Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club Inc.

Blair Hume (co-ordinator) had a team of 32 people including six kids in attendance over the two days. A heap of work was done. Geoff Sorensen (Resort Management) and Kevin Cosgriff (Parks Vic) were also in attendance to co-ordinate work in their areas.

Work completed — replacing the sound system on the Race Hut, re-aligning the Watchbed Creek to Langfords Gap pole line, i.e. it now follows the road, and placing poles used to erect snow-fencing along sections of this part of the road, slashing scrub in the Nordic Bowl and at Panorama Corner and removing overhanging tree branches at Panorama Corner, placing poles along sections of the High Plains Road between the dam wall and Watchbed Creek to affix snow-fencing, drainage/pipework on the Sun Valley loop, relocating some poles on the aqueduct between the bowl and Wombats Ramble, servicing the snowmobile and cleaning the clubhouse.

Thanks to Stuart and Cath Richardson who looked after the BBQ and lunch arrangements on Saturday and to Allan Marsland and Jim Gargan on Sunday. Thanks to Blair Hume who ordered and delivered the meat and other supplies.

Attendees — Blair Hume*, Brian Keeble, Peter Smith, Gray family (Paul, Bronwyn, Hanna), Peter & Robyn Burgess*, Allan Marsland*, Frankze family (Ian, Rosie, Bethany, Chloe), Tony Pammer, Ronice Goebel, Jeanette McLaren, Michelle Forrer, Richardson family (Stuart, Cath, Isaac, Max), Jim Gargan*, David Hunt, Roger Blackwell, Russell Bellingham, Jim Crebbin, Warren Sanders, Tom McMahon, Paul L’Huillier, Geoff Sorenson* (Resort Management), Kevin Cosgriff & Andrew Kromar* (Parks Vic).
   *attended both Saturday & Sunday.

Alpine Shire Council has the opportunity to offer a number of heavily subsidised first aid training places for volunteers from community and sporting groups in the Shire.

There are two places available per organisation. The cost will be $30 per person (normally $150.00) and this will cover the cost of the training, morning tea and lunch.  The training will take a full day and there is an expectation that participants will undergo pre-course reading and worksheets before attending the course.

The club will pay the $30.00 so it is free to members. There is also a number of full-fee paying positions available — Mount Beauty $180.00, Bright/Myrtelford $150.00. Also covers the cost of morning tea and lunch.

• Mount Beauty – Sunday 2 June 2019
• Bright – Sunday 19 May 2019
• Myrtleford – Monday 20 May 2019

Please contact the secretary Ronice Goebel ASAP if interested — Mob: 0409 332 642‬ or Email <ronice.goebel@gmail.com>.  

A reminder: Club Working Bee — 27th & 28th April. RSVP to Blair by Monday 22nd April — Mob: 0404 530 358 or Email <blairhume@yahoo.com.au>

Jeanette McLaren & Jim Gargan showing off their culinary skills at a previous working bee lunch BBQ.

Date & where to meet — Volunteers should meet at the Birkebeiner Clubhouse at Windy Corner, Falls Creek on 27/28 April 2019.

Times — Meet at the clubhouse at 9:30 am, Lunch at 12:30 pm and finishing at 4;30 pm.

Personal gear & tools to bring — Warm clothes and waterproofs as appropriate for the weather. Drinking water, sunscreen and a sunhat or thermos with a warm drink – keep an eye on the forecast. Overalls or similar protective clothes, strong work gloves and boots.

Some of the tasks to tackle are:

• Re-alignment of pine pole line on Langford’s Straight to Langford’s Gap side so they can be used to mount the temporary snow fencing trialled very successfully in that area last winter. We’ll use a skid steer with an auger to dig post holes. We will need to have some traffic control and design a traffic management plan.
• Potentially install/relocate pine poles on BHP road section from Dam Wall east to Big River fire trail. To be set up to mount snow fencing and re-located to LHS of High Plains Road heading out (better for grooming operations.. .)
• Ongoing Vegetation management, particularly the trees drooping over Panorama loop trail on the section from Panorama Corner to AGL corner (on the Panorama corner end). We can access the tipper if required.
• Tidy up the ski/back-sack rack nearest the Aqueduct (replace lower railing).
• Clubhouse Spring clean and tidy up. Also the possible installation of a protective screen on the upstairs outside door.
• There are a couple of culverts which need attention also:
  • RHS of BHP Road on the approach to the dam wall – outlet needs opening up and inlet needs brush cutting and some reshaping.
  • Pipeline trail on the uphill/SE side of Little Canada.

Hope to see you there – Blair Hume (co-ordinator)
(50% of our members are not from the Kiewa Valley so it would be fantastic if some members from outside the area could make themselves available for the working bee)

Other possible tasks — Brian Keeble and Peter Smith are planning to install new speakers on the Race Hut as part of the communication system upgrade.

RSVP to Blair by Monday 22nd April — Mob: 0404 530 358 or Email <blairhume@yahoo.com.au>

The rumours were rife prior to Christmas that Vail Resorts was purchasing both Hotham and Falls Creek in Australia. However no official word was made by either party by the end of the year and those same rumours began to fade in the new year.

We can now confirm today that the worst kept secret in Australian ski industry history is a secret no more. Vail Resorts is officially acquiring the two Victorian Resorts for AU$174 million according to a press release from the publicly listed company, making it three Australian resorts on the Epic Pass including Vail owned Perisher in New South Wales.

Click [HERE] to view Full Report

More Falls Creek News

Stuart Smythe — CEO-Falls Creek Resort Management

Casting my eye across to the plateau of Spion Kopje, covered in a blanket of lush greenery, it’s hard to believe this summer has been so hot.

Plenty of the locals have anecdotal ‘evidence’ that barometers in the village exceeded 30c, but checking the official stats, since the start of December, Falls Creek recorded its hottest day this summer on January 16^th, 2019, where the mercury hit 28.2c (Note: 28.6c, February 9^th, 2009 is the hottest recorded). No wonder the lake was such a popular gathering place – not just for locals, but also visitors looking to escape the heat in the low lands.

With the climate change lenses on, I thought a quick review of how this compares to history might be worth investigating (note – official Falls Creek B.O.M. stats only go back to 1990). So, this summer, average peak temperatures have been 3.7c above the last 30 years, whilst rainfall is currently on track to meet the average of 298.7mm for the three months of summer. This might explain the lush green vegetation everywhere.

Ski and Snowboard Australia (SSA) announced on February 14th that seven Aussie skiers had been selected as part of the national team which will compete at the 2019 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld, Austria.

Beginning 20 February for almost two weeks the Aussie contingent has a formidable line up with a balance between seasoned veterans and fresh rising talent.

With four women and three men, Australia’s team includes four athletes who competed almost a year ago to the day at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Congratulations to club members Phillip Bellingham, Katerina Paul and Aimee Watson on their selection. The club wishes them well in their endeavours to ‘be the best they can be’. Valerio Leccardi (National Coach & Manager at the Championships) is also a Birkie member. Good luck with the team, Valerio.

To follow all the action visit the Official Championship Website <www.seefeld2019.com/en>

Also follow the team on facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ausxc/>

Other News

Work at the race hut — Today new storage racks were constructed to house the V boards and separate the aluminium orange poles with clips and without clips (race organisers please take note). This was a Brian Keeble initiative – thanks Brian. On another occasion Brian placed a number of stumps under the race hut to support the old floor (a big job). The old hut has been in the Nordic Bowl since 1989. Click [HERE] to view its history.

Mystery couch at the clubhouse – The pictured couch was placed in the clubhouse some time after winter. The committee has no knowledge of who placed it there. It is in the children’s ‘play space’ and is an inconvenience. The committee has asked that whoever put it there could they please remove it.