MORE than 1000 people from 27 countries contested the 26th Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek on Saturday.
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Competitors from the US took out both the men’s and women’s elite 42 kilometre event, reminiscent of the first Kangaroo Hoppet in 1991.
Matt Gelso won a closely contested pack race from Mount Beauty skier Phil Bellingham and fellow Australian Nick Montgomery.
In the women’s race, a strong sprint finish by Deedra Irwin gave her the victory over US Sun Valley teammate Mary Rose. Aimee Watson, of Barooga, skied consistently to claim third place and become the first Australian home. Both Bellingham and Watson represented Australia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Cold overnight temperatures and overcast skies produced fast tracks to suit all competitors as they made their way around two loops of the Bogong High Plains circuit. The Kangaroo Hoppet is the Australian leg of the Worldloppet series of 20 cross country skiing events.
