Cross-country skiing is an excellent way to escape into the mountains and Mt Stirling is a top spot to do this with 68km of trails to explore.

Again this year there has been a team of Estonian ski instructors enjoying the southern hemisphere snow season on Mt Stirling.

Siim Eilo, 35 from Estonia has returned for another season on Stirling and has been leading the team of instructors through what has been so far a great season with plenty of snow on the trails.

Siim said: “I was born and grew up in Estonia where we are lucky to have access to amazing winter sports, like skiing.

"I have skied for 20 years and coached for 10.

"I am very good at telemark and downhill skiing but cross-country is my true love.

"I worked at Mt Stirling from 2013 to 2017 before I was offered a job as the technical ski coach for the Chinese Cross Country National Team.

In 2023, when Barb and Craig Jones retired, I decided to come over to help a new team of instructors and share the knowledge that I have gained. This season, I am really looking forward to converting more people into lovers of winter and cross-country skiing.”

When you arrive, you can hire all the gear you need from boots and skis, to jackets and pants (don’t forget to bring your own sunnies, hat and gloves).

Then pop into the ski school – conveniently located in the same building – to book a lesson to start learning the skills needed to cross-country around the trails.

Hire and lessons can all be booked online before you leave home.

There is a great team of instructors to guide you.

This year they have all come over from Estonia to work at Mt Stirling and help you improve your abilities.

You can learn a little bit about them below.

In the last issue of Mt Buller News (September 4, 2025) an interview with all instructors will be published giving their views on what this past season has been like and what it means to them to come to Mt Stirling and enjoy a relaxed winter down south.