A pre-season social catch up of members usually run off the mountain (e.g. Mount Beauty) in a larger hall space such as the Senior Citizens Centre, Tawonga Crescent, Mount Beauty during June. It could be a curry night or cassorole night and usually includes an ability to swap and sell xc gear.
Events Overview
The Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club run a number of events over the year incluiding:
A Pre-Season Dinner - June
Birkebeiner Classic Race - July
The club runs this xc ski race from the Nordic Bowl at Falls Creek every year (snow permitting). It is one of the few Classic-style races in the race calendar meaning that it is accessible to beginner skiers through to advanced skiers.
It originated on 23 July 1983 as the Birkebeiner Junior Classic. The Club started the event because there were so few junior races on the calendar. Skating in races had not been ‘invented’ at that point. It was probably sometime in the ’90s that the event became the Birkebeiner Classic and was open to juniors and seniors. The distances are now 2.5, 5 & 10km.
Mid-season Dinner - July
A mid-season social dinner usually run off the mountain (e.g Mount Beauty) where the club's Birkie Award and Life Membership are presented. Numbers are limited as the club usually subsidises this event, so you need to RSVP early so you don’t miss out.
Ski de Femme in August
The Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club runs the Ski de Femme event at Falls Creek annually. This community event has been going on since July 1994 and is run by volunteers as a day out on cross-country skis for women.
Ski de Femme offers free cross-country skiing instruction in small groups for novice and intermediate skiers in choosing classical or skating techniques. The clinics are fun and an excellent way for women of all abilities to learn about or improve their cross-country skiing. After the instruction sessions there is a fun race that is usually run to people can experience what xc racing is all about.
Enjoy yummy scones and a cup of tea, and you’ll be in the running for one of the many spot prizes.
Participating in Ski de Femme is free!
Before the clinic, equipment can be hired at Windy Corner from YMCA Falls Creek Cross Country.
The first Ski De Femme was in 1994, and BNSC has proudly run it every year since (except during Covid). Jenny van der Ploeg and Helen L’Huillier organised the first event that around 100 women and girls attended and since then it has grown with Ski De Femme Coordinator – Ronice Goebel at the helm with the aim of getting even more girls and women out having fun cross-country skiing.
Rocky Valley Rush and Sun Valley Ramble - August
Rocky Valley Rush (15km) and the Sun Valley Ramble (7.5km) ski races take place at Falls Creek every year. The races are conducted in both classic and freestyle styles and is a great way to warm up before the Kangaroo Hoppet that is usually run the following weekend.
This race was originally started by Helen & Paul L’Huillier and Brian Woinarski back in 1976 and was conducted in the ‘classical style‘. It has been run by the Victorian Ski Association XC Committee, Telemark Nordic Ski Club and is now run by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski club.
Kangaroo Hoppet - August
Every year, on the fourth Saturday of August, over 1000 cross country skiers of all nationalities, ages and abilities come to Falls Creek for the Kangaroo Hoppet. This unique event, held on Falls Creek’s world class network of groomed trails extending out into the Bogong High Plains of Australia’s Alpine National Park, is a great opportunity for everyone from beginners to Olympians to step into their skis and celebrate cross country skiing in Australia.
The 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, a member of the prestigious Worldloppet series, is the signature race in the event. It attracts both elite skiers from Australia and overseas, and passionate cross country skiers who enjoy the sense of achievement that comes from completing Australia’s premier cross country ski race.
For those who don’t feel up to the challenge of the longer distance, there’s the 21km Australian Birkebeiner and 7km Joey Hoppet that allows everyone to be part of an international ski event in a safe and fun environment.
Spectators can enjoy the awesome atmosphere in the Falls Creek Nordic Bowl and cheer all the participants along at both the start and finish lines.
The Hoppet started in 1979 when the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club decided to hold their own version of the famous Birkebeiner race and the 25km Australian Birkebeiner was held with some 80 participants, all carrying a 5kg pack (the pack symbolised the weight of Prince Haakon part of the original Birkeberiner legend). The course started and finished at the alpine ski village of Falls Creek, and took participants out into the wilderness area of the adjacent Bogong High Plains.
The Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club has been actively running and supporting this community event since 1979. Birkebeiner members are expected to volunteer and help our on the day and we also have a two Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club representatives on the Hoppet Committee.
You can find our more about the Kangaroo Hoppet, how to volunteer and enter on their website - hoppet.com.au
End of season BBQ - Nov/Dec
The Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club holds an end of season social event by the picnic area by the lake at Mount Beauty. It is a fun event where we all get together and talk about what went well for the season and hear who is going overseas to ski over the Australian summer season.
