A STRONG VOICE
Cross Country Skiing Association Victoria (XCSAV) is the voice of the Victorian cross country skiing. We represent the interests of XC skiers throughout Victoria. Our first campaign is to stop Falls Creek Resort Management clearing the Bogong High Plains Road over winter and destroying the network of XC ski trails. However, our sport faces numerous challenges including climate change, lack of investment from government, and a need for greater participation. We're here to help!
OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGN
Save Falls Creek XC
Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) are planning to clear the Bogong High Plains Road over winter from Windy Corner to enable car access to the proposed redeveloped ANARE shed and new carpark.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cross country skiing is a fun, healthy, peaceful and accessible winter sport that is easy to learn and will stay with you for life. Whether you are looking for a healthy recreational activity, to keep fit during winter, fun on for the whole family, an adrenaline rush, winter adventures or racing challenges, cross country skiing has something for everyone and Victoria has great facilities and a great community.
Cross country skiing involves two different styles, "classic" and "skate". Classic is usually what people think of when someone says "cross country skiing", and is the older style. In classic style, the skis stay parallel most of the time, and a grip section on the bottom of the skis stops them from gliding backwards.
The skating style is much newer, and uses a motion similar to rollerblading or ice skating, in that skis go out to the side in a V-shape. It uses slightly shorter skis designed only for gliding (no grip section).
Skating is more popular with sport skiers in Australia and the USA, however in much of the world classic is much more widespread. School groups and beginners are still more likely to try classic skiing.
Victoria has nine ski areas with machine-groomed cross country ski trails, along with backcountry areas both close to developed areas and in very remote locations.
Victoria has six Alpine Resorts, each of which has at least some cross country ski terrain. These are:
- Falls Creek, with an extensive network of up to 60km of groomed trails and large adjacent backcountry area.
- Mount Hotham, with a shorter network between Hotham Village and Dinner Plain, and which connects into the separate Dinner Plain network (combined length 35km).
- Lake Mountain, the closest ski area to Melbourne, with 30km of trails (most of which groomed) through snowgum forests in Yarra Ranges National Park.
- Mount Stirling, with 68km of groomed and ungroomed trails which stretch from the towering alpine ash forests up to the alpine zone, and which connect to the Mount Buller trail network.
- Mount Buller, with 9km of trails connecting to the Mount Stirling network and featuring dramatic views.
- Mount Baw Baw, with 10km of trails, some of which are groomed, over the beautiful Baw Baw Plateau through the healthiest snowgum environment in the world and featuring views to the sea.
In addition, skiing is possible at:
- Dinner Plain, with a small network in snowgum forest connecting to the Brabralung Trail to Mount Hotham.
- Mount Buffalo, with a groomed trail from Cresta Valley to the Horn Carpark as well as several ungroomed trails across snow plains next to dramatic granite tors.
- Mount Saint Gwinear, on the other side of the Baw Baw Plateau from Mount Baw Baw, with occasional machine smoothing of the main road and access to backcountry trails connecting to Mount Baw Baw.
For those with serious gear and a lot of experience, cross-country skiing is possible at times on other mountains, such as various parts of the Bogong High Plains, Mount Bogong, Snowy Range and more.
Cross country skiing is one of the most affordable alpine sports. You have to pay resort entry (per a car) at all alpine resorts (usually around $65, cheaper per day for multiple days and if booked online).
If you don't have your own gear you will need to hire gear (or look for second hand gear online). All resorts have either their own ski hire or local businesses which can give you gear. A lesson is highly recommended - check resorts websites for information. However, no lift ticket is required so a day of cross country skiing can cost a fraction of the amount of a day of alpine skiing, and you won't need to spend time queuing for lifts. In fact, a typical day of alpine skiing usually includes less than 2 hours of actual skiing, but 2 hours of time spent out cross country skiing gives you 2 hours of on-snow time (minus rests of course!)
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