MINNESOTA BIATHLON – SCHEDULE 2023/2024

MONTHACTIVITY/WHERE DATES 
AprilBegin training year Monday10 April, 2023
MayElk River [ER] daycampSat/Sun6/7 May
Officials clinicSaturday6 May evening
Mt Itasca daycampSat20-May
Officials clinicSaturday20 May evening
June4 day long camp Mt Itasca [MI] Wed-Sat14-17 Jun
daycamp ER Saturday24-Jun
RACE #1 – ER – rollerski [RS] Sunday25-Jun
Arien’s Regional Select CampMon-Fri26-30 June
JulyDaycamp -BosekSaturday8-Jul
Daycamp ERSaturday22-Jul
RACE#2- ER- RS PursuitSunday23-Jul
AugustVermont camp -JerichoMon-Sun31 Jul-6 Aug
RACE #3- ER – RSSun13-Aug
Daycamp DuluthSat 26-Aug
SeptemberDaycamp  ERSaturday23-Sep
RACE #4 ER RSSunday24-Sep
OctoberDaycamp ERSaturday14-Oct
RACE #5 ER RSSunday15-Oct
NovemberOfficials/Coaches clinicTBD
DecemberMNCup #1 – Mt ItascaSunday3-Dec
Regional #1/#2, MN 2&3Mt ItascaSat/Sun16/17 Dec
YJr/Youth Olympics team trials–Mt ITue-Sun26-31 Dec
January 2024Regional #3/#4 -MN 4&5Ripley or E RiverSat/Sun13/14 Jan
Regional #5/#6–WIBlackhawk ?Sat/Sun27/28 Jan
FebruaryMN Cup #6- Elk RiverSunday25-Feb
Novice clinicright after race
MarchMN Cup #7- DuluthSaturday2-Mar
Novice Clinicright after race
Regional #7/#8 -WIAriens/BrillionSat/Sun9/10 Mar
MN Cup #8 Mt ItascaSaturday16-Mar
Nationals TBD3rd week in March
Note: the above assumes the MN High School schedule and the CXC schedule is similar to this past year. 

Elk River Summer Biathlon #2 – July 23, 2023 – RESULTS

The following adjustments were made from the official sheets printed before the race:

  • 10 seconds were given back to Saylor for range issues.
  • 5 seconds were given back to Caleb, also for range issues.
  • In the excitement of the pursuit start, I failed to ghost Lauren. To correct this, Audry’s, Irina’s, and Maeve’s start times were moved up 5 seconds from the original sheet, reflecting their true start time.

Please let me know of any corrections or adjustments needed.

9.3km Pursuit

OverallCat. PlaceCat.RacerStartFinishOverall TimeBackPPSST
11SMJakob Ellingson1:0034:3133:31+0:0002237
21U17MJack Cashman1:1035:0733:57+0:2622116
31JMRyan Houseman1:2535:3634:11+0:4013127
41YMEric Anderson1:0535:2834:23+0:52332412
52YMGabe Hallgren1:2036:5235:32+2:01523212
62U17MSergei Viskovatykh1:4538:3336:48+3:17442313
73YMJoel Bouley1:3038:2136:51+3:20442212
82JMLogan Jensen1:1539:1538:00+4:29332412
91SVMGregg Pattison1:4039:4938:09+4:3824129
104YMElliott Oberton1:5041:3939:49+6:1822329
115YMReid Binsfeld1:3541:3139:56+6:25445518

8.2km Pursuit

OverallCat. PlaceCat.RacerStartFinishOverall TimeBackPPSST
11SWCheresa Bouley2:2034:4932:29+0:0011417
21JWKaisa Bosek2:3035:0532:35+0:0621003
31MWHanne Guthrie2:2536:2433:59+1:3012306
41U13MCarson Gilbertson2:0536:2334:18+1:49512311
52JWSaylor Landrum2:3537:4035:05+2:3610236
61YWAudrey Lahammer2:5039:4436:54+4:2514319
71U17WSelah Binsfeld2:4540:2737:42+5:1341049
81U15MCaleb Gilbertson1:5539:3837:43+5:14322411
92U17WAnnelise Baird2:4040:2537:45+5:16433212
103U17WIrina Viskovatykh2:5544:4341:48+9:19425415
113JWMaeve Lindsay3:0046:0643:06+10:37323412
122U13MPatrick Lammersen2:0048:4846:48+14:19332210

Dryfire traiing

To help your shooting, nothing beats dryfiring—a lot!! That will build the reactions and small muscle control needed by a good shooter! Please note the training plans generally call for twice the number of dryfire shots as live fire!! Here are a few drills to get you started:

  • Prone and standing, building your position so you come up onto the first target without shifting around to get your natural point of aim [NPA] Learn the exact angle you need in prone and use that on your approach, dropping your knees equally on each side of that line! In standing, get your feet where they belong as you remove your rifle!! 
  • After getting your NPA, close your eyes and hold—open and see if you are on the target? Never force the rifle onto the target—it should set there over time when relaxed!! 
  • Go through a breathing cycle and see if you approach the prone target exactly at 6:00 and the standing target consistently from the same direction 
  • Sit crosslegged and hold the rifle in your lap—practice the trigger control—first stage onto the second…hold.. breathe..cut the breath …slowly increase the pressure to shot release 
  • Hold for long periods of time—up to 5 minutes—on the target—build the control muscles!! 
  • Practice a breathing cycle where you take two breaths and cut your breath on the second exhale—then finish the squeeze at 1 second later 
  • Learn the ‘white circle’ sight picture so your mind recognizes it subconsciously, and says ‘finish the squeeeeze’ 
  • Double check that your magazines are empty—then practice getting into position including changing magazines quickly –with your eyes closed 
  • Learn to call your shots. Where was the rifle pointed when you released the shot?

There are a lot more that can benefit you!! But the bottom line is: “Just do it!!” 

As we continue into the Summer, the shooting emphasis will shift from pure accuracy to fast, smooth range procedure to shooting when tired, to shooting with a heartrate/high lactates, to race shooting. While we don’t confine ourselves to one of these focus points at a time—this progression has worked the best to build solid Biathlon shooting!! 

Enjoy the Journey!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MN Biathlon

Annual 4-day training camp

Coming up in just under two weeks is the annual 4 day camp at Mt Itasca in Coleraine!! I have again attached the Invitation and the tentative schedule. Please note that if you can’t make the full 4 days, you can attend for a day or more at a time!! Each day will provide some shooting and some rollerski work—so really good way to get the summer started in Biathlon!!!

The camp is designed to enhance the skills of all from first year to veterans!! We will be building on the skills covered at the daycamps last month!! 

Most participants will tent camp onsite or stay in the HQ building. The Chalet will be available for showers and dining. All meals will be provided either at the Chalet or at the homes of local participants. 

Please contact John Gould to sign up or if you want more information. Early signups really help us in planning for food and coaching needs!

Thanks and looking forward to seeing everyone!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon

Ski Technique

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