The 2025 ACT & NSW Ski-Orienteering Championship was held at Perisher Valley on Sunday 17 August, organised by Red Roo, Big Foot, and Perisher X Country. It was the 10th Championship, after Swedish ski-o expert Patrik Gunnarsson brought the concept back to Perisher in 2014. There were no events in 2020-2021 due to the Covid. It is the only Ski-O event in Australia and among the only few in the Southern Hemisphere! Explore the History of Ski-Orienteering in the Southern Hemisphere here.
This event is warmly supported by Perisher XC (perisherxcountry.org) with the start in front of the beautiful, warm and special Nordic Shelter at Perisher.
Sam Wilson was the Course Setter of this year’s Champs! Three excellent courses were designed: Long (13km); Middle (9km); Short (5km). Organisers Marina and Fedor Iskhakov provided with the rest parts of the event.
30 Entries was a great success for this year, as accommodation and logistics at Perisher complicates and gets less affordable year by year. On another side many avid downhill skiers consider switching to XC skiing, which is much more affordable and consistent through the short winter season.
Tash Thackray came the whole way from Perth, WA to do this iconic O-event! She said that she simply couldn’t miss this beautiful orienteering experience in the mountains and also is committed to improving her XC skiing skills!
This year a record number of Ski-O Beginners, people who have never tried XC skiing before entered the event! Many were very confident in Orienteering and took on a new learning experience and on a new outdoor adventure!
The winners in all Categories were the following Adventurers:
- Short M: Luke Poland (0:43:28)
- Short F: Rachel Povah (1:14:39)
- Middle M: Angus Macoun (1:25:30)
- Middle F: Marina Iskhakova (0:49:51)
- Long M: Andrew Kerr (1:13:39)
- Long F: Sanda Halpin (1:33:14)
Full results are here
Toni Brown’s photos are here
Orienteering ACT thanks all participants and volunteers and advises to lock the draft date for 2026 Ski-O: Sunday, 9 August.