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Spring News 1999


October 4


October 4

New National Team Coach and High Performance Manager

Skiing Australia Cross Country has appointed Finn Marsland to the position of High Performance Manager and National Team Coach for the Australian Cross Country Ski Team. This is part of a new program for the elite development of Australian cross country skiing which has been made possible with support from the Australian Sports Commission.

Finn is well known within cross country skiing circles, and brings with him considerable international competition experience. He was a member of the Australian Junior Team from 1988 to 1990, of the Australian Senior Team from 1992 to 1999, and has competed at World Junior Championships, World Championships, World Student Games, and on the World Cup circuit. He was also a full scholarship holder with the Australian Ski Institute (ASI) from 1995 to 1998. In addition, Finn is no stranger to the administrative side of sport. He was Sport Development Officer with the Victorian Ski Association in 1995 and 1996, assisted ASI Cross Country Program Director Christer Skog with the management of the ASI cross country program, and recently worked in the Media and Public Relations department at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The following excerpts taken from a submission by Finn as part of the interview process give an indication of the program priorities over the next 12 months:

"The most important thing initially is to establish close contact with and to provide direction for the current national team and development team athletes. We cannot afford to lose any more talented skiers... Evaluation of individual training programs, goal-setting, and long-term planning, need to done ASAP after the Australian season, in conjunction with the athletes' individual coaches. Athletes also need to understand we are putting in place a professional program, and appropriate levels of commitment will be required."

"The focus internationally[1999/2000] is on gaining experience, building training bases, and on achieving FIS rankings for developing skiers. If we can find funds to send a small development team to North America and a junior team to the World Junior Championships we are doing well."

"The focus back in Australia should be on communication and putting infrastructure in place. This includes establishing media networks and contacts, setting the groundwork for development of coaching and athlete support programs, and establishing close contact with regional coaches and squads."

Inquiries regarding the National Team Program can be directed to:
Finn Marsland
33 Cambridge Street
Cook ACT 2614
Phone (until end of October) 02 6214 1421
Fax (until end of October) 02 6214 1857
Email: marslandf@ausport.com.au

Provisional National Teams for 1999/2000 have been announced.


XC is the official website of the Skiing Australia Cross Country Committee. It is produced with the assistance of the Australian Sports Commission and the Kangaroo Hoppet. The editor can be contacted via hoppet@netc.net.au.