Category Archives: International

Interesting Links

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One of our newest members, Ryan, found these two on line. With our newfound time again for most, it is worthwhile reading through the Coach’s doc especially for those in Coaching positions!!  Actually Art Stegen in NY, Marc Sheppard in West Yellowstone, and I collaborated on this about 10-15 yrs ago. There is a newer Coach’s document out by USBA, but this covers the basics like taking a shot and rifle fitting in more detail. Also note, since this was written, I have found a 4 week training cycle with an easier 2nd week works better than stepping up the load 3 weeks in a row then recovery. Kind of a mini recovery week in #2 and a bigger one in #4. The principles of load and recovery then supercompensation are still valid!! You won’t improve your fitness without that supercompensation!!  The youtube clip is interesting also!! 

Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

I found a coaches handbook online from the USBA that I’ve been reading through, attached below. I’ve been enjoying learning about the technical aspects of the sport and it’s been helpful to mentally prepare myself for firing posture, sequence and cadence.
I also found a great video explaining how biathlon came to be. https://youtu.be/14NTlDvmzyc

Best wishes, Ryan
CoachesEducationDownload

Info: Schedule changes, upcoming daycamp, and rollerski race at ER

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Big schedule changes and reservations for the upcoming daycamp and last rollerski race at ER

Good Afternoon All!!!

Ok—top of the news is that the USBA Youth and Junior Worlds Team Trials have been moved from Anchorage to Mt Itasca, and the dates changed to 28th-31st of Jan. All biathletes in the Jr, Youth and <17 age class should participate. I am checking for eligibility ages for the US team on the <17, but the experience is invaluable for all!!

We will have the first Midwest Regional races or MN Cups the first weekend in Dec at Mt Itasca. More to be announced soon on that schedule—and of course both are subject to COVID and snowmaking temps!!

We are also going to change the dates of some of the MN Cup races in Dec and early Jan. For sure we will have MN Cup races or makeup Midwest Regional races during Christmas Holiday—likely on the 2nd and 3rd of Jan at Mt Itasca. The MN Cup #3 scheduled for the 13th at Mt Itasca will be one of those now and the 13th race will be cancelled.

CXC has moved the Michigan JNQ qualifier to Duluth on the 12th and 13th of Dec. I would suggest you jump into that or the one the following weekend at Mt Itasca for the upper level ski experience.

Ok—now as to the upcoming daycamp at Elk River on the 31st of Oct and the last roller ski biathlon race there on the 1st of Nov. So far response has been heavy! If you want to participate in the daycamp or the race you need to let me know ASAP. We have 20 slots for the daycamp and I think 13 are taken. We have a cap of 25 for the race and have about 20 signed up so far.

So again, please let me know if you want to attend!!

Thanks,
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

2020 US Biathlon Nationals-Cancelled

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Dear Biathlon Family:

I regretfully announce that US Biathlon Association has determined that in the interest of the participants, staff, and the general public, the 2020 US Biathlon National Championships and North American Championships is cancelled.

Guidance from US Biathlon Association medical advisors and Team doctors, and the rapidly developing situation surrounding the covid-19 outbreak, have influenced this decision.  The declarations on March 13 of both State and National states of emergency, and additional emerging guidance regarding limiting the potential for the spread of the virus were also important considerations in this decision. 

The Organizing Committee for this event is deeply saddened to have to cancel.  Refunds for registrations will be processed as quickly as possible.

The Rendezvous Ski Trails and Biathlon Range remain open and available for any teams or individuals who still wish to use them.  Conditions remain excellent.  Please contact me to schedule range use.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Best Regards,
Marc Sheppard
Chief of Competition
406-646-9222
altiusguns@gmail.com

Last update on YJr World Championships Pursuit races

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All 4 races are available to watch online at
https://www.eurovisionsports.tv/ibu/ very unusual to have the Youth races video taped! You can spot our team members here and there in the video feeds.

Note: All racers start the Pursuit with their finish interval behind from the Sprint race, behind the winner of the Sprint. They do not get their start time back.

In the Youth Men’s 10km Pursuit:
Place Bib [start position] Name Shooting time or time behind
1st 4 [Norwegian] 1000 26:28:00
27th 9 Bjorne Westervelt 2214 +3:37
32nd 3 Maxime Germain 3421 + 3:57
44th 21 Sam Stertz 0043 +5:08

In the Youth Women’s 7.5km Pursuit
1st 4 [Austrian] 0010 22:01
51st 58 Helen Wilson 1201 +5:01
56th 53 Kaisa Bosek 1111 +6:18

In the Junior Men’s 12.5km Pursuit
1st 7 [German] 1020 35:34.2
2nd 5 [Russian] 1211 +0.6
3rd** 11 Alex Cizar, Slovenia 1000 +1.2 [** Alex spent a month or so at Mt Itasca a couple of years back]
32nd 38 Garrett Beckrich 1101 +2:37.6
45th 32 Lars Leopold 2212 + 4:41
49th 53 Vasek Cervenka 2013 +5:05

In the Junior Woman’s 10 km Pursuit
1st 1 [Russian] 0000 30:45
24th 28 Chloe Levin 0011 +3:08
55th 52 Emma Stertz 0102 +8:42

Names in Bold are from MN.

Our congrats to all from the US!! And welcome back tonight for those coming home!
Our take away from the above is the Europeans are both skiing and shooting very fast—and in the case of the winners, shooting very well!! Keep in mind the ‘race’ times include shooting time in the shooting points 4 times plus 150 meters extra skiing for each miss in the range!! Some are getting into position, loading the rifle, shooting 5 shots, putting the rifle on their backs and getting out of position on the range in around 35 sec in prone and 25 sec in standing.

That is the essence of Biathlon!!

Enjoy the Journey!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

YJr Worlds update

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https://www.lenzerheide2020.ch/en

Tomorrow brings the last day of the YJr World Championships. Based on the results of the sprint races the past two days. All 5 MN Biathletes are in the top 60 of their classes and will race in the Pursuit in the am!!!!

In today’s Junior sprints- 10km for the men and 7.5km for the women:

Men

1st Norway  0,1                                                24:02.7

32nd Lars Leopold Calif, 2,0                             +2:10.9

38th Garrett Beckrich, Grand Rapids  0,3      +2:21.1

53rd  Vasek Cervenka, Grand Rapids  1,3       + 3:03.4

92nd Camren Nielson, Wash, 3,1                      + 6:11.1

Women

1st Russia   0,0                                                  23:19.3

28th  Chloe Levins      0,1                                   +2:06.1

52nd  Emma Stertz, Grand Rapids 0,0                +3:38

74th  Arienna Woods         3,1                             +6:17.9

Enjoy the Journey!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MN Biathlon

YJr Worlds Update

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https://www.lenzerheide2020.ch/en

This morning the Junior [19,20,21 yr olds] Individual races were held in Switzerland. One minute add on penalty. Shooting order P,S,P,S

From MN:

Jr Men’s 15km

Garrett Bechrich    37th           0,1,1,1         3:40 back of winner from Germany who shot clean in 40:15.

Vasek Cervenka     72nd            0,1,1,4         7:26 back. 

Jr Women’s 12.5 km

Emma Stertz    69th           1,0,1,3       11:10 back of the winner from Russia who shot clean in 41:32

Up tomorrow are the Youth relays.

Bill Meyer, Coach
MN Biathlon