Getting Started

Biathlon

Combining Cross-Country Skiing and Rifle Marksmanship

by Laura Clark

You want to do what? With the current interest in triathlons, many assume that biathlon is similar, but featuring only two events. Not so. Strictly speaking, that would be a duathlon. The Winter Olympic sport of biathlon traces its roots to Neanderthal times when cave paintings depicted hunters gliding on timbers while aiming bow and arrow at their prey. Except the competition was all about survival of the fittest and not an age group trophy. Classical authors include descriptions of warriors on skis, and today military units encourage biathlon training. But while biathlons always include target shooting, some incorporate snowshoe racing or running or mountain biking in the summer instead of the traditional cross-country skiing.

Two sports are better than one: With the current emphasis on cross-training, both as a means of preventing repetitive stress injuries and adding variety to workouts, interest in the sport of biathlon is on the rise. In fact many people, like Pat Clancy of the Saratoga Biathlon Club, are attracted to the sport because they want to add an extra challenge to their skiing. But biathlon is much more than the sum of its parts. The athlete must combine the explosive power and grace of cross-country skiing with the static, focused stance of target shooting. According to Chelsea Halliday, a Corinth High School ninth grader, “When you come in from skate skiing a loop as fast as you can you have to pick up your rifle, slow your breathing and hit the target. For each shot you miss either time is added to your score or you have to ski a penalty loop.” For experienced cross-country skiers, the challenge is not only learning shooting skills, but also holding back enough to approach the target in a calm, deliberate manner.

Ready… Set… Sean Halligan, a Bill Koch Ski League coach, suggests that potential biathletes focus on one sport at a time. November and December are the perfect months to get a feel for the rifle before the snow falls, forcing you to contend with mittens and cold ground. While anyone can download a membership application, Jim Schreiner, owner of the Saratoga Biathlon Club in Day (near Corinth) recommends that you attend the next club event, pick up some pointers, and borrow a pair of roller skis to get a feel for the skating technique. He emphasizes that “one season flows into the next,” and there are events going on year-round.

… Go! Obviously, for winter biathlon, you need skate skis and a .22 caliber rifle. But in order to pass “Go!” you do not need to flash your credit card. One of the truly neat things about this low-profile sport is that enthusiasts are so welcoming. Most clubs have a full supply of loaner rifles and sometimes skis (call ahead), or you can rent a basic skate package at a local ski shop. Many clubs have scheduled training days when novices and experts can practice their skills. When you are hooked and ready to lay down the bucks, you will know what works best for you.

Bring the family: If you live anywhere near the Saratoga Biathlon Club, this is a given. Not only can you take your family, but you also join an extended family. Chelsea comments, “I never shot a gun until my first race. All the club members urged me to continue. After my first race they had skis ordered!” The Schreiners provide BB guns, a short course, and ribbons for the littlest. 12-year-olds join the novice class, along with all the just “getting started” adults, except that the younger kids use air rifles and assume the easier prone position to shoot larger targets. According to Richard Costanza of the Lake Placid Biathlon Club, typical events feature 10K sprint formats for men and 7.5k for women or pursuit formats of 12.5K/10K, both with a 50-meter shooting distance. This means that athletes typically ski a 3+ kilometer loop, return to the range, shoot, and then repeat the procedure. The course may be modified for teen novices at the discretion of the race director.

Being safe: Each participant is required to take a gun safety course. In addition, a range official is assigned to monitor each novice at the target area. Youngsters using air rifles have an adult at their side whenever they are shooting. While experts ski with their rifles slung on their back, novices must station theirs safely at the range. Officials can and do disqualify athletes using unsafe procedures anywhere at all on the premises, including snack bars and parking lots.

More information: Go to www.nybiathlon.org, which links you to all New York biathlon clubs, then follow each club’s links to online instructional sites.

The bottom line: Sean believes that biathlon in the United States is an open Winter Olympic opportunity for any talented young person. While there are currently no college biathlete scholarships available, there are college ski teams eager for talent. Chelsea takes this one step further, commenting that, “The direction of the sport is changing. I think teens are looking and moving outside the school setting for involvement…” She continued, “Jim’s son Curt, a four-time Olympic athlete, has left for duty in Iraq. Before he left he gave me a pair of skis and asked me to ski this season for him — I will ski fast and shoot straight!”

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