1. The Birkebeiner Story
2. The Kangaroo Hoppet Story
3. The Alpine Crossing – Victoria
4. Perisher Valley to Kiandra – NSW
5. Specific Cross Country History
6. Ski Skating – History of…
7. Winter Olympians – recipients of the Snow Australia Medal
8. General Skiing History of Australia
9. The Origins of Skiing
10. Video History of Skiing in Australia
1. The Birkebeiner Story
The First Australian Birkebeiner … including Results – 6th September 1979 (pdf)
Summary — Victorious is Lauri Jortikka (Vic), who virtually led from the gun. In 17th place was the first woman, Robyn Rodd (Vic). A total of 83 skiers finished the course. The course was 25 km long and skied in the classical style, with skiers carrying a 5 kg pack representing the crown prince. The course started on the east side of the Dam Wall and went via Watchbed Creek to Fitzgeralds Hut, Edmondson’s Hut, Heathy Spur, and back to the Dam Wall to finish in the Nordic Bowl.
To view all Birkebeiner Results from 1979 to 1990, click [HERE].
The Birkebeiner Story incl. information about the mother (Inga) of Prince Hakon
The Birkebeiner Movie (Trailer 1:30) — The Last King
Summary — A high-stakes adventure set in the
middle Ages, in the midst of a 
great civil war. When a monarch is murdered, two of his loyal soldiers must escape with the infant heir to the throne (Prince Hakon). With half the kingdom looking to kill the young Prince, the brave warriors risk life and limb to shepherd him across treacherous snowy mountains to claim his rightful place on the throne.
The 2016 produced movie is 100 minutes long with English subtitles and costs ~$25.00 + postage from <http://www.amazon.com.au>. Note be aware of the DVD’s Region code so it will play on your DVD Player: Australia is Region 4, the USA is Region 1.
2. The Kangaroo Hoppet Story
Kangaroo Hoppet Origins — 1989 +
An interview was conducted on the origins of the Kangaroo Hoppet following Hoppet #20 in 2010. Interviewer Paul Gray and the interviewees
Allan Marsland and Paul L’Huillier (10 minutes).
Hoppet Beginnings – Click [HERE] to view.
3. The Alpine Crossing – Victoria
A little history:
The winter crossing was from the Mountain Creek Campground, up Mt Bogong (1,986m), across the Bogong High Plains to the Mt Hotham Loch Carpark. Skiers had to climb ~2,620m and descend ~1,420m over the ~55km distance.
- 1964 – Charlie Derrick (Wangaratta SC). Died attempting The Crossing (C)
- 1975 – Danny Flynn (Wangaratta SC) (10 hrs 15 min). Classic technique (C).
- 1980 – Robin Gibb, John Kerby & Bill Woods ((Wangaratta SC) 12 hours (C).
- 1985 – Audun Enderstad (USA Olympian) 5 hrs 53 min, Christine Brugger (SwissOlympian) 8 hrs 17 min, Phil Rumpff (AUS) 8 hrs 45 min & Andrew Walker (AUS) 9 hrs 53 min. Skating technique but using classical skis and boots. No specific skating equipment was invented in 1985. Skating internationally started in 1985.
- 2016 – Matt O’Keeffe (AUS) – Falls Creek Ski Patrol Manager (20 hrs) (C)
- 2018 – Phil Bellingham (Birkebeiner NSC) & Mark Pollock (Wangaratta SC). Both are National XC Ski Team members (8 hrs 30 min). Skating technique.
- 2019 – Jamila Tyrril – Bright Vic (11 hrs 30 min). Used alpine touring skis & boots (C)
Note — For comparison, the running record is: Men 6hrs 37min 05sec (Julian Spence 2017) and for Women: 7hrs 48min 42sec (Lucy Bartholomew 2016).
A Map of the Crossing
(Mountain Creek to Hotham Heights)
The Diamond Straight Jacket – what is that? (pdf)
Summary — According to cross-country skiing folklore in Victoria, you have to be crazy to attempt some of the long-distance journeys across the southern Alps and high plains. You need, they say, to be put in a straitjacket.
1964 Charlie Derrick’s Final Crossing (pdf)
Summary — The idea for a winter crossing from Mountain Creek to Mt Hotham first took shape in 1964 between a group of keen skiers from the Wangaratta Ski Club. (Article supplied with thanks by Chris & Ben Derrick – August 2019).
1980 Wangaratta Ski Club Crossing (pdf)
Summary — This crossing was made by three Wangaratta Ski Club members — Robin Gibb, John Kerby & Bill Woods. They completed it in 12 hours on classical skis.
1985 Bogong High Plains Winter Crossing (pdf)
Summary — This crossing was made by Audun Endestad (USA Olympian), Christina Brugger (SUI Olympian), Andrew Walker (AUS) & Phil Rumpff (AUS). They used classical skis and boots. No specific skating equipment was invented in 1985. Skating internationally started in 1985. The winter crossing was from the Mountain Creek Campground, up Mt Bogong (1,986m), across the Bogong High Plains to the Mt Hotham Loch Carpark. Skiers had to climb ~2,620m and descend ~1,420m over the ~55km distance. Recorded times: • Audun (USA) — 5 hrs 53 min, • Christina (SUI) — 8 hrs 17 min, • Phil — 8 hrs 45 min & • Andrew — 9 hrs 53 min.
2018 Mt Bogong – Hotham Winter Crossing (pdf)
Summary — Two National XC Ski Team members completed The Crossing in a time of 8 hrs 30 min. Phillip was the first Birkbeiner NSC member to do so and Mark was Wangaratta Ski Club’s fifth member (Danny Flynn in 1975 was the first) to complete the journey.
4. Perisher Valley to Kiandra Crossing – NSW
1985 Perisher to Kiandra Crossing — David Hislop
Summary — On 6th September 1985, David Hislop (NSW) shattered the Perisher Valley to Kiandra crossing record held for 21 years by Finnish skier Robbie Kilpinen. Kilpinen’s time for the 80 km journey, set in August 1964, was 8 hours 11 minutes. Hislop skiing solo over some of Australia’s toughest and wildest terrain completed the distance in 6 hours and 18 minutes. What made the achievement even more remarkable was that he had attempted the trip two days earlier, only to get lost after nine hours of skiing.
2020 Perisher to Kiandra Crossing — Anthony Evans & Chris Darlington
Summary — On 1st September 2020 Anthony Evans and Chris Darlington skied the Perisher Valley to Kiandra crossing in 6 hours 55 minutes covering 81km.
5. Specific Cross Country History
Development of Cross Country Skiing Track-Setting/Grooming in Australia (late 1960’s – 2018)
Summary — covers the equipment and machinery used, who operated and developed it, and the resorts where it was used.
Telemark Nordic Ski Club (pdf) — 25 years of cross-country skiing (1972 – 1997)
Summary— some historical facts relating to the name of Telemark Nordic Ski Club and its activities since its formation in 1972. Telemark was the first dedicated cross-country ski club in Australia, formed by Bob & Norma Cranage.
A Brief History of Cross-Country Skiing in Australia
• Part 1 — 1975 & Earlier by Ross Martin
• Part 2 — 1976 – 1993 by Paul L’Huillier
• Part 3 — 1994 – 2004 by Finn Marsland
25 Years of Nordic Skiing in Victoria– Hartley Higgins 1984
6. Ski Skating – History of…
A Look at the History of Ski Skating— the late 1970s to 1985
Summary — This is a short account of the recent history of competitive ski skating. It has been drawn from the coaches and skiers who witnessed the “skating revolution” first hand.
Skating Revolution Holds More Surprises — 1985 discussion on the various techniques being developed.
Skating Development — Influences of Pauli Siitonen (FIN) & Bill Koch (USA)
Summary — For decades, the skating techniques lay forgotten or ignored by racers, but in the 1970s, they were reintroduced by Pauli Siitonen (FIN), whose contribution to popular racing (citizen/tour racing) and to cross-country skiing, in general, cannot be overestimated. He popularized the Sitonen Step (later called the Marathon Skate). In the 1980s, Bill Koch (USA) introduced it to the World Cup, and in 1982 won the overall World Cup using primary skating techniques.
How Skating Started — International Skiing History Association
Summary — Few sports have changed as rapidly and dramatically as did cross-country skiing in the 1980s. Cross-country competitors had universally raced with the ancient diagonal stride for over a hundred years, alternately kicking and gliding. The sport was engulfed in controversy over the new technique. Read on…
7. Winter Olympians – recipients of the Snow Australia Medal
1952 Oslo, Norway (our first XC Winter Olympians)
Bruce Haslingden & Cedric Sloane
1960 Squaw Valley, USA
Dick Walpole & Hal Nerdal
1968 Grenoble, France
Ross Martin
1980 Lake Placid, USA
Colleen Bolton
1980 (Geilo, Norway ) & 1984 (Innsbruck Austria) Para Olympics
Peter Rickards (1980), Kyrra Grunnsund (1980) & Rodney Mill (1984)
1984 Sarajevo Yugoslavia & 1988 Calgary Canada
Chris Allan (1984), David Hislop (1984, 1988) & Chris Heberle* (1988)
1992 Albertville France
Paul Gray* (1992 & 1998) & Anthony Evans (1992, 1994 & 1998)
1994 Lillehammer Norway
Mark Gray*
2006 Torino Italy
Paul Murray (2006 & 2010)*
(Includes an article on the medal presentation made to Paul Murray, Paul & Mark Gray at the 2022 Kangaroo Hoppet)
*Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club member
8. General Skiing History of Australia
Australian Mountains —Articles on the mountains of south-eastern Australia.
Summary—The website is comprehensive and includes the history of huts and buildings (including ski lodges), historical articles (1. Timber Tramlines, 2. The Re-Discovery of Moroka Gorge, 3. Snowy Mountains Main Range Development, Walking Notes, and Main Articles), and more. The site is a work in progress and is maintained by David Sisson.
Summary — Late afternoon on 21 August 1936, four ski tourers stumbled into Cope Hut. The scarcity of firewood was totally unexpected as it was a tradition that hut users ensured ample supplies were always left for those that followed. The lack of firewood was attributed to a “hobo” found in the hut when the group arrived.
A Man of the Mountains — Martin Romuld
Summary — “I think that credit for much of the background work in the initial development of Falls Creek should be given to Martin Romuldfor his early encouragement and appreciation of the beauty of the high country and of skiing!” Fred Vines was a member of the Bogong Ski Club in the 1940’s.
Skiing as a Sport was Born in Australia?
Summary—During the severe winter of 1861, skiing as a sport came to life in the gold-mining township of Kiandra, New South Wales. Historians credit Norwegian miners for making our first skis, called “snowshoes” or “snow skates,” which were used as a means of conveyance during the winter of 1860. However, it was not until 1861 that a record of skiing as a sport was published in the local newspapers.
When Skiing found its way to Australia
Summary —”Kiandra is a rather dreary place in the winter, but yet the people are not without their amusement. The hea ven-pointing snow-clad mountains afford them some pleasure. Scores of young people are frequently engaged climbing the lofty summits – with snowshoes and then sliding down with a volancy that would do credit to some of our railway trains” — (From The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 August 1861)
Ski Touring in Australia — A short history
9. The Origins of Skiing
Use of skis throughout history — Transport, Hunting & Warfare
Summary — Who was the first person to don skis in Australia? When – 1861 is a popular starting date. Aussie or a Norwegian. Skiing in Norway dates back at least to the Stone Age (8 pages).
Summary – Did you know the Fédération Internationale de Ski et de Snowboard (FIS) is 100 years old this year (2024), and when it started, it was all about Nordic skiing?
10. Video History of Skiing in Australia
The Roof of Australia– (Video 9:35)
Summary— The snowfields of the Australian Alps are larger than those in Switzerland and provide winter holidays for many Australians. Others work and live with their families above the snow line, where life is much like in other towns but with an added excitement.
Snow Australia – 150-year history (Video 7:42)
Summary — Australia has a rich and exciting skiing history and is one of the oldest skiing nations on the planet. Follow the journey from 1861 until today, and you will be amazed.
Snow on Mt Buffalo – 1938 (Video 6:48 – no sound)
Summary — A group of tourists learning to ski at Mt. Buffalo. After arriving by bus, an instructor arrives, and the lesson commences. A group of novice skiers follows their instructor in some cross-country and downhill skiing.
