The Kangaroo Hoppet is a long distance cross-country skiing race in Australia. It is held annually in Falls Creek, Victoria, on the fourth Saturday of August. The race debuted in 1979 and became part of Worldloppet in 1991.
| Kangaroo Hoppet | |
|---|---|
 Competitors massing for the start of the 2005 Kangaroo Hoppet | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Sporting event |
| Date(s) | August |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Falls Creek, Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Inaugurated | 1979 |
The event consists of three races:
- The Kangaroo Hoppet – a 42 km race which, for the purposes of the Worldloppet, counts as a main race;
- The Australian Birkebeiner – a 21 km race which, for the purposes of Worldloppet, counts as a short race;
- The Joey Hoppet – a 7 km race which does not count as either a main race or a short race.
History
editThe Kangaroo Hoppet has its origins in the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club's 21 km Australian Birkebeiner, first held in 1979 in Falls Creek. The race was based on the original Norwegian Birkebeiner. In 1989, the organisation extended the race to a 42 km race and added the 21 km race and 7 km race (originally known as the Birkebeiner Lite). The Worldloppet was then petitioned in 1990 to allow a race in the southern hemisphere, and as part of its petition the race format was changed to a freestyle event. The first race as part of the Worldloppet circuit was held in 1991.[1]
In 2024, the Kangaroo Hoppet joined Ski Classics as part of their Challenger series of cross country races,[2][3] although the race itself was cancelled a few days before it was due to take place.[4]
Cancelled events
editThe race has been cancelled four times in recent years.
- 2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic (Virtual Event only).[5]
- 2021: Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic (Virtual Event only).[6]
- 2023: Cancelled due to lack of snow.[7]
- 2024: Cancelled due to lack of snow.[4]
Winners
editMen
editWomen
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kangaroo Hoppet: History". hoppet.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ "Kangaroo Hoppet – The First Ski Classics Challengers Event in Australia". SkiClassics.com. 28 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Kangaroo Hoppet Joins Ski Classics". Snow Australia. 3 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ a b "The Kangaroo Hoppet is Cancelled". SkiClassics.com. 15 August 2024. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Hoppet 2020 Results". hoppet.com.au. 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Hoppet 2021 Results". hoppet.com.au. 18 December 2023.
- ^ "2023 Event Cancelled". hoppet.com.au. 5 February 2024.