The countdown to the Australian snow season is officially on.
Across Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, and Dinner Plain, skiers are pulling gear out of storage, checking wax boxes, and hoping for an early snowfall ahead of the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Welcome to Kat’s Korner, a regular winter column covering everything cross country skiing at Mount Hotham and Falls Creek.
From local stories to gear advice, events, and interviews, this column is for everyone who loves life on skis, whether you’re an experienced skier or just starting out.
Whether you were lucky enough to get on snow during the Australian summer with trips to Europe, Japan, or North America, or you haven’t touched snow since September 2025, now is the time to start preparing your skis and getting back into some ski-specific training ahead of the season.
Waxing
Before the season gets underway, now is the perfect time to pull your skis out of storage and give them some attention.
Check over the bases for scratches, knocks, or any leftover klister from last winter.
After sitting unused through the warmer months, most skis will benefit from a proper clean and a fresh layer of wax to get them ready for snow.
Scrape away any old wax, clean the bases thoroughly, and apply a new coat - a universal wax is a great starting point for early season conditions.
And if waxing isn’t your specialty, your local ski shop can help with a professional hot wax.
If you ski on classic skin skis, make sure the skins are still in good condition.
Dirty or matted skins can affect both grip and glide, but a gentle clean can often bring them back to life.
Training
While marathon running seems to be trending all over social media, training for cross country skiing shares plenty of similarities, especially for those new to more structured endurance training.
Cardio fitness is a huge part of enjoying the ski season.
Whether your goal is to ski continuously up Falls Creek’s Paralyser trail or improve your double poling strength, some pre-season training can give you a big advantage once winter arrives.
This might involve getting out after work and on the weekends for a jog, ride, or roller ski if you have access to equipment.
If you’re more of a walker, I highly recommend finding a long hill or mountain trail and heading out for an uphill walk.
This kind of training is fantastic for building fitness and getting the heart rate up without putting too much impact on the body.
Strength training is another key component of cross country skiing, and a strong core helps across all skiing techniques.
If the gym isn’t your thing, or you simply don’t have access, home workouts such as mat Pilates or short core sessions are a great alternative.
Building body strength and stability doesn’t have to take hours and can easily fit into a busy schedule.
This season, I’ll be sharing local stories, XC tips, interviews with local and international ski legends, and everything you need to stay inspired and informed on the trails.
Have a topic you’d like covered or a question about gear, technique, or events?
Send it in!
See you on the trails!