Rocky Valley Rush

2024 — Rocky Valley Rush/Sun Val Ramble
(22.5/15/7.5km) (F) 

Sunday 11th August, starting at 10:00 am
in the Nordic Bowl at Falls Creek


Past Results


History of the Race

This race was started by Helen & Paul L’Huillier and Brian Woinarski (who were members of the Telemark Nordic Ski Club at the time) back in 1976 and was conducted by them again in 1977. It was conducted in the ‘classical style‘ in that the skating technique was unknown.

From 1978 to the early 1980s, the race was taken over by Chis Hellerud and Wally Wagner (VSA XC Committee) and gained sponsorship from Moloney’s Ski Hire of Falls Creek (where Gebi’s Ski Hire was previously located). The VSA XC Committee, under the leadership of John Aitken, continued the running of the race until 1987. The Telemark Nordic Ski Club took over the race in 1988. Telemark conducted the race regularly for the following 16 years. The last race was conducted by Telemark NSC in 2004. Due to a lack of support within a dwindling Telemark NSC membership, the race was cancelled in 2005.

The race was changed from classical to freestyle in the early 1990s. In 2015, it was conducted in both styles.

Until it was cancelled in 2005, the ‘Rush’ was conducted on the weekend before the Kangaroo Hoppet. In 2008, the Birkebeiner Race Committee decided to conduct an event in its place on the weekend before the Hoppet. This race was called the Wallaby (15km) and Wombat (7.5km) and was planned to be held every second year as the National Championships were planned to be held in alternative years. Some members of the race committee wanted to see the tradition of the ‘Rush’ reinstated, and hence the club has had the  Rocky Valley Rush (15km C/F) and the ‘Sun Valley Ramble (7.5km C/F) at Falls Creek placed back on the National Race Calendar. It is now held every year.

In 2015, the Telemark Nordic Ski Club decided to conduct the event again. It had sections for both the classical style and freestyle.

In 2017, the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club will conduct the event using both classical and skating styles.

Alice Hamilton – 2nd RV Rush (F) 2015

Alice Hamilton – 2nd RV Rush (F) 2015

Start 2015

Start 2015

2015 finish line action - Bob Cranage on the Mic.

2015 finish line action – Bob Cranage on the Mic.