Historical information

The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia’s premier long distance cross country ski race, and a member of the Worldloppet series of international cross country ski events.

The first race at Falls Creek was held in 1979 under the name of “Australian Birkebeiner”. It was a 21km race with about 80 participants organised by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club of Mount Beauty. The course started and finished at Falls Creek Alpine Resort and took participants out into the Bogong High Plains.

After running the event for 10 years, it was decided they should become part of the Worldloppet series of marathon ski races. Representatives from the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club and the Australian Ski Federation attended the Worldloppet Annual Meeting in Finland in June 1990 to put the case for the acceptance of an Australian event into the Worldloppet series. Before being admitted, they had to demonstrate that the Birkebeiner Club could run a world class event, so three months later in August 1990 a 42km event named the Australian International Ski Marathon was held at Falls Creek together with a 21km Birkebeiner race and a 7km event called the Birkebeiner Lite. The event was approved by delegates from USA, Norway and Austria, in 1991 Australia became the 12th member of Worldloppet, with the condition that there had to be a name change. After some late night discussion allegedly involving red wine from North East Victoria the main event became the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, with the minor events being the 21km Australian Birkebeiner, and 7km Joey Hoppet.

In the winter of 1991, the first Kangaroo Hoppet was held. It was a great success and has been a regular fixture on the international ski calendar ever since. It features the main 42km event as well as a 21km event and a 7km event. The Hoppet brings the Australian snowfields to an international audience.

In 1996 the Men's Winner was Johann Muhlegg from Germany in a time of 1:28:00. The winner of the Women's event was Hanne Lahtinen of Finland in a time of 1:46:50.

Significance

This poster is significant because it documents an event which brings international attention to Falls Creek and the surrounding region.

Physical description

A large poster with an image of Kangaroo Hoppet competitors with a cauldron of flames superimposed over the top. A title is written in the top half of the poster. The logos of QANTAS, Southern Hydro, Holden Jackaroo, Worldloppet, Holden Fontera, Alpine Resorts Commission Victoria and the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club are across the bottom.

Inscriptions & markings

In top half: AUSTRALIA'S WORLDLOPPET SKI RACE/ KANGAROO HOPPET
31st AUGUST 1996, FALLS CREEK, VIC / 42KM, 21KM, 7KM.
At the bottom beneath logos: Phone: (057) 54 3103 Fax: (057) 54 4475 P.O. Box 400 Mt. Beauty 3699 Australia
Photograph by Nick Ivanco