IBU Cup and YJWCH Trials Info

Dear Coaches and Clubs, 

We are sending info on both the IBU Cup Trials in Craftsbury, VT, Dec. 15-18, 2022, and the Youth/Junior World Championships Trials in Anchorage, AK, Dec. 27-31, 2022. Please find invitations for both events attached. Note that coaches are required to register for both events.

NOTE: YJWCH Trials registration fee increases on Dec. 1, 2022! Please have athletes register ASAP to avoid late fees. Register here: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=29840

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sara Studebaker-Hall (she/her/hers)
Director of Operations
U.S. Biathlon
208-340-5489

Biathlon Officials and MN Biathlon Parent/Coaching Ed

Good Morning Everyone!!

As you hopefully have noticed, over the past couple of years we have been upgrading the quality of our MN Biathlon races especially at Elk River where we have new mats and bibs, and have been putting on a variety of race formats to familiarize the athletes with formats they are likely to encounter at Regional or National events. In addition, we have some new timing protocols utilizing spreadsheets done by Zean Baker to simplify and formalize that effort. 

Our largest source of help at the events is our Biathlon families. Line coaches, target resetting, timers etc are all volunteers and most are parents/relatives of the athletes..and we are trying hard to stay within the IBU rules with only slight adaptations to match our participants and facilities. Like any sport, Biathlon has Rules and organization, in our case as an Olympic sport, starting at the International level! 

With that in mind, we would like to invite you to a Basic Official’s education class on Sunday morning the 6th of Nov at a location in Elk River, followed by a MN Parent/Coach’s ed program in the pm. We anticipate the morning to be devoted to Officials’ roles, ending with a take-home test you can do at your leisure, perusing the Rules, and mail in to me. The subject matter will deal with the IBU Rules and formal race organization. Where to find the information and situations where the Rules need to be applied rapidly during an event.  

In the pm, for those who are interested, we will switch to the role of a Parent/Coach..roles currently filled by folks like Marcus and Tara Landrum, Jeff Bosek, Chad and Lynda Bouley, David Hudrlik, or Coaches like Holly, Carl and John. Here we will discuss coaching the development of a Biathlete. So, physiology, shooting skills, skiing skills and putting it all together. The goal would be to finish at the range. 

The Basic Officials course is the first step in a progression leading to an International Referee and then to a Technical Delegate. This is Level 1, and the goal of USBA is to develop a number of Level 2 Officials to run higher level—Regional and National—races. At National events, there is normally a Technical Delegate [TD] heading up the Officials group and overseeing the races. 

We are considering Sunday, the 6th of November as our first choice of dates. Other, less desirable dates would be Saturday the 19th or Sunday the 20th. We are anticipating a cost of $10 per family to cover printing costs. 

So, please let me know by Friday if you are interested, whether in just the am or at both sessions, and which date works the best for you. We need to get a handle on numbers for finding a meeting site. 

Thanks!

Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

USBA Jr. Criteria Update & World U. Games Info

Good News!! 

In addition to the Y & Jr World Championships, USBA will be selecting some athletes from Anchorage Trials to go to the Open European Jr Championships and the Jr IBU cup races. This is a great opportunity for those who are near the top of the local races, as we have historically placed many MN athletes on the YJr World team!! This will go below that to give more athletes the possibility of participating in International Biathlon Competition!!

Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

Guard Biathlon Camp 26-28 AUG 2022

Here is the schedule for the Guard Biathlon Camp at Camp Ripley, MN on the above dates.

From our perspective, I think the Sat/Sunday training/races are the most important. However, if someone wants to come on Friday pm for the Combo training at 2:00 pm, I can come down and coach. 

Please let me know if you plan to attend, and if so, which days.

wmeyer@nisswa.net

We do need to submit names and numbers to Derek before the camp, so please respond to me by Wed, 24 AUG. 

Thanks! 
Bill Meyer, Coach

Results from Saturday, Aug 6, 2022 Sprint at Summer Nationals in VT

https://www.eabiathlon.org/race-results

The ‘open class’ is both Seniors and Juniors combined together. Then the Juniors are also on a separate class result. I think both age classes carried rifles on the entire course while the Youth and younger did a shorter course plus some ‘rifle loops’.  

There are a number of Canadian biathletes competing also—and they often come down with really fast roller skis..almost rollerblade fast.

Mass Start and Pursuits tomorrow!! The link to the start times is posted on the main sheet of the same webpage. 

Bill Meyer, Coach