The Course |
The 42km Hoppet course comprised one loop of Sun Valley-Watchbed Creek-The Park-Heathy Spur and one loop of Sun Valley-Watchbed Creek-Langfords Gap-Pauls Track. The 21km Birkebeiner course was one loop of Sun Valley-Watchbed Creek-The Park-Heathy Spur. The Joey 7km course comprised one loop of Sun Valley. |
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Weather & Snow Conditions |
In early to mid winter the weather was very fickle, with each snowfall followed by warm rain, but by mid August there was sufficient cover to conduct the event. On the Friday (set-up day) it was overcast with light rain falling all day. Overnight a miracle happened – the temperature dropped sufficiently to freeze the snow, and next morning the sun rose in a clear blue sky. |
Entries |
979 from 27 nations. |
Other |
• Night Sprints: Men - Alex Legkov RUS — Women - Esther Bottomley AUS • Two time Hoppet winner Esther Bottomley places 5th overall and is first Australian. • Callum Watson is first Australian home (5th overall) in the Hoppet. • Four time Hoppet winner Ben Derrick places 10th overall (4th Australian). A fine effort again. • Just before midday on the day before the race, there was a huge land-slip on the Bogong High Plains Road just above Bogong Village, closing the road to all traffic. Competitors, officials and volunteers still on the mountain after midday had to find accommodation at Falls Creek that night while others were stranded in Mt Beauty, unable to reach their booked accommodation in Falls Creek. Many of those were taken into private homes of members of the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club and other community members. It was a terrific effort by VicRoads and Falls Creek Management to clear the road in such a short time, to have it open by 6 a.m. on race day. |
Technical Delegate (TD) |
Annmari Viljanmaa (FIN) |
Assistant TD |
Peter Cunningham (AUS) |
Winners & Best Australians | ||||
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Overall |
Best Australian | ||
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Men |
Women |
Men |
Women |
Kangaroo Hoppet |
Alex Legkov RUS |
Marina Chernousova RUS |
Callum Watson 5th |
Esther Bottomley 5th |
Birkebeiner |
Damon Morton AUS |
Anna Trnka AUS |
Damon Morton |
Anna Trnka |
Joey Hoppet |
Hamish Roberts AUS |
Sabrina Howell AUS |
Hamish Roberts |
Sabrina Howell |
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