Good Evening!
Jack Cashman is in Norway at the Ski Festival in Norway for Youth ages and below. Attached please find the results of todays sprint. You can scroll down to the “Gutah 16 ar class” and find Jack in 9th with 0,2 shooting!! out of 43 in that class. I think there are 1022 participants total!!https://liatoppenskiskytterfestival.no/uploads/iKjjhea8/230415Offisiellresultatliste-sprint.PDF
Biathlon is not a small sport in Norway!!
– Bill Meyer
Coaches!
I hope this note finds you well, and you will enjoy spring in all the ways possible (with snow, sand, safari…whatever works for you).
Quick few updates to share:
An update to those coaches who have encouraged athletes to apply for the USBA Regional Select Camps. We have confirmed locations & cost for these camps.
USBA West/AK Regional Select Camp, June 19-23 confirmed for Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, Bozeman, MT. $500 fee will cover all coaching, lodging, ground transport, & meal costs. Transport to Bozeman by car or via flight (BZN) will be the responsibility of each participant. More details to be shared with selected participants by May 2.
USBA Midwest/East Regional Select Camp, June 26-30 hosted at Ariens Nordic Center, Brillion, WI. $400 fee will cover all coaching, lodging, ground transport, & meal costs. Transport to Brillion by car or via flight (airports of GRB or MKE) will be the responsibility of each participant by May 2.
Both of these camps are by invitation/selection only, and application for both will be via Google Form at this link: https://forms.gle/QjHREp6TL3Mwucjz8 (due May 1, but sooner is better).
Note: Coaches have been encouraged to promote only the best (primarily IBU Youth age) athletes in the region who are ready for a high level & high intensity camp on roller skis and alongside other top athletes. We are targeting a small number from each region. We are also encouraging coaches to consider promoting XC athletes within the region. Contact jfarra@usbiathlon.org with any questions.
The 2023 USBA Coaches Conference is set for June 1-4 in Lake Placid, NY, and will be 2 full days on the 2nd & 3rd, with arrivals on the 1st & departures on the 4th. The cost will be $50 with instructions for payment to come later. Lodging & meals are being covered for all participants at the USOPC Training Center (limited beds, so first come first serve, & expect roommates). For those planning to attend please advise by Wednesday April 26 via this Google Form https://forms.gle/QxTxmZjaYycGgFZy8 and/or contact jfarra@usbiathlon.orgwith questions.
Ethan Allen Biathlon Camp Opportunity
As per tradition, the Ethan Allen Biathlon Club will offer a training camp opportunity in advance of the 2023 USBA Summer Nationals which is set for August 4-6. John Madigan has informed us that they welcome Clubs & athletes for training Monday July 31st through August 6th (must be registered in advance). BUT unfortunately, there will be no lodging available this time on base. Some Teams/Clubs have had luck staying at the UVM Campus housing (https://www.uvm.edu/eventservices/housing-services), though no rifles or ammo are permitted on campus, so they will need to be stored & secured at the EA range. More to come on this at https://www.eabiathlon.org/
Also note, the traditional USBA Elite Development Camp in Lake Placid, is expected to be held once again immediately following the 2023 USBA Summer Nationals event in Jericho scheduled for August 5 & 6. Contact tburke@usbiathlon.org with questions.
I want to thank all coaches & club leaders who helped host Biathlon Try-It events this winter… just some of the ones I am aware of include: 4 US Skiing JNQ events around the country, at 3 major Youth Ski Festivals, at multiple Club building events, and at NCAA champs & SuperTour Finals in Craftsbury (live fire events for top skiers & their coaches). We even had the IBU Secretary General, Max Cobb helping on the range for 3-4 hours in Craftsbury in late March!
In just over 2 months we believe we had upwards of 750 Youth & Juniors experience the sport with the laser rifles alone this winter, and we look forward to continuing to maximize their use around the country with much more time to plan before next season. More to come on this initiative in the coming months.
Finally, I am fired up for the USA athletes participating in the Liatoppen Biathlon Festival this coming weekend in Norway! Thanks to the coaches supporting it, and Go USA!
https://liatoppenskiskytterfestival.no/
Cheers.
John Farra
Director of Sport Development
+1.719.744.2842
Gregg and I have been working closely with Ariens to bring a fun-filled summer and fall roller ski and running biathlon series. Once a month from June through November, Ariens will be hosting this series. Although we haven’t ironed out all the details yet, there will be multiple race distances for all abilities. For those of you who aren’t roller skiers, there will be a running format as well.
Save these dates
Proposed schedule for each Sunday:
9:30 to 10:00 – Registration and course set up 10:00 to 10:45 – Zero
11:00 – Main races
12:00 – Novice races
Clean up between 1 and 2.
* Times subject to change
More details to come as we get closer to the first race in June.
There will be many opportunities to be involved for parents, family members and friends who will be attending but not racing. We will need volunteers to register racers, help with set up, assist with timing, handle target management, and complete course takedown.
Biathletes, if you can, please stick around after your events and help out with the novice races. Novice racers will greatly appreciate the help from more experienced athletes.
Spread the word, and we look forward to seeing you all this summer!
Joe Hamel
Gregg Pattison
A report from Holly Hanson, the MN Biathlon Lead Coach to Nationals, late last month. Thanks, Holly for stepping up to that and for putting together a detailed report!!
2023 US Biathlon National Championships
A total of 7 athletes from Minnesota competed in the 2023 US Biathlon National Championships in Casper, Wyoming.
The team consisted of: Lauren Huber – Wolf Pack Club, Maeve Lindsey, Twin Cities Club, Gregory Haugen MN at Large (lives in Fargo) and Audrey Lahammer, Eric Anderson, Adelaide Bielke and Carson Peterson from Bluff Country Biathlon. The team had great experiences and stepped up into a whole new level of competition with challenging shooting due to flip-flopping winds coupled with the high altitude of Casper Mountain. There were some warm weather days producing headband tan marks and some slightly sunburned faces (even with sunscreen!) intermixed with forecasted snow storms and days of finger numbing cold conditions.
The venue was the dream of one man who worked tirelessly for many decades to build a biathlon range in Casper. This is a new venue, and it was the first time they hosted Nationals. Many volunteers put in long days to help the athletes, coaches, and spectators. A BIG thank you to all of them!
According to many Garmin watches, the elevation of the facility was over 8200’! The layout was open, which gave the coaches and spectators a good viewing vantage point at the shooting range, which afforded them nice views of multiple sections of the race course. Snow arrived overnight/mornings on several occasions which caused some of the course to be wind-blown with 2-3” of new dry powdery snow, especially on the hills. However, despite these challenges the grooming was good overall. There were several very challenging hills and gusty high winds that frequently shifted direction on the range. The athletes did well competing at altitude by focusing on sleep, recovery, fueling, hydration, and following a training progression that helped them acclimate and prepare for competition at altitude. They executed brilliantly on the well-thought-out race strategies each athlete developed and everyone raced competitively at altitude. Here’s a snapshot of the results:
Sprint Race
Pursuit Race
Relays
In addition, 3 athletes from WI were at the event;
It was a great week of training and racing in Casper, WY, with a lot of team laughter which fell away to serious race faces on competition days. A HUGE THANKS to the athletes and all the parents who made this trip a success! Abra for always being our amazing travel director Julia Bielke – Co-driver, range rifle handler, chaperone, cook, grocery shopper Christine Anderson – Driver, chaperone, on-course corrections, cook, grocery shopper, photographer Tom Lindsay – Driver, On the scope Jackie Peterson – Driver, On the scope for Adelaide Laurie Huber – Driver, Range helperCongratulations to everyone on successfully navigating a challenging National Championship.
Best, Holly
Bluff Country Biathlon Coach
MN Biathlon Lead Coach for Nationals
Good Morning Everyone!
Most of you are active biathlon families. But I know some of you have personal rifles that are not being used extensively!!
This spring, we have seen many newcomers to our sport!! Of those who are in and participating, plus those who have expressed interest and will be invited to our first camp in May, I count up 13 new names since last fall!! These are all teenage athletes who would qualify for a leased MN Biathlon rifle..if we had enough to cover all of them!! And an equal number of older athletes: seniors, masters, etc., have shown interest but would have to provide their own rifles…
It is great to be popular! But…..
On the other end of our pipeline, we have a number who are dedicated to the sport, but will be leaving the state for colleges elsewhere. They have been buying their own rifles. Several this year, again. I have also been pulling in some rifles from athletes who were not using them enough in MN events per the lease agreement.
To help alleviate what appears to be a shortage of MN Biathlon rifles this year for lease, 4 families, who are currently leasing, have indicated an interest in personally purchasing a used rifle, if any are available. Three right handed and one left handed. Anschutz Fortners are preferable.
So long way of asking that if anyone has a rifle they would like to sell, please get in touch and I will connect you with one of the four families. Most used Fortners are in the $3000-$4000 range unless it is almost new. Factory stocks have been changing over the past 10-15 yrs or so—carrying harnesses and slings often need replacing, and etc.
So hoping some of you will be willing to clean out your closets!!
Thanks!!
B
Hosted by Mt. Itasca Nordic Ski Association
Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
Place: Mt. Itasca, Coleraine
Race Format: Pursuit…5 Sec Starts
10K PPSS 5X2K loop
Registration: 9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Zero: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Race Start: 10:45 AM
Cost: $20 (Cash, Venmo, Check)
5.5K PPSS 5X1.1K loop
Novice PPPP 5X 1.1K loop
3.3K PP
Novice 3X1.1K loop
Cost $10 (Cash, Venmo, Check)
Zero: 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Race Start 12:30 PM
ALL <13, select <15, and Novice will race 5.5K
Questions? Call Carl 651-245-5997 or email cnrdgrn@gmail.com