The Challenges of an Australian Cross-Country Skier

Nick Montgomery of Melbourne, Australia, lives overseas for three months a year to continue his cross-country skiing ambitions

LAGO DI TESERO – Living in Australia, Nick Montgomery doesn’t get the time needed on snow to practice efficiently in cross-country skiing. So, for three months a year he leaves his homeland.

“I come over to Europe for three months because I can only ski roughly for two months in Australia,” he said.

Montgomery has gone to Austria and Germany in the past, but this year he is heading to Sweden to live and train. He will head over once the Universiade finishes next week.

The 20-year-old considers himself a better distance skier and likes the mental aspect of a longer race.

“I think a lot of it is in race tactics. You can have something go wrong early in the race but if you’re strong mentally you can always make up your mistakes and you have time to think things through during the race.”

He is a full time student at the University of Melbourne, his hometown, where he is studying arts. He says they have been very supportive in his ambitions.

“My university gives me plenty of support to help out so it’s really good,” he said.

While Australia is seen as a dominant summer Universiade country, their winter competition lacks strength because of the Australian climate. Montgomery believes they can be successful at Winter Universiades but it will take dedication like he has shown to make it possible.

“I think we can [be successful] but it’s very difficult with our current resources and it requires people to be living half the year overseas because our season is just too short. We have good snow for such a short period of time but that’s it.”

Matt Tidcombe, FISU Young Reporter