the 2015 Falun, Sweden World Senior Championships and officiated at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games, Albertville France. He has also managed a number of Junior Development Teams in Canada, Europe and Scandinavia over the years. Has been the Chief of Race (14 times) and Technical Delegate (4 times) for the Kanagaroo Hoppet since 1991 to 2011. Brian has been one of the main driving forces behind this International Cross Country Ski Race since 1991 and is still one of the most important leaders and advisers.
Finn Marsland — Was the Victorian Ski Association Sport Development Officer 1995-1997. Has been the National Cross Country Coach and Program Director since 1999+ and has coached at three Winter Olympic Games, namely Torino, Italy 2006, Vancouver, Canada 2010 and Sochi Russia 2014 and at a number of World and Junior Championships from 2001 – 2015. Has been the driving force behind the competitive side of Australian Cross Country Skiing in the 2000′s. He has been a member of the FIS Committees for Cross Country World Cup and Cross Country Rules & Control since 2005, and the chairperson of the FIS Committee for Cross Country Development since 2008. Been on the Kangaroo Hoppet course setting team since 2000.
Paul L’Huillier — National Cross Country Development Officer, Coaching Director, Ski Pool Negotiator and National Coach for 8 years (1986-94). Has coached at two Winter Olympic Games, namely Calgary, Canada 1988 and Albertville, France 1992, three World Junior Championships and one Senior World Championship. Was awarded Coach of the Year at the 1990 ASF Ski Awards. He also co-edited the Australian Cross Country News 1986-1994 (9 years) and was editor 1995-2001 (7 years). Produced the Australian Cross County Ski Training Diary (1986, ’92. ’95 & 2001 editions) and edited the Australian Cross Country Skiing Handbook in 1989 and 1993. Was Chief of Course for the Kangaroo Hoppet 1991-1999 (9 years) and for the first two trial events 1989 (Australian Birkebeiner Ski Marathon) and 1990 (Australian International Ski Marathon).
Helen L’Huillier — Race Secretary for the International Worldloppet race the Kangaroo Hoppet from 1991 t0 + and for the two trial events 1989 & 1990.
Chris Heberle — A winter Olympian – 1988 Calgary, Canada. The leader in computerizing the timing of cross country ski races in Australia from the mid 80’s. His software is still being used today. He was editor of Australian Cross Country News 1992-1994 (3 years). Won the inaugural ‘Skier of the Year Award’ at the Australian Ski Federations Award night in 1989. The only cross country skier to do so. Coordinated the Kangaroo Hoppet event timing 1991-2004.
Mark Gray — A winter Olympian – 1994 Lillahammer, Norway. Was the first Skiing Sports Development Officer employed by the Victorian Ski Association, holding that position from 1991-1994. Was coach of the Skiing Australia development team named Team Nagano that travelled to Canada to train and compete in 1995.
Andrew Slocombe — Was employed by Skiing Victoria as their Skiing Development Officer 1997-2000.
Ronice Goebel — Been involved as Manager of the Victorian Junior Squad since 2003 and went from organising a BBQ to taking on the manager’s role after Brian Keeble stepped aside in 2005. Ronice sees herself as someone who likes to make things happen, in fact someone describes her as the ‘klister’, but take that as you will! She really values the input and expertise of parents and coaches who have contributed to making the Vic Junior Team such a vibrant group to hang out with. With Jean-Claude Legras (Vic Junior Coach), she organised and assisted as coach, the biennial overseas training and development camp to North America that have underpinned a lot of skier development and camaraderie. In 2014 she was assistant manager at the World Junior and U/23 Championships in Val de Fiemme Italy. In late 2013 she was appointed to the Ski and Snowboard Australia – National Cross Country Committee. Ronice is also on the Board of the Kangaroo Hoppet. She has skied all 16 World Loppet races and 22 Kangaroo Hoppets and is a qualified Level 1 Coach and Technical Delegate (TD).
Bruce Vine — A Victorian delegate to the National Cross Country Committee for 2 years in the early ’90’s. He established the Club Search and Rescue Group in 1982 that has been prominent in many searches in the north east of Victoria. The Group is now well recognised and respective by the States Emergency Service Agencies and is affiliated with Bushwalking Victoria’s – Bush Search and Rescue.
Heather Mull — Women’s representative on the National Cross Country Committee 1991-1992.
Allison McArdle — Editor of the Australian Cross Country News 2002-2005 (4 years). Coached the ACT Junior XC Squad and since 2010 has been assisting coaching the Victorian Junior XC Team/Squad.
In late 2013 she was appointed to the Ski and Snowboard Australia – National Cross Country Committee as the National Coaching Director. In late 2013 Allison also travelled to Canada for 2.5 months to gain extra coaching qualifications and experience.
At the 2013 Ski & Snowboard Australia Ski Awards Alison was awarded the Participation & Sport Development Award. This was a cross discipline award.
Her Award Citation reads — Over the last twelve months Allison McArdle has worked tirelessly for the betterment of Australian cross country skiing, at almost every level of the sport. On the coach education side Allison re-accredited and organised a Level 2 coaching course, built a new Level O coaching course from scratch, and revised all cross country skiing coaching resource material. She oversaw the establishment of the first Australian Fast & Female event, which had over 120 participants at Falls Creek at the start of July. Throughout the year Allison was one of the two main coaches with the Victorian Junior Squad, organising training camps and coaching at events during the Australian winter. During the international season Allison undertook a double tour, working first as manager/coach for the Australian Team preparing for the World Junior Championship, and then backing straight up to support the senior team at the World Championship in Italy and at the World Cups in Switzerland and Finland. Always putting the athletes’ interests first, Allison is an exceptional role model for athletes and coaches alike.
- Australian Junior Team Assistant Coach Nordic World Junior Championships 2003, 2004.
- Assistant Coach and Team Manager, Australian Team Junior/u23 Nordic World Championships and Nordic World Championships 2013.
- Lead Coach Australian Team Junior/u23 Nordic World Championships 2015.
Nick Grimmer
- Australian Junior Team Coach World Junior & U23 Championship Coach 2013, 2014 (Val de Fiemme Italy)
- Alaskan Junior Ski Team Coach for US Junior Nationals 2012
- Falls Creek Primary School Ski Team Coach 2013, Yackandandah Primary School Ski Team Coach 2014 and Wangaratta High School Ski Team Coach 2015
Jean Claude (JC) Legras — Victorian Junior Team Head Coach (2005+) and assistant coach at the 2015 Falun, Sweden Senior World Championships.
- Lead coach Australian Team Junior/u23 Nordic World Championships 2012
- Coach Australian Team Nordic World Championships Falun Sweden 2015
Andrew Walker — SSA XC Committee’s Technical Delegate Co-ordinator (2010+).
Paul Kovacs — SSA XC Committee’s Athlete Representative (2014+)
Ashleigh Spittle — SSA XC Committee’s Athlete Representative (2014+)
