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International Program 2000/2001
Team Reports
Overseas Teams Australian Junior Team
Duane Butcher
James Rickard
Chris Darlington*
Ben Sim*
Kieran Step*
Rhiannon Palmer**Coach: Robert Findlay
*Note. These juniors will be travelling and competing mainly in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland under NSW coach Nick Almoukov, before joining up with the rest of the Australian Junior Team at the World Junior Championships.
** Rhiannon Palmer will be training with the team for three weeks before heading to Sweden to train at the Jarpen Ski Gymnasium with Esther Bottomley.
Australian Senior Team Ben Derrick
Belinda Phillips
Camille Melvey
Katherine Calder
Matt O'Rourke
Paul Murray
Robert CurtisCoach: Finn Marsland
Assistant Manager: Leon SpillerThe Australian Senior and Junior teams can be contacted during the season via marslandf@compuserve.com
Australian Senior Team ProgramThe main focus of the senior tour is the World Championships in Lahti, Finland. This will be the only realistic opportunity for Australians to reach the selection standard for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, USA. Ben Derrick is the only skier already under the FIS World Championship qualification standard of 100 FIS points, and he will also be aiming to reach the FIS World Cup qualification standard of 50 FIS points. For some of the younger and newer members of the team the emphasis will more on developing race techniques and gaining international competition experience.
Ben Derrick will depart Australia on November 23rd, and train for the first two weeks with the Obergoms regional team in southern Switzerland. He will be joined at the Continental Cup in Campra by Finn Marsland and Leon Spiller. The rest of the team will fly into Munich on December 16th and all will then be based in the East Tirol in Austria near Kitzbuhel. Competitions will include Continental Cup, Swiss and Austrian Championships, and other FIS races in Switzerland and Austria. Paul Murray and Ben Derrick will also take part in the World Cup sprint races between Christmas and the New Year.
While skiers achieving the FIS qualificaiton standard of 100 FIS points receive all accommodation expenses paid for by FIS, SAXC has also set the following qualification standards:
Men - 100 FIS Points
Women - 125 FIS PointsIf no women are under this standard, then an additional standard of 140 FIS points will allow a start in a single event only. There is a also a clause in the selection policy for the selection of the fastest sprinter, men and women.
The World Championship Team will be finalised on February 4th and will depart for Finland on February 5th. Other skiers may return to Australia at this point, or take part in other competitions including the World Student Games on their own reconnaissance. The World Championship Team will train close to Lahti for a week and move into the Athlete's Village on February 12th.
Senior Race Schedule
World Championships - Lahti, Finland - February 15-25
Most members of the Junior Team will also arrive in Munich on December 16th. As Junior FIS races are scheduled together with most of the senior races, the Junior Team and Senior Team will be based together for most of the time. The qualification standard of 185 FIS points set for the World Junior Championships is quite reasonable, and should be achievable by any member of the Junior Team who is healthy and racing in good form.
Robert Findlay from Wangaratta Ski Club has been appointed as coach of the Australian Junior Team for this tour. Robert has 14 years coaching experience, including stints as coach of the Australian Junior Team in 1993 and coach of an Australian Youth Team in 1997.
Junior Race Schedule
World Junior Championships - Karpacz, Poland - January 30 - February 4
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.