Category Archives: Mt. Itasca

Jan 2021 updates

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Due to the last Covid rules which curtail competitions per se until the 14th of Jan, MN Cup #2 as rescheduled is now cancelled. Our planning has gotten short range by necessity, and for that I apologize—but we do have a couple of events that should be ok and should happen!!

This coming Sunday—Elk River- we will have a time trial course set up where you can come, zero yourself and time yourself. It will use the normal winter course Pursuit format so PPSS and a 5 lap total of 9.1km of skiing plus penalty loops.

To accommodate both zeroing and time trialing we will need to do this by 10 maximum wave appointments with me. 9:30 or 11:00. Please sign up shortly. If we run out of slots [10 x 2], I will open up another time slot in the early afternoon We will need to zero quickly so be there on time and ready to go. I anticipate no more than 15 min to zero. Once we switch to metal, all zeroing will be done for that wave. Watch your email, as I might move you or your group to anther time slot.

The 23rd/24th weekend is not yet determined—we may do more time trials at Elk River

and the 30th/31st will be Regional races at Mt Itasca, with an announcement/invitation coming out shortly.

I am anticipating at least two events in Feb, another Regional event in March along with Nationals in West Yellowstone.

I did note this past weekend that quite a few of our Biathletes participated in the JNQ races in Houghton MI with some really spectacular results!! Training pays!!

Enjoy the Journey!
Bill Meyer, Coach

MN Cup #1 and #2 Cancelled

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Good Morning,

As you probably are aware, the Governor yesterday extended the “pause” on youth and adult sports competitions until the 4th of Jan at the earliest. The COVID rates are simply not dropping enough to warrant a return to normal. Again, too many are not following the protocols that the health experts have laid out—so we all suffer!!

Accordingly, MN Cup #1 & #2 are cancelled. The Midwest Regional Races tentatively scheduled for the 2nd & 3rd of Jan will be rescheduled.

In addition, USBA announced this morning the the US Youth and Junior World Championship Team Trials have been cancelled. You can read the full announcement on the USBA webpage.

As they will be looking at regional results to make up the US teams, being prepared, well trained and racing in Jan will be doubly important!!

In the meantime, skiing at Mt Itasca is good, and there is a 1.5 km course that you can use to mark your progress!

It’s a long journey- and certainly not always easy!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

Dec 5/6 Midwest region Biathlon Race Postponed due to Covid

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Due to new policies in MN, limiting gatherings and concerns for high rates of Covid, the Midwest Region Biathlon race scheduled to be held at MT Itasca on December 5th and 6th has been postponed. Bill Meyer and VladCervenka will be monitoring the situation closely and rescheduling the race when it is considered safe to do so.

Please pass this information on to the clubs and biathletes you work with.

Stay safe and healthy!

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

Vermont camp and Lake Placid camps cancelled

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All Athletes, Coaches and Parents,

The Saga continues.

Yesterday we received notice from the USBA office that both the Vermont camp and races there plus the follow-up elite camp at Lake Placid have been cancelled due to the virus concerns and inability to host large numbers of people safely. For those who were looking at the scheduled races as part of the Trials for IBU or World Cup Team positions, USBA will be scheduling some additional events later in the summer/fall for a fair trials contest.

In MN our plans will be to continue to hold Daycamps around the state, and localized weekly training practices; along with 3 or 4 rollerski races at Elk River as scheduled pending any changes in the rules. Currently MN is one of the few states where the numbers of new cases are declining.

With all this in mind, it is even more important that you do your own training as planned, work at improving your own Personal Records and keep up with the tests and times we are asking you to do. And keep reporting those back to me. At the end of the upcoming Mt Itasca Day camp, I will circulate some of the up to date spreadsheets so you can compare yourself with others. Collectively we have made equal or better gains in the basics this year than we have in normal years!! We are stronger, skiing better, and shooting better than ever before!!

Stay safe and practice good personal habits, even if those around you are careless or don’t recognize their obligation to other people!

Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

MN Biathlon June and Early July 2020 Schedule

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Please find below the tentative schedule of training events and day camps around the state. All these events are subject to any new rules by the Governor, or other unforeseen changes. Note: the RR grade at Elk River is closed to roller skiing until 1 July. Access to the range is open. Please bring a facemask to all training. Masks are mandatory for rifle fitting for both coach and athlete! Hand sanitizer is also recommended. Limited ammo will be available for sale at $35 a brick [500 rds]. Also note: helmets are mandatory for all roller skiing. Knee pads, elbow guards, and gloves are optional but recommended for beginners. 

MN-Biathlon-June-2020-scheduleDownload

Rifle fitting focus- by invitation only: 

  • 5 June, Friday- Elk River- 2:00 pm in the parking lot at Woodland Trails. Bring roller skis etc. also. 
    Open shooting after- 4:00 until 6:00 pm. Max numbers 10. Please contact me for signup. Bill & Holly. 
  • 11 June, Thursday- Elk River- 2:00 pm- fitting by invitation only
    Open shooting 3:00 until 6:00 pm. Max numbers 10. Please contact me for signup. Bill & ??

Daycamps- day long training–9:00 am to 4:00 pm—bring your own lunch and water! Max group size 10. 

  • 13 June- Bosek range at Alexandria- coaches: Kaisa, Jeff, and Bill. Please contact me for signup. 
  • 20 June- Snowflake range at Duluth- coaches John, Sean and Bill. Please contact me for signup. 
  • 27 June- Mt Itasca at Coleraine- coaches Vlad, Bill and maybe Jeff. Please contact me for signup. 

Shooting practices- 

Races-

The Elk River event scheduled for the 25th of June is cancelled due to the RR grade construction. Local events running or biking can be scheduled by the local coach as long as the starts are well spread out and the event has no more than 10 total participants counting both coaches and athletes. 

16 July, 13 August, and 17/18 October- Elk River. These events are tentatively scheduled pending completion of the construction work. We will get an invitation out when closer to those dates.

For further information, please contact me or one of the coaches listed above. Stay safe, be careful, and encourage others to do the same!!

Bill Meyer,
MN Biathlon Coach