What is Biathlon!
Skiing into the range at season finals in West Yellowstone, MT
It’s officially transition season with snow in the mountains and we are rollerskiing in winter layers. This update is coming from Soldier Hollow, UT, the 2002 Olympic site for Nordic and Biathlon where we are competing in European team trials races THIS weekend! It feels like yesterday we were racing summer Nationals in the extreme heat and humidity of Vermont in early August. The ramping up of intensity and focus the past 7 weeks has made September and October fly by, and I’m ready to lay down my best efforts this weekend.
With trials races this weekend and the official winter race season around the corner, it’s time to explain a bit more about the sport of Biathlon. Being relatively new to Biathlon myself, I spent all of last year asking non stop questions and now I find myself being asked the same ones. This email’s main article below attempts explain how the elements of Biathlon come together to make one incredible sport so you can follow along this season.
Starting a race at season finals, where I won overall that day
Summer training, working on prone position and breathing
What is Biathlon?
Biathlon Basics:
Biathlon is the combination of Nordic skiing and target shooting. In the simplest view, it is a Nordic race (a cross country ski race), where competitors ski with a rifle on their back throughout the entirety of the race. Skiers ski onto a shooting range periodically throughout the race to attempt hitting 5 targets, then continuing on to ski the rest of race. The goal is to get from the start line to the finish line as fast as you can which means not only skiing the course as fast as possible, but getting in and out of the range while hitting all 5 targets as fast as you can as well. A skier must ski a penalty lap for each target missed on a 150 meter loop immediately after exiting the range before heading back onto the race course. So the more targets missed, the longer the race a skier must ski.
A biathlon rifle is a .22 caliber long barrelled rifle. A biathlon range is 50 meters from the firing line to the targets, which are black circles until hit when they turn white making it very easy to see when a target is hit or not. Yes, a skier’s heart is pounding hard when shooting while racing and yes, this sport is small in the United States. These are two of the most common questions I am asked: but no, a skier’s heart rate does not drop immediately before shooting, a skier trains to use their position, skeleton and breathing to stabilize the rifle. And though small in the U.S., biathlon is hugely popular in Europe being the number 1 watched sport on TV in all of Europe in the winter season. Biathlon stadiums in Europe have recorded over 100,000 spectators at World Cup races and other biathlon events.
Shooting Positions and Ranges:
Shooting is done in 2 positions: Prone and standing. In prone, the skier lies down to shoot a smaller circular target, 1.75” in diameter. In standing, the skier shoots while standing at a larger circular target, 4.5” in diameter. A competition range is anywhere from 10-30 points, meaning 10-30 skiers can be shooting at there own set of 5 targets, though most big venues have 30 points. Each point will have a rectangular mat on the firing line, which the skier skis up, and either lays down into prone position or skis onto getting into standing position. Each race involves shooting in both positions at least once.
Types of Races:
Some races involve three laps of the race course with 2 shooting stages (in between each lap) and some involve 5 laps of the race course with 4 stages of shooting. A 2 stage race is a “Sprint” race and a 4 stage race is “Distance” race. A sprint race has one prone and one standing stage, a distance race has 2 prone and 2 standing stages. Unlike FIS Nordic racing, sprint races are not necessarily significantly shorter than a distance race because distance races are more defined by shooting 4 stages than the length of the race. There are some distance races where all skiers start at the same time, known as a mass start, where skiers finish the race in their final order. Sprints and the other distance races are interval start races where a skier starts every 30 seconds and elapsed time from start to finish determines the final results of the race. In an interval start race, it is difficult to know who is winning until the race is over and final results are issued.
Further Information:
In my next update email I will cover the structure of the race season, the domestic and World Cup teams, more about race details and how to follow along! You can check out the International Biathlon Union’s data center for the schedule and results of the European season. (the IBU is the Biathlons global governing body) Please let me know any burning questions you have, in the meantime, you can read a great deal about Biathlon here.
A prone stage in West Yellowstone, MT, March 2021
A standing stage in Soldier Hollow, UT, January 2021
And with the winter race season in sight, I am officially launching my fundraising campaign. Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated this season, it makes a huge difference for summer/fall training and the ability to focus exclusively on training. However, winter season is when the expenses really add up and I have only met a third of my funding goal so far. This year I am very excited to announce I am also giving back to the communities that have made me the skier I am today with 1% of my fundraising donated to the Snake River Fund of Jackson, WY and the Roaring Fork Conservancy of Aspen, CO. 1% of the money I raise from now until Thanksgiving will be donated to these amazing stewards of the rivers and water sources so many of us enjoy in our lives. These rivers run through my veins and it means a great deal to me to take part in protecting them and taking action while still focusing on Biathlon. Plus, the more successful I am in my endeavor, the more I can give back to our communities. Please support me this season, every donation makes a very real difference in my ski career and supports our communities. Thank you!
Lastly, in a continuation of my fall video series on stability, mobility and recovery, October is focused on our core! Core stability is often overlooked when designing and executing a core strength routine. Stability enables us to be rock solid skiers, kayakers, hikers, bikers, runners, walkers and lawn mowers, remaining healthy and injury free. This video shows 4 of my favorite core stability exercises that can be done almost anywhere using just about anything as aids and props taking about 10 minutes.
Stay healthy, see you on the trails!
4 of my favorite core stability and balance exercises aiding in not just skiing, but in everything you do!