Welcome

Welcome to the XC special coverage of the 1999 Australian Championships. Okay, there's a bit under a week to go, but there's a lot going on in the lead up to these races and there might not be enough time later on. Though it was touch and go for a while, recent dumps of snow have covered the Wire Plain tracks and everything seems set for a great week of racing. During the Australian Championships XC will bring you a summary of each day's events and the race results. If we get carried away there might be a couple of interviews thrown in as well. Stay tuned for all the action from Mt Hotham.

Camille Melvey took out all three titles at the Australian Championships in 1998, and, despite some promising results from up and coming juniors Katie Calder and Esther Bottomley, looks set to repeat last year's performance.

Though unbeaten this season, and having dealt out some absolute thrashings in recent races, Ben Derrick is playing down his dominance and favourite status. "My focus is on the overseas season and qualifying for the Winter Olympics in 2002, so I train pretty hard through the Australian season. I'm skiing very well, but there's other skiers out there - Paul Murray, Finn Marsland - who can pull out big races on the day, and you can never count out Anthony Evans."

Anthony Evans, three time Winter Olympian and 24 time Australian Champion, has kept a low profile this season and has been pretty cagey about the 1999 Championships. He did not start in the ACT Championships, and it is unclear at this stage whether he will start in any of the races at Mt Hotham.

-FM

Melvey broke away from the mass start field early, thriving in the difficult snow conditions, and went on to win in a time of 56 minutes and 9 seconds. Second place went to Belinda Phillips from the Lake Mountain Ski Team, with Canberra skier Leanne Laajoki finishing strong for third.

In the men's 30km classic, Ben Derrick from Wangaratta also lead from start to finish and won in a time of 1hr, 30min and 35 sec, nearly nine and a half minutes ahead of second placed Scott McArt from the USA. Nick Almoukov from NSW placed third.

Derrick, 26, who skis for the Wangaratta Ski Club, bases his winter at the Howmans Gap Alpine Centre near Falls Creek, where he can work and train throughout the season. With two races to go in the Australian Championships, he is confident of making a clean sweep.

"I've been concentrating on strength and speed work over the last year, and it really seems to have paid dividends," said Ben Derrick after the race. "Someone would have to pull out a pretty big race to beat me at the moment." Ben Derrick was the sole male competitor at the 1999 World Cross Country Skiing Championships in Austria, and has his sights set on the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City USA.

The next races in the championships are the men's 10km freestyle and the women's 5km freestyle on Thursday August 19.

-FM

August 17
A few words from Ben and Camille

XC caught up with Camille Melvey a few minutes after the 15km classic:

How did you feel out there today Camille?

- It was a personal challenge, I had to visualise to keep myself going. The hills were where the judges were scoring points on my technique. It was a bit like being on an ice-skating rink, trying to do a triple axel. I just had to keep pushing going through all the manoeuvres. It was quite hard, but every time I was skiing up a hill I saw it like I was doing another triple axel. I thought [on the hills], this is where I'm going to be marked down, I thought I wouldn't be getting any 6's but probably I'd be looking at 5.8's or 5.7's. I felt stronger on the double pole and kick double pole, that's where I would score very high, but the striding, the striding is my challenge. I kept telling myself to hang out over the ski, that's where you're going to get the glide, you just have to do it.

With this win today, are you feeling confident for the races next week?

- Well, I'll have to be. I will have to feel confident if I want to get the best out of myself. I'm on a mission. This part of it [today] is over, now I have to start getting ready for the next one.

That was all there was time for as Camille went off to put on some warm clothes and warm down. Ben Derrick had a little more time to speak after his victory in the 30km classic:

Ben, how are you feeling after giving everyone a thrashing?

- I'm hungry, I haven't eaten anything yet. No really, it was good, I think probably because I had such good wax. Actually it is a little disappointing to win by so much. That might sound stupid, but I'd rather a close race. It is disappointing to be the only person on the day to have a good one.

What has your training been like leading into these championships?

- I had a couple of days taper, which doesn't sound like much, but I've been training pretty hard and even if I have an afternoon off I feel good the next day. It has made a big difference for me not to have done any long intervals recently. I've done a lot of double pole intervals around one and half minutes, and that gives you the upper body fitness. A little bit of lactic training, a little bit of threshold training, and then I've just gone hard in all the races.

- I really feel like I've taken another step this year. My training plan is more focussed on strength and speed work. Hours have been up over 800 [per year] for the last three years, and this year will be up towards 900, providing I don't get sick. I haven't been sick now since last October. I've been having a Strepsil every night - I don't think it does my teeth any good. I don't know if there's anything in that or it's just a coincidence, but dead-set I haven't even had a sniffle. Of course, having said that I'm going to wake up tomorrow with a cold.

After today you'd have to be pretty confident for the next two races.

- I wasn't sure about this one [today] as I didn't feel that good yesterday, but now I've been thinking and I really want to try for a clean sweep. I want other people to race well and make more interesting events, I'd much rather ski fast and win by a few seconds than ski fast and win by 5 minutes. Hmm, then on the other hand I'd also like to be the only one in the national A-team for funding reasons. No, I think it would be better off for me, and for the sport, if it was more competitive. At any rate I'm still out to win.

What about your chances in the Kangaroo Hoppet?

- I think Vitaly Chernov (Russia, 3rd in 1998 Kangaroo Hoppet) is the only good international coming out, so I'd have to be in with a chance. I really want to make sure it is an Australian who wins it, whether it's me, or a few of us working together so someone can sprint. I'm not such a good sprinter at the end of a long race. We don't normally work together, we're out to beat each other as much as the international skiers, but I think to have an Australian win is more important. If it is me, great, if it is you (Finn Marsland, holding the tape recorder), that's fantastic, if it's Ant (Anthony Evans), well, he's had it too good for too long, I just want to drop him. No, just joking, Ant has been so close so many times before that he deserves to win it one day. I'll be going hard. Have you run out of batteries yet?

-FM

August 20
Can anyone else win a race?

Camille Melvey and Ben Derrick notched up another national title each on Thursday August 19. Derrick won the men's 10km freestyle comfortably in wet snow conditions, while Melvey had to fight harder for her victory in the women's 5km freestyle.

The early time splits at about the two kilometre mark had seven women within just over 30 seconds, Melvey holding a 15 second lead ahead of number one ranked junior Katie Calder. Calder, starting 30 seconds ahead of Melvey in the interval start, had withdrawn from the previous women's race with athsma problems. For a while it seemed as though youth would hold off experience, then with 500m remaining Melvey bridged the gap and the two skiers stayed together until the finish. Swiss skier Brigitte Witschi, in Australia for the Kangaroo Hoppet, finished third, 8 seconds behind Calder.

Second place in the men's 10km came from an unexpected source. Cameron Morton, formerly of both the Australian cross country skiing and biathlon teams, made his first appearance in the national championships since 1996. Morton pushed Derrick early,but then faded, taking second place 2 minutes off the pace. Finn Marsland finished strongly for third place, 14 seconds behind Morton.

"I've been training consistently for the last two months," said Morton before the race. "My main goal is to get into multi-sport events, but I'm also aiming to come into form for the Kangaroo Hoppet." Australia's international ski marathon is on Saturday August 28 at Falls Creek.

The last races of the championships take place on Saturday August 21, the men's 10km classic and the women's 10km classic.

August 20
Allison McArdle has a chat with Katie Calder and Cameron Morton

Ben Derrick and Camille Melvey claimed another title each in the skate race, but some new faces popped up to take home the silver. Apprentice XC reporter Allison McArdle caught up after the races with Katie Calder and Cameron Morton.

Ok Katie Calder, how did you think you did out there?

- I was pretty happy with how I went. Tough course, slow snow, a lot of competition. I had pretty fast skis - the old wax technician isn't fired yet. He did a good job. It was a pretty technical course I think, the last downhill with the s-bends was pretty hard. I was pretty lactic, and making those quick turns was difficult with heavy legs. But generally, yeah, I'm happy, I managed to pull something from somewhere, I don't know where from, and it was pretty good.

You were off first today as the rabbit for all the other to chase. What were your thoughts starting 30 seconds ahead of Camille?

- I was hoping that she wouldn't catch me on the first hill. No, I just tried to stay ahead as long as I could. It's a bit hard starting first, you don't know how you are going with the rest of the field, you just have to keep going hard. When Camille caught up I thought I've got to hang onto that steam-train. She was just hooting past, and I thought it's not far to the finish, I can stick with her all the way.

Is Camille invincible, or do you think you or someone else can beat her next year?

- She's not invincible, there's a lot of good juniors coming up from ACT, NSW and Victoria, Camille has a big advantage in that she's been training for a lot longer than anyone else. But I think once everyone else improves their technique and gets a bit more training in, that could be a lot closer next year, and within the next few years I think there's a lot of talented people that could catch up to her.

Saturday's race, 10km classic, how do you think you'll fare?

- My classic skiing has been pretty shoddy since I came back from overseas. I mucked around a bit with the technique, and completely blew it out the back door. So I think surviving the 10km will be the first bonus, and then if the wax is good we'll see if I can do anything more. It's a good course, got some good hills and most Australians are strong on the hills, so it should be a close race for everyone.

Thank you Katie Calder.

Cameron Morton, we haven't seen you at the Australian Championships for a few years now, what have you been doing with yourself?

- Well, definitely not racing, but I've been coaching quite a bit and roller-skiing quite a bit, and I've been enjoying training again this year. I was planning to make a come-back last year, begin racing again, but I had to work ski instructing. I went and raced the Hoppet, enjoyed that, and I'm looking forward to racing the Hoppet again this year.

Ok you had a good ski today, taking 2nd place behind Ben. What did you think the strong points of your race were?

- I had a good start, I felt pretty bad after about 2km, and I was just holding on after that. I have an infection in my foot which I've had to have antibiotics for, and it made me a bit sick and dizzy. So yeah it was good to finish, I think that was a strong point. I wouldn't have wanted it to go on any longer.

Starting 30 seconds behind Finn, what were your tactics going into the race?

- My goal was to beat Finn, that was all I was worried about.(Laughs) Well, I wasn't worried about it, it was just my goal. I've raced a bit against Finn about four years ago, I had a lot of good close races, so I was hoping to catch him as soon as I could. I made up a lot of time in the first 2km, but that was about the difference at the finish.

In training for anything in particular? What are your goals and aspirations for the next week to a couple of years?

- I've got to get over this foot infection, and then I can race the 15km on Saturday. That'll be interesting, I haven't skied classic much. I'm looking to race the Hoppet again, I'd like to keep up with the front pack for at least the first half a lap this time, rather than the first 500m. That would be good fun if I can ski with a few other Aussies up the front for a while. The main reason I'm training again is for multi-sport events, which includes running and kayaking and cycling over long distances, like the JLW Buller to Southgate event. That should keep me occupied.

Who do you have your money on to win the Hoppet? Do you consider yourself a chance?

- Ohh, no, I don't really consider myself a chance to win this year, but maybe next year I could be a good outside bet. I've only strung 9 weeks of training together now, I'll be very happy to finish in the top five. My money at the moment, if you were going to put it on an Australian you'd have to put it on Benny Derrick. I've never seen him ski so fast, he's looking pretty strong and lean.

Thanks Cameron. Anything else you'd like to add?

- Well, only to say that I've got my second kid on the way, it's going to be a girl, we're looking forward to that. She's actually due on New Year's Eve, I'll keep you informed.

- AMcA

August 22
Melvey equals Australian record

Camille Melvey from Bondi in Sydney has won the third and final race of the 1999 Australian Championships at Mt Hotham in the Victorian Alps. The victory takes Melvey's tally of national titles to twenty-two, equalling the Australian record held by triple Winter Olympian Anthony Evans.

In sunny conditions Melvey started off strong in the 10km time trial, and steadily increased her lead throughout the race to win in a time of 14 minutes 37.6 seconds. Second place went to Victorian Belinda Phillips, with Robyn Rodd taking third place.

Melvey was very philosphical about her record equalling feat. "Well, I just try to go with the flow," she said at the presentations." It's not a matter of how many championships or events that you win, I mean, I just get out there and keep challenging myself. I not really concerned at all about winning championhips, I just like getting in there and skiing."

Wangaratta skier Ben Derrick also made a clean sweep in the men's events, adding the 15km classic title today to the 30km and 10km titles from earlier in the week. Rising talent Paul Murray skied his race of the season to take second place, with Finn Marsland taking third place. With his unbeaten run in the Australian Championships this year Ben Derrick feels confident of a solid performance next weekend in Australia's largest international skiing event, the Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek.

"There are only a few elite international men out here this year, so I'll definitely be in with a chance," said Derrick. " I've only just heard today that Anthony Evans has an injury and might not start, which is a blow for the chances of an Australian win, but I hope the rest of us can work together to get an Aussie on top of the podium."

More than 1000 skiers from over twenty nations are already entered in the major event of the Australian cross country season, the Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek on Saturday August 28.

August 22
Allison McArdle Interviews:
Paul Murray and Leanne Laajoki

Leanne Laajoki is a relative newcomer to cross country skiing. Crossing over from a middle distance and cross country running background, she has only been skiing for just over two years. Allison McArdle spoke to Leanne after the final race, the 10km classic on Saturday August 21.

Leanne, how has your week been here at the Australian Championships?

- I was pretty happy with it, I was very happy with Sunday's race. It was a goal of mine to get a medal this year, and it was good to do that in the 15km classic. I'm pretty happy with my progress.

Tell us about your race in the 15km.

- My double poling isn't as strong as say Belinda's (Belinda Phillips took second place in both classic events of the championships), I was catching her on the uphills, she was getting away on the flats and downhills. My dowhills need a lot of work, nevertheless it wasn't too bad. My wax was good on the first lap, slowly getting worse over the next two, but everyone had a few problems with wax on Sunday.

You finished fourth in the 10km today. What are you thoughts on today's race?

- It was really frustrating today. I had a couple of big falls on the downhills. I felt like I skied well, and to be off the podium by 9 seconds after wasting time lying on the snow, it was a bit frustrating.

What's coming up next. How do you rate your chances in the Hoppet?

- The Hoppet, well I'll just take it as it comes, I'm not worried about it, if I just get round and have a good race I'll be happy. My skating is not that strong, hopefully my fitness will get me through. After that, well I'm moving to Finland next year in February. Hopefully then I'll be able to get a lot of skiing in, I really want to see what I can do.

Is skiing now your main priority, or are you still running?

- Still running yes, but my focus is on skiing. I'm not going to back to running in a hurry, skiing is so much fun. The racing is more interesting, and I think it really suits me. Skiing races are more like fartlek (From Sweden, literally speed-play) all the time, I feel like I recover really quickly on the downs and flats, and can work hard on all the hills. I think the distances suit me quite well too, and also it's better for injuries - with running its really tough, with the mileage you need to do there's so much impact, with ski training I can cope with higher volumes

Will you come back and race the Australian winters after you move to Finland?

- Yes, is my straight answer. Hopefully I can come out for about three weeks, the week before the nationals and through until the Hoppet. But probably that'll be all I'll have time for. And to see my family of course

Is there a possibility of seeing you in the Olympics in 2006?

- I can only laugh at this stage. You can always try. I really just want to give it a go and see how far I can get. I need to improve my techique, hopefully Finalnd will help me get more hours training on snow. I sort of wish I had taken it up a couple of years earlier - the World Championships are in Lahti in Finland in 2001, it would be good to have a chance to compete there. But, oh well, you never know what can happen in a year, a lot's happened in two years already.

Well, we wish you all the best, thank you.

Paul Murray was one of the top junior skiers a year or so ago, and one of the few to take it up anothe step and make the senior team. After skipping the 30km and putting in an average race in the 10km, Paul pulled out a big one today and came as close to Ben Derrick as anyone this season.

Paul, you had a good race today, second in the 15km classic. How did you think your race went.

- I think it was good. I had good wax, which always helps, and it was also great starting inbetween Finn and Ben. I had someone to chase, and someone to follow when Ben eventually caught me.When he did, he wasn't moving that quick, so that was good. It was a little different to the other day (When gave everyone a shallacking). Finn and Ben and I all skied together for a couple of k's. Then when Ben pulled out to go past I was breathing too hard to really try to stay with him. I thought Finn was going to pass me back for a while, but I double-poled really hard over the tops of the hills and held him off.

How was your preparation coming into these races?

- I've been sick and injured a lot over the last couple of months, and been pretty busy at university and in general. Yeah, I've had a lot on and probably haven't taken as good a care of myself as I should have. It's good to finally get things right at the end of the season, and have things go my way, for once.

What are you plans for next week in the Hoppet, and beyond?

- I want to win money! (Laughs) I heard there was money down to tenth in the Hoppet, and that's now my goal. Really, I just want to ski a good race, it's my first 42km Hoppet, I'm looking forward to trying to ski as well as I can, and hopefully I've got decent skis. Next year, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do, work-wise or with skiing. But I am looking forward to having a good summer, keeping fit, and looking forward to skiing next year.

You've been skiing for quite a few years now, who has been your main influence over the last couple of years?

-When I started uni Peter Burgess was helping me out a lot. In the last one or two years I've spoken to Finn (Marsland) about different stuff and done a lot with him, and Mark Gray as well. It's good having someone around you can train with, someone who's been there and skied really quick and can answer any questions you have. It good skiing with them as well, they're good blokes and you know it's not going to be boring.

Your parents have also supported you in your skiing all this time. How important is it to have a supportive family in a sport like cross country skiing.

- I think it is very important. Financially, it makes life very difficult if you haven't got money to get up to the snow, and for waxes and all that kind of stuff. Also, it makes a difference, if you have a good race and your folks are there, it's good. Obviously they cant be there all the time. But I think having a supportive family, and also understanding siblings, when you're all living at home it makes a big difference, adjusting for all your committments.

Anything you'd like to add?

- I just hope that with the organisation of the sport, they get things sorted out soon, otherwise, they are going to lose more people. Even though there are a big group of juniors at the moment, if the juniors don't have any seniors to chase, if they see the seniors leaving the sport because they are disappointed in the way things are going, then that's not very good for the juniors. When I was a junior, you had the whole national senior team that you were always chasing, which you wanted to be part of. I think the sooner they get things organised and know the direction that they're going in, the better for sport. And the better for me as well, because that makes it easier for me to make a committment while I'm working next year.

Thank you Paul.

-A McA