This past long weekend, cross country skiers from across NSW and the ACT—Jindabyne, Canberra, Sydney and beyond—gathered in Jindabyne for a high-energy pre-season camp to kick off the countdown to snow. We were thrilled to be joined by several National Team members, who brought coaching and guidance, as well as shared their stories, insights, and advice in a Q&A that gave younger athletes a glimpse into the journey to elite sport.

The focus for the weekend was squarely on ski-specific training. Saturday and Sunday featured running with poles, where athletes broke down their striding technique, laying the groundwork for efficient skiing once the snow arrives. Everyone made noticeable progress, with great feedback and consistent effort from all.

Saturday afternoon saw the return of a crowd favourite: the annual Snowy Mountains Nordic Rollerski Challenge. In a fast-paced event blending competition and chaos, athletes hopped, stepped, spun, and glided their way through a variety of technique drills and team challenges, finishing with a 100m rollerski sprint showdown.

By Monday morning, Jindabyne delivered a classic alpine twist—fresh snow and steady rain. But spirits stayed high as athletes tackled a full set of strength benchmarks, repeating tests from earlier in the dryland season to track progress. One-minute max reps of push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, and dips, along with five-bound jumps and a 1000m run (on a soggy, puddle-ridden track), tested not just strength, but grit. Every athlete showed incredible resilience in the face of wet socks, cold air, and heavy legs.

Just as the rain picked up, the camp wrapped. Wet, tired, and smiling, athletes said their goodbyes and headed home, energized for the season to come.

A massive thanks to the parents, coaches, and volunteers who made the weekend possible—and to the athletes for their enthusiasm, effort, and team spirit. The countdown to snow is on!