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Ski Technique

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Good Morning Everyone!!

Attached is a checklist for good skating ski technique. As you get onto rollerskis again, take a few of these points at a time and work on them—over and over!! Then add a few more each time you ski…..

Good technique is the foundation for ski speed..you always want to optimize what you are doing to the terrain, snow conditions, your level of fitness and fatigue!! You should be skiing at around to slightly above your lactate threshold [Race Pace] in any biathlon race—and, of course, learning when to start backing down as you approach the range; along with learning to shoot at a HR/lactate level just below your threshold. 

So look this over, and get on back to me with any questions!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

2324-Ski-TechniqueDownload

THIS COMING WEEK THE 29TH OF MAY, 2023

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Good  Morning Everyone!

Hope by now, nearing the end of the 2nd month of the training year, everyone has been out on rollerskis to get used to the feel and to start working on technique!! Don’t drag your old bad habits into the new season!! It takes about 3 weeks of steady work doing something right, to get out of those bad moves/timing/body positions etc!! Later in the week I will send out a checklist of things for good skiing. You can gain a ton of time in racing by being efficient and putting your body weight to work! To say nothing about building the strength in the exact muscles you need on skis!!!

You should also be shooting regularly now, working on improving your accuracy, your moves getting into and out of position, and in taking less and less time to identify that perfect white circle of the sight picture [see attached] – and getting the shot off smoothly!!! Basic marksmanship!! We will be working on cutting down range time, shooting fatigued, and shooting with a high heartrate at the practices and camps!! But if you can’t hit the target shooting when calm, you will have multiple problems as we approach the physiological demands of actual race shooting. One of the most productive things you can do is dryfire!! Everyday is best! I knew a World Cup competitor who used to put on her race gear to dryfire!! And she was good!! [not her skis!!—but it wouldn’t hurt to stand on rollerskis in your basement!!] 

Coming right up is the 4 day camp at Mt Itasca starting on Wed, the 14th of June—the Invitation is attached!! We have plenty of room on that range, and it should be a really fun 4 days!! Please sign up asap so we can get a handle on numbers for food and coaching needs!!

And following shortly after the Mt Itasca camp, there will be a daycamp on Saturday the 24th followed on Sunday the 25th with the first rollerski biathlon race of the year at Elk River! Mark your calendars, and keep an eye out for the Invitations to those events!!

I am also including the WI Biathlon schedule for those who live near Brillion!

Put together by Gregg Pattison and Mark Torresani: 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

  • Sunday, June 4th
  • Sunday, July 16th
  • Sunday, August 6th
  • Sunday, September 17th
  • Sunday, October 15th
  • Sunday, November 12th

So the Journey is well underway!! Enjoy!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

Biathlon-Camp-Announcement-2-2Download
Training-Plans-for-June-Camp-4-1Download

THIS WEEK THE 22ND OF JUNE, 2023

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Good Morning Everyone!!

First, our thanks to Carl Nordgren and John Gould for a good daycamp on Saturday at Mt Itasca, and for the whole crew of adults that suffered through the invasion of mosquitos in the HQ building while going over the Organizing Committee and Rules of Biathlon for the Officials class!! I think it was a really good camp!! More to come in Elk River in June!

We are putting the final touches onto the annual schedule for winter, but I am enclosing what I know at this point. We are double checking with CXC so as to avoid  as many of the JNQ races as possible—but there will be some overlap—simply not enough weekends in the winter!! We will also try to avoid the larger statewide high school events—but likely there will be some conflict with smaller local meets. Most of our winter races are scheduled for Sundays to help avoid conflicts. If you work hard all weekend, be sure you take a good but active recovery day on Mondays!!

Coming up quickly is the  annual 4 day June camp at Mt Itasca to build on the skills you have started to work on! The Invitation and sign up sheets are attached! This is a great chance to get back into the mode of Biathlon training, and to build on the skills you were exposed to at the recent daycamps!! As you will be finished with high school sports by then, this camp will also be more physical and intended to enhance your skills both on rollerskis and on the range!! Please sign up early, if you plan to attend, as we need to know numbers for food planning, coaching staff needs and etc!!

At the recent daycamps, I noted a  few rifles that looked to be less than well maintained!! I am enclosing our standard rifle cleaning instructions, and if you have a MN Biathlon rifle [or your own] you need to be cleaning the rifle basically each time you use it. Forget the stories you heard about people who clean once a month [or year] whether the rifle needs it or not!! There should be no rust anywhere on the rifle, the bore should be clean and shiny, and the bolt free of carbon. The areas in the receiver that accept the extractors on the bolt should be cleaned with a dental pick, and the chamber where the bullet goes to be fired, should be cleaned out!! When you handle the rifle, in the summer particularly, the acid in your sweat will cause the barrel and other parts to lose the protective bluing—wipe all exterior parts down after use with a light layer of good rifle oil containing a preservative—not motor oil!! 

The rifles we are leasing out, and the ones most of you buy used, are definitely not new! But they will all shoot a dime sized or smaller group at 50 meters, if well maintained. But I have seen some where the chamber was so gummed up the bullet would not slide in completely without jamming on the bolt. We are shooting a lot of rounds and if you don’t clean properly, that will happen!! 

For most of our rifles, CCI ammo—for whatever reason—does not chamber easily. It must be slightly larger in diameter than the old Federal 711b that was fine—and made by the same company. The Norma Tac 22 seems good for training ammo—or SK or Lapua.

Enjoy the Journey—we are underway!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

Biathlon-Camp-Announcement-2-1Download
Biathlon-June-Camp-2023-1-1Download
MN-Biathlon-Schedule-2324-1Download

THIS COMING WEEK THE 15TH OF MAY, 2023 – informative documents

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Good Morning Everyone!

This coming week is the 2nd week of our 2nd month of training! The volume is down slightly to give a mini recovery week before a really long hard week coming up. Mondays work well as recovery days as we will continue to recommend hard training on both Saturdays and Sundays! Remember, recovery is when you actually improve—rest up and then continue to supercompensate!! 

Considering where we are with training, here are a couple of camps coming up—first, next Saturday will be a daycamp at Mt Itasca. One day only. Please see the attached Invitation and get in touch with John Gould if you would like to come. If you did not make the daycamps at Elk River last weekend—this would be a great opportunity to get onto the biathlon training page!! And in the evening, from 6:00-8:00, MN Biathlon will hold another Officials Clinic leading to a USBA Level One Officials certification. 

The plans continue to move forward for the annual 4-day MN Biathlon Training Camp at Mt Itasca starting on June 14th and running through Saturday, June 17th. The Invitation for that event is also attached! MN Biathlon is still waiting for some to pay for their rifle lease!! Please, let’s get these taken care of!! And some have not paid their membership dues yet! The forms are, once again, attached for your convenience!!

Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

2324-MNBia-Membership-Form-2Download
Training-Plans-for-June-Camp-4Download
Biathlon-Camp-Announcement-1-1Download
Biathlon-Camp-Announcement-2Download
2324-MNBia-rental-agreement-2Download
Biathlon-June-Camp-2023-1Download

USBA Coaches Update (Early April)

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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

U.S. Biathlon Association

+1.719.744.2842

MNB Membership information

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Our primary round of rifle distribution is now done. Basically if you have a MN Biathlon rifle—your lease fee is due NOW!! Andof course, your MN Biathlon Membership. Please get this in to me as quickly as possible!!! The forms are attached once again!! 

2324-MNBia-Membership-Form-1Download
Biathlon-Camp-Announcement-1Download
2324-MNBia-rental-agreement-1Download
MN-Biathlon-Schedule-2324Download

Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon