Activities
Club weekends
The Club regularly organises weekend trips, with accommodation, throughout the ski season:
Ski de Gens (Falls Creek): early July
Marouka Lodge, Mt. Hotham: mid July
Howman's Gap (Falls Creek): late July
Mt Stirling: mid August
Hoppet/Birkebeiner/Joey (Falls Creek): late August
For information about cureent dates of club weekends (and other activities) see the activities calendar.
For information on accommodation costs and for accompanying a booking when paying by cheque via mail please see the club weekend accommodation form.
Ski de Gens (Falls Creek):
Friday - Sunday, early July
The first club weekend of the year is a great chance to brush up on your ski skills, meet new people and get away from the city. The units are self catering although we usually dine at one of the cafe/restaurants in Mt Beauty on Saturday night.
Free group ski lessons are provided for all club members on Saturday. In addition, ski tours on groomed trails or in the backcountry are organised. The mountains around Falls Creek are a breathtaking backdrop to any outdoor activity in winter.
Free group ski lessons for women on Sunday.
In the event of no snow or blizzard conditions there is plenty to do at Mt Beauty. Lovely wineries, cheese factories, trout farms to visit and bushwalks if the weather is too sunny. Mt Buffalo is a short distance away and has plenty of walks to explore. See you there!
Marouka Lodge, Mt. Hotham:
Friday - Sunday, mid July
Ski straight from the front door onto the main cross country trail. Small groups set off to explore the many trails between Hotham and Dinner Plain each day. Stay an extra day (Monday) if you wish.
Melbourne Nordic Ski Club has become a Corporate Member of Marouka Ski Lodge on Mount Hotham. This means you can not only attend MNSC's Marouka Weekend at member's rates but can book anytime in the season at these heavily reduced rates.
All bookings have to be made through the club, you need to be a financial member for 2011 and bookings are only confirmed on payment.
Marouka bookings are now open and will be open to the public from 1st May, so make your plans now. Bookings can be cancelled up to a month in advance of your arrival date without penalty if your life changes.
Application for bookings are to Jill Edwards at payment to be made by EFT.
Club Weekend (Falls Creek):
Friday - Sunday, late July
Howman's Gap Alpine Centre, Falls Creek entrance.
This is the annual Club weekend. Free group ski lessons are provided for all club members on Saturday and Sunday. In addition ski tours on groomed trails or in the backcountry are organised.
Social activities organised for Saturday night will encourage you to have fun and mingle with old friends and new members.
Mt Stirling:
Friday - Sunday, early August
This weekend is timed to coincide with the Mt Stirling Silver Ski Race. Explore Mt. Stirling's Great Trails! Or help out and participate in the Stirling Silver Ski Race - 5/15km (Grade: M/H).
Late Season Weekend (Falls Creek):
Friday - Sunday, late August
The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia's marathon ski race. The races are held at Falls Creek on Saturday: Joey - 7km; Birkebeiner - 21km and; Hoppet - 42 km.
Club members enter according to their ability, fitness and/or energy. Use this fun race as a motivator to get fit.
If you still have energy to burn, or if you'd rather not race, members can enjoy ski touring in the wilderness around Falls Creek. There is a club dinner organised at a Mt Beauty restaurant on the Saturday night.
MNSC also staffs a drink station, usually in fancy dress. This is another option for less energetic members and a hilarious time is had by all. The drink stations are a welcome sight for the participators so you will be much appreciated if this is your choice.
Enter the race now - see the Racing page for details, or ask at a meeting.