CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Touring
1) Trails
In Perisher, beyond the Nordic Shelter, three trails loop around the hill and intersect through the trees. Conceived many years ago by XC devotees (including KAC members), these 2, 5 and 10km trails are now groomed by PerisherBlue, with tracks cut for classical skiers and the remainder of the track smoothed for skaters. Other ungroomed routes around Perisher and Charlotte Pass are marked via snow pole lines.
2) Main Range
Most winters if you head for the Main Range you'll encounter other similarly minded parties of skiers and KAC members - especially in September when a large contingent does day trips out of Charlotte Pass. (Stories of some of these trips have appeared in The Bulletin.)
Racing
The club has a strong tradition of cross-country ski racing. The races described below are those organised by KAC.
THE KAC
THE KAC is one of the largest cross-country ski races in NSW. The race route, from Perisher Valley to Charlotte Pass Village, traverses some 8km of gently undulating terrain through magnificent scenery. Anyone over 12 may enter.
Started in 1972 by some enthusiastic KAC members who wanted to encourage greater participation in cross-country skiing, the race was populaly known as The Martini, due to its early sponsorship. The race has been held every year since. Held on the second Wednesday of August, THE KAC is a noted event on the Australian skiing calendar and is run according to the rules of the Federation Internationale de Ski. The race is the centrepiece of Cross-Country Race Week, which starts with the Boonoona Open the previous Sunday and finishes with the Snowy Classic the following weekend.
As with other 'citizen' cross-country ski races, you can enjoy the event on different levels. If you're of Olympic, World, Masters, or Nationals standard you'll probably ski hard and competitively. If you're a more casual skier, you can do it for fun. It all depends what you what to get out of it. You can enter either as a Classic (diagonal stride) or Freestyle (skating) skier, with the Classic racers starting first. Both ski the same course.
At the finish of the race in Charlotte Pass, KAC hosts a party and prize giving. Catch up with friends over beer, gluhwein and some hot food, and maybe win a prize. There are plenty of these for overall, handicap, and age group winners, as well as spot prizes. Transport is available for those who prefer not to ski back to Perisher.
The KAC 2008 - Wednesday 13th August
Provisional Results available (click here)
'THE KAC' Sponsors
 
The Charlotte Pass Open
This cross-country event involves a 5km race in tracks around the valley between Charlotte Pass Village and Mt Sugarloaf. It's a classical race open to all comers. The race has usually been held as part of Race Week: see the Club Diary. You can pre-enter by contacting the KAC Office, or enter on the day at KAC's lodge at Charlotte Pass until 10:00 am, or at Alpenhof in Perisher until 9 am. Afterwards, there are drinks and prize giving at The Lodge.
The Club Championship Cross Country Event:KAC Open
This race, not to be confused with THE KAC, is a classical style (i.e. non-skating) cross-country race held as part of the Club Championships in Thredbo: see the Club Diary for dates. The race is open to all members, however for those members competing for the title of Club Champion it is a compulsory event. Everyone skis the same length course, between 4 and 5km. Entry is $10.
There are also events organised by other ski clubs such as Boonoona and Canberra Alpine Club as part of Cross-Country Race Week at Perisher. For all KAC races, junior competitors must have turned 12 years old by the 31st December prior.
You can hire XC skis and boots in Perisher (Wilderness Sports, concourse lower level) and also organise lessons. Alternatively, hire some at Paddy's on the road west of Jindabyne near the turn off to the Alpine Way and Thredbo. The new owners of Charlotte Pass Village have plans to offer XC lessons but this possibly will not be operating by winter 2008.
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