Dear Athletes-

For those juniors looking to go to US Biathlon Nationals in W. Yellowstone in March, USBA will be organizing a training camp, starting Monday, March 12 in W. Yellowstone- running through the end of US Nationals on Sunday, March 18.  Rob Rosser and Vladimir Cervenka will be there to run training sessions for experienced biathletes age 14 and up.   Approximate cost for housing, food, ground transport, and coaching support will be $65 per day with arrival on Monday, March 12 and departure on Sunday, March 18 (housing for Sunday night, March 18 will be available).  Athletes are responsible for race registration fees- and getting registered.   Registration form for US Nationals is attached (registrations need to be received by March 9th).  Those that wish to attend the camp must contact Piotr Bednarski asap to confirm dates of arrival/departure.

Transportation to US Nationals:
Arrival:
Flying into Bozeman:   we will arrange a pick up from the airport on Monday, March 12 from the airport at 2pm.  Please plan you flights to arrive 2pm.  otherwise there are shuttles to W. Yellowstone (approx $75).
Coming From Soldier Hollow:  XC Junior Nationals-  we will find ground transportation for you from Heber to W. Yellowstone on Sunday, March 11 to W. Yellowstone.  We will be able to start housing on Sunday, March 11.

Departure:
Bozeman: USBA will find ground transport for athletes to get to the airport in Bozeman for flights that leave at 4pm or later on Sunday, March 18.  We can also provide transport to the airport  in Bozeman on Monday, March 19th.
Salt Lake City:  If you need to fly out of Salt Lake, it may be possible to get transport out of Salt Lake on Monday, March 19 after 6am.  Please contact Piotr or Algis if you need to fly out of Salt Lake.

Once you have your flights, please send itineraries to Piotr at mnbiathlon@aol.com.   If you have questions, please email.

thanks,
Piotr

Piotr Bednarski
Director of Athlete Development
US Biathlon Association

The folks at the Blackhawk Ski Club have informed that a base of 2-3 feet of man-made snow remain on the trails. There will be an informal time trail taking place there on Sunday, February 5 in place of the cancelled race at McMiller. Event will be on 1km man-made snow loop with 4 shooting stages. No entry fees and no awards, USBA membership and waiver form required. Zero will begin at 8:30am, with start at 9:30. Come early and help set-up and take down after the event. For additonal information contact Mark Torresani at biathlon@blackhawkskiclub.org.

Results:

1112 Guard Regionals- Mt Itasca 27 Jan Sprint
1112 Guard Regionals- Mt Itasca 28 Jan Pursuit

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Snowflake Biathlon Race & Novice Race

Hosted by Duluth/Esko Biathlon and Snowflake Nordic Ski Area

Date: Sunday, January 8, 2012 (Snow Conditions are Fair to Good: Recommend to Use Older Skis)

Location: Snowflake Nordic, 4348 Rice Lake Road, Duluth (one mile north of the intersection of the Rice Lake and Arrowhead Roads)

Race Format: Mass Start (PPSS)

RESULTS -

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Results – IBU Trials Mass Start 12.19.11- pdf

Press Release: Dec 19, 2011, Mt Itasca, Coleraine, MN
Day 3: IBU Cup Biathlon Trials‐ Mass Start

Athletes were greeted with a rather bitter north‐west wind this morning at Mt
Itasca, but everyone was eager to get the race underway. The head to head nature
of the Mass Start really increases the pressure on the shooting range, and makes this
the most exciting biathlon event.

In the Men’s 15km Mass Start, Russell Currier (MWSC) of Caribou, Maine, took the
hole shot and led out the race for the first 2.5km. Junior competitor Raleigh
Goessling (MWSC) tried to get the better of his elders by cleaning the first stage and
taking over the lead after the first shooting, but things soon turned around and it
became the Russell Currier Show by the second prone stage. Russell put on an
impressive show of ski speed and excellent shooting, missing only 2 of 18 targets.
Mark Johnson (Mt Itasca Biathlon), Grand Rapids, MN, doggedly tried to keep in
contact with Currier, matching his shooting over the first three stages. Currier
slammed the door shut with a clean final standing stage, while Johnson took an
uncharacteristic 3 penalties in his last standing.

As the battle was raging at the front end of the race, Sean Doherty of Conway, NH,
overcame some early prone penalties to quietly move up within 30 seconds of Mark
Johnson. Doherty, age 16, is the top US qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games team
and a 2 time World Junior Championship competitor. Sean cleaned his last
standing stage quickly, and moved into 2nd place, finishing 22 seconds ahead of
Johnson.

In the Women’s 12.5km Mass Start, Katrina Howe (MWSC) took the early lead,
shooting 9 for 10 in the first two prone stages. She was followed closely by Anna
Kubek (Mt Itasca Biathlon). Beth Ann Chamberlain (MWSC) struggled with prone,
hitting 5 for 10, but fast skiing kept her within striking distance. Beth Ann was able
to reel in both Kubek and Howe just before the last standing stage, setting up a
classic biathlon duel. All three competitors lined up on the range together, and once
the smoke cleared it was Kubek out with 1 penalty, Howe with 2, and Chamberlain
with 3. Kubek was able to maintain her lead to the finish line, capping off a
tremendous race series for the 16 year old.

The Mass Start concluded the 3 race series for team selection to the January IBU
Cup. The USBA International Competition Committee will announce nominations to
the IBU Cup team in the next few days (biathlon.teamusa.org).

RESULTS – IBU Trials Pursuit 12.18.11 pdf

Press Release: Dec 18, 2011, Mt Itasca, Coleraine, MN

Day 2: IBU Cup Biathlon Trials‐ Pursuit Format
Day 2 of the IBU Cup Trials opened with a perfect shooting and skiing conditions. Despite a balmy 35 degrees, the course set up well, and the ski tracks at Mt Itasca were firm and fast. Russell Currier (MWSC) of Caribou, ME came out swinging after a poor performance in the Sprint competition of Day 1 where he finished in 4th. He had something to prove and he was able to redeem himself over the 12.5km course and 4 shooting stages.

Currier had the best shooting of the day, hitting 18 for 20, and skied with his signature high tempo and jump skate on the steep pitches of the 2.5km loop. Mark Johnson (Mt Itasca Biathlon) of Grand Rapids, MN finished in 2nd with 3 penalties, 1:04 sec out, followed by Wynn Roberts (US National Team/National Guard) of Battle Lake, MN, with 6 penalties.

In the Women’s 10km race, 14 seconds separated the top three finishers. Beth Ann Chamberlain (MWSC) returned to her hometown training ground at Mt Itasca and put down the fastest ski time of the day and hitting 15 for 20. BethAnn was just able to hold a 6 second margin of victory over Katrina Howe (MWSC) of Gunstock, NH who had 4 penalties. In third place, 14 seconds out of first, was 16 year old Anna Kubek (Mt Itasca Biathlon) of Duluth, MN, also with 4 penalties.

Day 3 will feature the most exciting format in biathlon, the mass start‐ 15km for men and 12.5km for women, with four shooting stages.

PHOTOS by Ben Kremer – if you have better photos please send them to info@minnesotabiathlon.com for inclusion. Thanks!