Biathlon, an exciting mix of target shooting and cross country skiing, is the Number One winter sport in Europe and its popularity is increasing. Scottish biathlete and Eurosport commentator Mike Dixon says that between 100,000 and 300,000 Brits tune in to their coverage. It is easy to understand the popularity. Lycra clad gods and goddesses gliding around pristine snow covered forests and pastures, reaching speeds of up to 70km/h descents on skinny skis while carrying a 4kg long rifle. A single missed shot means a penalty loop, 150 meters of pain and shame that can turn a race on its head.
However Biathlon is not so easy to get into, even in the Alps it is generally restricted to skiers on the elite competition track. That’s not surprising. You are shooting an expensive target rifle which fires rounds at supersonic speeds that can punch through wood, and bone!
At the end of August I got the chance to spend 3 days training with current Olympic relay gold medalist Marie-Dorin and her husband Lois Habert (a European champion) at Correncon en Vecors. Marie has now retired and is expecting her second child in the New year. Obviously in August we were not on skis but on roller-skis. Roller skiing is the dry land equivalent of cross country skiing on snow. Skis are replaced with a shaft that is 53cm or longer with wheels at either end. They come in both skating and classic varieties. Classic skis having a clutch to stop them rolling backwards. The big difference with snow skiing is that, if you fall over, it hurts a lot more!
Marie-Dorin, baby on board
If you are interested in knowing more about this sport I've put an article up on my website.
@davidof, I think you can do Biathlon on Megeve too, there is a firing range at Cote 2000. The posters for Biathlon that I have seen in Villard de Lans said that kids could do it too but using air rifles.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
As a skier & a shooter I have always had the greatest admiration for anyone who can ski like that then hold a rifle even remotely steady.
@davidof, I think you can do Biathlon on Megeve too, there is a firing range at Cote 2000. The posters for Biathlon that I have seen in Villard de Lans said that kids could do it too but using air rifles.
Indeed. Most of the ESFs offer a biathlon taster, frequently with laser rifles on 10 meter ranges (esp. for kids) as they don't need a proper range. Sometimes on 10 meter ranges with air rifles or compressed air rifles and some do offer live round shooting. I don't expect there is much difference between shooting with a compressed air and a live round .22 rifle except cost (a .22 round for training costs about 25 cents).
my experience with Biathalon is with Winter Games on the C64
Left & right on the flat, up & down on the hill with fire to shoot the target
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Hmmm... I'm sure I could improvise with all mountain skis, a frame binding and a 30-06.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@davidof,
You lucky man ! Probably my favourite winter sport for watching. Keep threatening to go out and watch some but the stadium tickets get snapped up so quickly and whilst one can go out on the track it would be nice to also see what's happening elsewhere on the circuit
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
The crashes on rollerskis can be nasty, I filmed this with my phone at Aix les Bains a couple of weeks ago
the guy who crashed said it was due to the leaves on the left hand side but I think he just made an error, he had some nasty cuts and bruises after that little collison with the curb.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Mrs M would be up for that. She likes a bit of violence with her XC.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
La Clusaz are pushing Biathlon this year too, looks like there are 'have a go' sessions
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I've done a couple of sessions with them. my xc technique is lousy, but i can still shoot.
it is probably one of the purest sports, based on hunting principles and contradictory in extreme... as others have pointed out, trying to shoot straight whilst absolutely pumped is the absolute challenge.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I'm not an x.c skier, but thought it would be fun to try, for general summer fitness & balance training so met up with them for the first time at Odd Down (Bath) cycle track on Monday
They also train at Castle Combe, and apparently have access to laser-rifles for the shooting element
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Good for you Geoffers.
On the rollerski front Andrew Musgrave got a podium at Telemark in their Sommarland summer festival a couple of weeks ago and Jimmy Clugnet got into the quarter finals of their sprints.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Did some of this in the Army, 30 something years ago. It's harder than it looks.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
They do tasters session in Les Carroz in the summer months. Always makes me laugh to wonder how the UK would react to a car park full of kids with air rifles.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I think Cairngorm Biathlon Club has an active kids section? They don't do it in a car park AFAIK.
I have seen it offered as a tourist activity in both Ruhpolding, and Ramsau am Dachstein.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Sad day for biathlon with death of halvard hanevold. Great biathlete but in the era of bjoerndalen was maybe a bit overlooked. Thoughts to his family and RIP.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
