Top New Zealand cross-country skier Katie Calder has won the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup, after winning the Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek, Australia, on Saturday.
The ANC Cup win means Calder, who has already qualified for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next year, has automatic entry and some funding for World Cup races during the northern hemisphere winter.
The Kangaroo Hoppet was the last of eight Continental Cup series around the world endorsed by the International Ski Federation.
It was held over a 25km course rather than the usual 42km, because of wind and rain.
Australian Ben Sim, who performed well at the Winter Games races, finishing fourth in the 15km classic and 10km skate races, won the men's Kangaroo Hoppet, but it was not enough to secure the ANC series win, which went to rival Thomas Diezig (Switzerland).
Meanwhile, heavy snow and strong winds forced Treble Cone to close yesterday, but members of an elite alpine ski team based in Wanaka have their fingers crossed for a break in the storm cycle so they can race this week.
Treble Cone Race Academy director Guenther Birgmann said plans to host the academy's annual elite FIS races tomorrow and Wednesday had not changed, but Thursday has been made a "contingency day".
Among the international competitors are Christian Hogan (Norway), Jon Olsson (Sweden), Kilian Albrecht (Bulgaria), who all have top 30 world rankings.
British development team members are also expected to race.
At least one third of the field are members of the Treble Cone Race Academy based in Wanaka.
