Page 10 - Jan_14

Biathl n

for Beginners

By Evan Johnson \ Photos by Herb Swanson
C
ombiningthe cardiovascular lon than the ones that are into shooting
exertion of skate cross-country and want to learn how to ski,” he says.

skiing with the precision and “It’s easier to get a top-level athlete if
patience of target shooting, biathlon they’re a good skier first and then have
can be one of the more intimidating to learn to shoot.”
Lithuanian-born US biathlon de-
winter sports.
But it shouldn’t be; local coaches velopment coach Algis Shalna was a
say if you can ski, especially if you can ski member of the Soviet Union’s gold med-
fast, the learning curve is in your favor.
al–winning biathlon relay team at the

Just what is biathlon? Competi- Sarajevo Winter Olympics in 1984. Fol-
tors skate laps, stopping after each lap lowing the breakup of the Soviet Union,
to shoot five shots at targets 50 meters Algis brought his family to the states and
began a coaching career that has lasted
away. Missing means a costly 150-me-
ter penalty lap for every target missed. more than two decades. Shalna says if
So it’s best to be a good shot; and even you want to be a biathlete, not only do
better if, faced with a penalty lap, you you need to know how to ski, you have
to know how to ski fast. Learning to
can power through it.
Vermont Sports visited the Ethan shoot, he says, can come later.
Allan Biathlon Club at the Ethan Allan hosts a series of six winter biathlon races a skier and learn to shoot than it is to be “It’s about constant work with the
throughout the winter. Races are open to a shooter and learn to ski. Eric Tremble rifle,” he says. “Repetitions and rep-
Firing Range in Jericho to get some be-
ginners tips from the people that know novices and you need not own a rifle to has been coaching at the EABC for four etitions and repetitions. Over and over
biathlon the best: club members, coach- participate, just a pair of skate skis and a years and says the best biathletes already with no breaks.”
es, and even an Olympic gold medalist. willingness to learn.
have experience skiing well before they
straIght shootINg
The club, known for its encouraging So you’re willing, what’s next? The put the rifle on their back.
approach and welcoming of beginners,
best way to start biathlon, the experts “As a junior coach, I wish we’d Biathlon rifles are .22 caliber, weigh-
say, is to get on skis. It’s easier to start as
get more skiers transitioning to biath-
ing approximately 8 pounds each with

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