Minnesota Biathlon

US IBU Cup Trials
Minnesota Cup #2,3

Dec 17-19, 2011

Mt. Itasca, Coleraine, MN
Sponsored by Mount Itasca Nordic Ski Association

Tentative Event schedule

Thu, Dec. 15

• Team Arrival
• 10:00am – 2:00 pm Unofficial Training

Fri, Dec. 16

• 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Official Training
• 10:00 am – 11:30 am Registration – Mt. Itasca Biathlon Headquarters
• 5:00 pm – Coaches Meeting – Mt. Itasca Biathlon Headquarters
• Election of Juries, Draws for Sprint Competition

Sat, Dec.17

• 9:30 am – 10:00 am Registration (MN Cup)/ Bib pick up
• 9:45 am – 9:55 am Opening Ceremony
• 10:00 am – 10:45 am Zero
• 11:00 am Sprint Competition
• 1:00 pm Flower Ceremony

Sun, Dec.18

• 9:30 am – 10:00 am Registration (MN Cup)/ Bib pick up
• 10:00 am – 10:45 am Zero
• 11:00 am Pursuit Format
• 1:00 pm Flower Ceremony

Mon, Dec.19

• 9:00 am – 9:45 am Zero
• 10:00 am Mass Start
• 12:00 pm Flower Ceremony

USBA Standardized Waxing Protocol: Standardized Waxing Protocol will be in effect for all junior and senior athletes taking part in the IBU Cup Trials.

Download the entire invite

The ICC has recently approved the Criteria for the 2012 Youth Olympics. The criteria are still pending approval by the US Olympic Committee, but its unlikely they will be changed significantly.  The Games will be held in Innsbruck, Austria, Jan 13-22, 2012.  The selection procedure will primarily take place THIS winter, so athletes must plan ahead.  This is an amazing opportunity-  even if an athlete is just starting their foray into biathlon, they should consider competing in this winters’ trials.  The 2012 Youth Olympic Games is the first Winter Youth Games and is modeled on the “regular” Olympics.  Its fully supported (funded) by the US Olympic Committee and is run by the International Olympic Committee.   There are 4 events-  Sprint, Pursuit, mixed Relay, and mixed- biathlon/cross country relay.

To summarize, the USBA will be able to take 2 men and 2 women to the Youth Olympic Games.   Athletes must have a birth date between Jan 1, 1994 and Dec 31, 1995.  The first position will be filled by the best 4 of 9 races scored on the USBA % back method.  Only age eligible athletes will be in the points calculation and points base. Races will include Jr Trials (3 races, Jericho, Dec 2010), US Biathlon Nationals (3 races, Mt Itasca, March 2011) and Summer Rollerski Biathlon Festival (3 races on matched skis, Jericho, Aug 201).  The second position will be filled on coaching staff discretion, though points will definitely influence the selection.  An Alternate will also be selected, based on points.   All athletes will need to compete in the Youth Category.

Athletes selected to the Youth Olympic Games team (including Alternates) will be invited to funded preparatory camps in October (Soldier Hollow) and November (West Yellowstone).

USBA will be hosting a Jr Development Camp immediately after the USSA- Junior Olympics.  It will be held at Mt Itasca, Grand Rapids, MN, March 13-20. This training camp is for xc skiers age 14-19 who are competing at a high level in cross country skiing and are just starting biathlon training/racing.  This camp is also for those who have some biathlon experience and are looking to get some additional coaching.  The camp will combine intensive marksmanship training and ski training over a week-long camp. All athletes will be able to compete at the US National Championships which will be held at Mt Itasca, March 17, 19, 20, during the last few days of the training camp.

Questions regarding the 2012 Youth Olympic Games and the USBA Jr Development Camp should be addressed to Piotr Bednarski, Director of Athlete Development, mnbiathlon@aol.com, 952/237-0765 cell.

Provisional Criteria Pdf

2012 Youth Olympic Games
January 10-24, 2012
Innsbruk, Austria

Dear Athletes and Coaches,

The inaugural Youth Winter Olympic Games will be held January 13-22, 2012 in
Innsbruk, Austria. This is a new event, and as the title indicates, it’s a big deal. This
is a REAL OLYMPICS for Youth athletes (age eligibility described below), and will
include virtually all the winter sports that are included in the “regular” Olympic
Games. This event will be fully funded by the US Olympic Committee and the USBA.

The U.S. Biathlon Team will be allowed to bring 2 female and 2 male biathletes.
Athletes must be US Citizens born between January 1, 1994 and Dec 31, 1995.
There will be 4 events for biathlon:

• 6km/7.5km Sprint
• 7.5km/10km Pursuit
• Mixed Relay (2 women and 2 men)
• Combined Biathlon and XC Relay (2 biathletes, 2 xc skiers)

The qualification process for US biathletes wanting to represent the United States at
the Youth Olympic Games will begin this winter season, 2010-2011. The
International Competition Committee has not yet approved criteria, but they will be
available in the next month. Criteria will be emailed out to coaches and will be
posted on the USBA website as soon as they are available.

Because the names for team selection must be submitted to the International
Olympic Committee by early December 2011, we will most likely need to use results
from major Biathlon races during the 2010-2011 season. Athletes and coaches
need to keep this in mind when planning the winter race schedule. Though our
criteria are not yet complete, this letter is a “heads up” regarding the importance of
racing at the Jr/Youth World Team Trials, Dec 28-30, 2010 in Jericho, Vermont and
the US National Championships, March 17-20, 2011 at Mt Itasca, Minnesota.

The International Competition Committee will work to complete its work on the
Youth Olympic Games qualifying criteria by the middle of November. The inaugural
Youth Summer Olympic Games were held this summer in Singapore. From all
reports it was a resounding success. The host city website is not yet up, but here’s a
link for some more basic information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Winter_Youth_Olympics

Waxing Protocol for the 2010 IBU Cup Team Trials/Jr World Team Trials

USBA will be enforcing a “same wax” policy for the 2010 IBU Cup Team Trials, Dec 12-22, 2009 at Mt Itasca, MN and the Jr/Youth World Team Trials, Dec 19-22, 2009. All athletes wanting to qualify for the 2010 IBU Cup Team are required to adhere to the waxing policy in order to be considered for nomination to the team. Athletes failing to follow this protocol will be ineligible for selection to IBU Cup Team.

The purpose of this “same wax” protocol create the most fair conditions to select the IBU Cup Tam. A secondary reason is to reduce the cost for the clubs and USBA programs by reducing the cost of wax, as well as eliminating the need to bring extra staff for the sole purpose of preparing testing and preparing all combinations of wax.

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Press Release:
US Biathlon Association
October 22, 2009

Final Selection for US Biathlon December 2009 World Cup Team

The International Competition Committee of the US Biathlon Association is pleased to announce that Kevin Patzoldt of Grand Rapids, MN will be named as the 5th man for the US December World Cup team.    This team will compete in World Cups 1-3 in December of 2009.  This selection was very difficult to make because of the depth of the field competing for the final spot on the WC team.   A number of athletes were in the running for this final spot.

Selection was based on national team staff discretion and the results of the rollerski biathlon races at Soldier Hollow, Utah, October 19 and 21, and the Summer Festival rollerski races in Jericho, Vermont, August 8-9.   The Soldier Hollow races were more heavily weighted than the Jericho races.  Race series percent back, ski speed, and shooting percentages were also considered, as well subjective assessment of ski technique and on snow ski speed.   The ICC would like all the athletes in contention to know that the committee’s deliberations were open and lengthy.

The Women’s World Cup Team, made up Haley Johnson, Sara Studebaker, and Lanny Barnes were nominated to the December World Cup team based on 2008-9 World Cup results.  On the Men’s side, Tim Burke, Jay Hakkinen, Jeremy Teela and Lowell Bailey were also nominated to the December World Cup team based on 2008-9 World Cup results.  The ICC would like to congratulate Kevin Patzoldt for his excellent performances at the Soldier Hollow rollerski biathlon races.  The National Team staff look forward to working with Kevin.

Qualification for the upcoming Olympic team is still very much open.   On the Men’s side, Tim Burke and Jay Hakinnen are pre-qualified for the Olympic team.  One additional men’s spot could potentially be awarded to a Dec World Cup team member who has a top 30 WC finish.  Up to two women can qualify for the Olympic team through top 30 WC finishes in December.  Remaining spots on the Olympic Team (total team size is 5 men and 4 women) will be allocated after the last stage of the Olympic selection at the IBU Cup in Altenberg, Germany in early Germany.   Up to 4 men and 4 women will qualify to compete in the IBU Cup through the IBU Cup selection races at Mt Itasca, MN, Dec 12-21.  December World Cup athletes who have not been nominated to the Olympic team will also be eligible to compete at the IBU Cup races in Altenberg.

In addition to the deliberations regarding December World Cup teams, the ICC also approved the use of standardized waxing at the IBU Cup Selection races at Mt Itasca in December. All athletes wanting to qualify for the IBU Cup races in early January, as part of Olympic qualification, will need to be part of the standardized waxing process.   Details will be posted on the USBA website along with the race invitation.

The ICC has also determined that the start format for the Pursuit format race at the IBU Cup Selection Races at Mt Itasca will be 30sec interval start.   In addition to the Pursuit format, there will be three Sprint format races, and one Mass Start format race.

Piotr Bednarski
Chair, International Competition Committee
US Biathlon Association

Images from the 2001 Recruiting camp held at Camp Ripley, MN