Junior cross country skiers turned out in force recently to enter the Paddy Pallin 50th Junior race at the Perisher Trails. The race attracted lots of NSW junior skiers including plenty of locals, from two years of age and upwards; the races are divided into several age groups.

Entrants under 10 included - Harriet Greville, Ella Burton, Jack Weinert, Jemima Greville, Sam Whitmore, Kirra Burke, Rhianna Burke, Rohan Milliken, Felicia Auer, Ben Love, Matthew Bull, Liam Burton, Tim Wall, Grace Franki, Peter Milliken, Saskia Auer, Eliza Ashton.

Race organisers thanked Paddy Pallin for their continued sponsorship of the race which is where many junior skiers get their first taste of racing.

The NSW Junior cross country ski team also turned out along with skiers from Sydney, ACT and Victoria.

The next day the first senior race of the season of the season was held, the 5km Canberra Alpine, Clean Out the Cobwebs.

The race was won by ex-Olympic Bi-athlete, Cameron Morton, who is currently acting as NSW coach in the absence of Nick Almoukov.

Ben Sim, currently in the middle of a hard training block, came in second.

Pulling in a very credible third was Jindabyne's Colby Rook, who at 17 years old, is still classed as a junior skier.

The first female home was 13 year old junior skier, Lucy Glanville, who came 5th overall. Siobhan Jones from Jindabyne and d'Arcy Baxter from Berridale completed the minor placings.

In the junior 2.5km race, Damon Morton completed the Morton family double, by being the first skier home ahead of Jackson Bursill, with Laura Bull being the first female home.