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Jr World Team Trials/ World University Games Trials/
North American Cup Snowguns, front-end loaders, and a variety of tracked vehicles have been very busy for the last three weeks working hard to get the trails and stadium into perfect cordoroy shape. Mt Itasca Biathlon staff and a large number of volunteers have been working hard to make the event a success. Mt Itasca ski trails now have a 12 inch man made base over 2.5km of very challenging race trail, and the stadium and range are also well covered. The crowning event of the season, the team trials will determine which of more than 150 competitors will represent the U.S. and Canada in international competitions like the World University Games in Forni Avoltri, Italy, in late January 2003, and the World Junior Championships in Zakopane, Poland, February 4-9, 2003. Dan Campbell, a 24-year-old Hastings, Minn., native, is one Olympic athlete who will compete at Mount Itasca. He's been a competitive biathlete for more than eight years and competed in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. For the last several weeks, he's been training in Lake Placid, NY, for the upcoming team trials at Mt. Itasca. He hopes to finish in the top 3, which would qualify him for the World University Games. "I've trained and shot at Mount Itasca during the summer, but have never skied the course," he said. "I've heard it's a difficult one, with lots of transitions. I'm really looking forward to the challenge." Vladimir Cervenka, former coach of the British, Dutch National and Czech Army Biathlon Teams and NCAA Championship University of Colorado Nordic Team, has been the coach at Mount Itasca since summer 2001. He says that in addition to the excitement of watching Olympic athletes, one of the greatest parts of the competition will be watching local athletes. "Around sixteen athletes who regularly train at Mount Itasca will compete in the team trials," he said. "Quite a few of them could qualify for the world events. We've got some serious local talent." Beth Ann Ellingson, 19, of Duluth; Kevin Patzoldt, 18, of Grand Rapids; Nate Erlandson, 18, of Grand Rapids; and Aaron Roessler, 18, of Grand Rapids; all have the talent and potential to qualify for the World University Games, which is open to college-age athletes. Ben Byrne, 17; Brynden Manbeck, 15; and Tyler Gerling, 17 - all of Grand Rapids - each have a shot at earning a position on the junior championships team. Athletes will be chosen in men's and women's groups and youth (17-18), junior (19-20) and senior (21-26) categories. "This is going to be an incredibly fun race series to watch," said Cervenka. All told, the more than 150 competitors in the team trials will bring more than 30 coaches as well as friends and family to Mount Itasca. Competitors and visitors will come from New York, Vermont, Maine, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, New Hampshire, Michigan, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Canadian athletes are coming from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan. A total of 150 to 200 spectators are expected each day of the event. "This is Mount Itasca's third major event in 2002," said Don Erlandson, president of the Mount Itasca Biathlon Association. "This is definitely the largest. We plan on seeing a record number of competitors and spectators." Named one of three National Training Centers by the United States Biathlon Association (USBA), Mount Itasca's four kilometers of competition trails and 30-point shooting range meet international standards, and the facility is qualified to host all biathlon and many Nordic events. The center results in approximately 2,500 overnight visits and generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in tourism revenue each year. The facility is owned by the city of Coleraine, managed by the Greenway Joint Recreation Board and supported by the Mount Itasca Biathlon Association, Minnesota Biathlon Association, USBA, Itasca County, Blandin Foundation, Itasca Trails Taskforce, Department of Natural Resources and many event sponsors. All race officials at the U.S. National Biathlon Team Trials will be volunteers. Approximately 50 volunteers will be needed each day of the event. If you're interested in helping, call Paula Byrne at 218-245-3522. Race Schedule
For more information, contact:
0012-0026-2002 |
Directions To MT Itasca Coleraine is located 6 miles northeast of Grand Rapids in the northwoods of Minnesota. The area is known for its abundance of lakes and forests providing an ideal setting for outdoor activities such as skiing, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. The region maintains more than 200 K of skiing on 29 groomed trails. The winter sports center at Mount Itasca features
the new 30-point biathlon range, 4 K of competition trails, a small downhill
ski area, ski jumping, and heated chalet with restrooms and concessions.
Snowmaking equipment is currently being installed and will be operating
this season. Mt. Itasca Biathlon hosted the 2002 NorAm Series #3, Junior
World Trials and Junior National Championships and the U.S. Summer Biathlon
Championships.
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© 2002 Minnesota Biathlon |
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