Snow Australia announced its official cross-country skiing national squads for the 2026/27 season on November 6, 2026, confirming a core group of six athletes for the World Cup circuit following an encouraging Olympic winter, Fondoitalia reported.
The national governing body structured the selections across four distinct tiers: World Cup, Continental Cup, Under 23, and Junior divisions. For the senior World Cup squad, selectors retained the exact same six-athlete roster that competed during the previous historic season, which featured the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics as its centerpiece. Hugo Hinckfuss, Seve de Campo, and Lars Young Vik make up the men’s selection, while Rosie Fordham, Phoebe Cridland, and Ellen Søhol Lie form the women’s group, according to coverage from ProXCskiing.
The Road to Falun and the Ruka Opener
Attention across the senior ranks is fixed firmly on the upcoming FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden, scheduled to run from February 22 to March 7, 2027. Before that global championship arrives, the international circuit gets underway much closer at hand. The World Cup season officially opens in Ruka, Finland, on November 27.
Rosie Fordham, who skied at the Olympics as part of what Snow Australia termed the first-ever Australian women’s cross-country relay team at the Games, has already relocated to Europe to begin her preparations. “Here in Norway is just arrived the snow and this has really got me excited to start the racing season,” Fordham said in the federation’s press release, as noted by Newsfabric. “The main goal is the World Championships in Falun, but I am also excited to tackle the whole World Cup season. I think it will be a good opportunity to really test myself throughout the season.”
Teammate Lars Young Vik pointed to recent international performances as proof of steady momentum within the program. “The results show that as a team we have made giant leaps in recent seasons, achieving Australia’s best ever results and setting personal bests,” Young Vik stated. Alexei Sotskov, the responsible coach, added that the federation aims to demonstrate that Australia is fully prepared to contend alongside the traditional powerhouse nations of the sport.
Veterans Retire as Young Skiers Take Hiatuses
While the top World Cup tier remains stable, the wider program sees several notable departures and additions. Phil Bellingham, a four-time Olympian who raced for the nation across multiple cycles, has officially ended his competitive career. ProXCskiing reported that Tuva Bygrave is taking a season-long break from FIS-level racing, Hannah Price is stepping away from international competition following appearances at the 2025 Under 23 World Championships and Universiadi, and Harri Silvester is taking a hiatus after competing in the Junior World Championships earlier in the year.
To offset these exits, Snow Australia expanded its Continental Cup program. Fedele de Campo and Bentley Walker-Broose return to the roster with confirmed opportunities to step up to World Cup events, joined by new faces Maddie Hooker, Isabella Moon, Noah Bradford, and Vincent de Souza. Hooker also anchors the Under 23 group alongside Jayden Spring, Samuel Johnson, Clancy Harvey, and Ava McCann.
| Squad Tier | Athletes Named | Key Focus / Event |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup (Men) | Hugo Hinckfuss, Seve de Campo, Lars Young Vik | Ruka Opener & Falun World Championships |
| World Cup (Women) | Rosie Fordham, Phoebe Cridland, Ellen Søhol Lie | Ruka Opener & Falun World Championships |
| Under 23 | Jayden Spring, Maddie Hooker, Samuel Johnson, Clancy Harvey, Ava McCann | Under 23 World Championships in Estonia |
| Junior | Rosie Franzke, Satara Moon, Thea Harvey, Ben Wichgers, Ethan Zhang | International Junior Development |
Spring, looking ahead to a demanding winter calendar that includes the Under 23 World Championships in Estonia alongside a debut in Falun, reflected on the selection milestone. “I am extremely grateful and proud to have been selected to represent my country in the international racing circuit,” Spring said.
