After the first round of NorAms being canceled in Canmore, Alberta, two weekends ago due to cold weather, the domestic biathlon season finally got off the ground on Thursday with the first race in a NorAm series which also served as Canada’s selection trials for its team to World Youth and Junior Championships in Minsk, Belarus. The team has not yet been named.
On Sunday, a day of mass start competitions, Loppet Nordic Racing’s Jake Ellingson decided to take a day off in preparation for the next round of NorAms in Mount Itasca, Minnesota, and took the opportunity to shoot the day’s races with a camera instead of a rifle.
While the youth and junior categories remained as competitive as ever, with not only the best Canadians vying for a trip to Minsk but several provinces also using the races as trials for the Canada Games and few Americans scattered in as well, the senior category lost the entries of Canada’s IBU Cup team, which departed for Europe that day. A strong field of Americans and remaining Canadians nonetheless battled it out.
Patrick Johnson (Far West Elite Team/Auburn Ski Club) warming up.
The men’s field leaves the start.
Kelsey Dickinson representing the Maine Winter Sports Center at NorAms in Canmore in December, 2014.
Mike Gibson (Craftsbury Green Racing Project).
Léo Grandbois (Biathlon Estrie) leading the youth field to the range at the Canmore NorAm mass start in December 2014. (Photo: Jake Ellingson)
Stuart Harden (Rocky Mountain Racers) leads the junior men’s field.
Paul Everett (Methow Valley Biathlon, bib 3) and the rest of the youth men’s field about to start.
Women’s podium: winner Clare Egan (Craftsbury Green Racing Project, center); 2nd place Katrina Howe (Maine Winter Sports Center, left); 3rd place Erin Yungblut (Biathlon Alberta Training Center).
Youth women on the shooting mats.
Former US Biathlon development skier Paul Everett (Methow Valley Biathlon) racing in December 2014.
Vincent Blais (ACBQ) in the men’s race.
Kelsey Dickinson (Maine Winter Sports Center/US Biathlon Development Team) heading for the finish.
Charles Pépin of La Poursuite leaves the range during the youth men’s race. Photo: Jake Ellingson
Max Durtschi, who attended last year’s tryout camp, racing in his U.S. biathlon duds at a NorAm competition in Canmore, Alberta, this winter. (Photo: Jakob Ellingson)
Leilani Tam Von Burg (Biathlon Alberta Training Center).
Emily Dickson (Caledonia Nordic Ski Club).
The men’s field approaches the range for the first time.
Sean Doherty (USBA “X” Team) smiling after winning a NorAm mass start in Canmore, Alberta, earlier this season. Photo: Jake Ellingson.
Tobias Quinn (Biathlon Ontario).
Youth women’s podium: winner Bryn Robertson (Foothills Nordic, center); 2nd place Siena Ellingson (Loppet Nordic Racing, left); 3rd place Emily Dickson (Caledonia Nordic Ski Club).
Junior men’s field.
Katrina Howe (Maine Winter Sports Center) bringing it in for second place in the women’s race.
Grant Novak (Rocky Mountain Racers).
Ethan Dreissigacker (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) leads the men’s field into the range for the first prone.
Brian Halligan (Maine Winter Sports Center/US Biathlon Development Team).
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Junior men’s field.
Teo Sanchez (Chelsea Nordic) leads Jason Lawton (Biathlon Ontario) and others into the range in the youth men’s race.
Paul Everett (Methow Valley Biathlon) is the first to leave the range in the youth men’s race.
Junior women’s podium: winner Maddie Phaneuf (Maine Winter Sports Center/US Biathlon X Team, center); 2nd place Leilani Tam Von Burg (Biathlon Alberta Training Center, right); 3rd place Alexandria Hynds (Chelsea Nordiq, left).
Junior men’s podium: winner Stuart Harden (Rocky Mountain Racers, center); 2nd place Matt Strum (Biathlon Alberta Training Center, right); and 3rd place Matt Hudec (Biathlon Alberta Training Center, left).
Sean Doherty (US Biathlon X Team), Mike Gibson (Craftsbury Green Racing Project), and Max Durtschi (US Biathlon X Team) racing
Women’s field.
Maddie Phaneuf (Maine Winter Sports Center/US Biathlon X Team).
Maddie Phaneuf (Maine Winter Sports Center/US Biathlon X Team) zeroing before competition.
Kesey Dickinson (Maine Winter Sports Center/US Biathlon Development Team).
Siena Ellingson (Loppet Nordic Racing).
Ethan Dreissigacker (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) and Sean Doherty (US Biathlon X Team).
The senior men’s field shooting prone for the first time.
Jordan McElroy (National Guard Biathlon).
The youth men’s field ready to start.
Jarod Algra (West Coast Nordics) leads the youth men’s field into the range for prone.
Kristin Chicoine (Foothills Nordic) had the best race suit, by far.
Guillaume Bertrand (Rocky Mountain Racers).
Youth men’s field.
Erin Yungblut (Biathlon Alberta Training Center).
Sean Doherty (US Biathlon X Team) before the start.
Casey Smith (Maine Winter Sports Center) still on the shooting mat after most of the men’s field has left.
Casey Smith (Maine Winter Sports Center/US Biathlon “B” Team) in the penalty loop.
Tadhg Nakada (National Guard Biathlon).
Maddie Phaneuf (Maine Winter Sports Center) leads Leilani Tam Von Burg (Biathlon Alberta Training Center) and the rest of the junior women’s field.
Stuart Harden (Rocky Mountain Racers).
Sean Doherty (US Biathlon X Team).
The junior men’s field before the start.
Sasha Eccleston (Camrose Vikings).
Andrew Chisholm (Biathlon Alberta Training Center) leads Matt Neumann (Caledonia Nordic Ski Club).
Clare Egan (Craftsbury Green Racing Project/US Biathlon X Team) takes a big lead to the finish line of the women’s race.
Heading down hill.
Melanie Schultz (Canmore Nordic).
Start of the youth men’s race.
Siena Ellingson (Loppet Nordic Racing) leaving the range.
Katrina Howe (Maine Winter Sports Center).
Paul Everett (Methow Valley Biathlon) and Jules Burnotte (Biathlon Estrie) in the penalty loop.
Clare Egan (Craftsbury Green Racing Project/US Biathlon X Team).
Patrick Johnson (Far West Elite Team/Auburn Ski Club) in the men’s race.
Mike Gibson (Craftsbury Green Racing Project).
Matt Neumann (Caledonia Nordic Ski Club).
Jules Burnotte (Biathlon Estrie) en route to winning the youth men’s race.
Sean Doherty (US Biathlon X Team) bringing it home for the win in the men’s race.
Elise Putnam (National Guard Biathlon).
Men’s field ready to start.
Men’s podium: race winner Sean Doherty (US Biathlon X Team, center); 2nd place Casey Smith (Maine Winter Sports Center, left); Guillaume Bertrand (Rocky Mountain Racers).
Getting ready for customers.
Men’s field ready to start.
Jacob Dalberg (National Guard Biathlon) and Mike Gibson (Craftsbury Green Racing Project).
