The Chiemgau Arena, a shooting range with paved rollerski loops just outside of Ruhpolding, Germany, is a venue unlike almost anything in North America, with the exception perhaps of a few former Olympic sites. And even if Soldier Hollow has nice rollerskiing, too, Ruhpolding has a bit more: other teams, for one, but also spectators who show up even in the summer just to watch some of the world’s top biathletes train.
Here are a few of our photos from a morning of training earlier this week, when the U.S. national team and the National Guard team joined three German groups as well as the Ukrainians to use the range for a workout.
Tim Burke hones his shooting.
Two members of a German junior team run through the range as part of their foot-based shooting combination workout.
National Guard coaches Sarah Lehto and Travis Voyer observe their athletes.
Looking down the range at the beginning of the Americans’ training session.
Per Nilsson checks in on Lowell Bailey after a prone stage.
Russell Currier speeds by in front of the stadium.
German men ski past, cooling down from a sprint workout.
Susan Dunklee (front) and Sara Studebaker click their magazines into place before a prone stage.
Annelies Cook lines up in prone as Russell Currier skates away.
U.S. and National Guard coaches line the range; women’s coach Jonne Kahkonen holds up a magnetic board showing an athlete where their shots fell on the target.
U.S. women’s coach Jonne Kahkonen discusses a shooting stage with Susan Dunklee.
Leif Nordgren on the range.
Annelies Cook in a standing stage.
U.S. shooting coach Armin Auchentaller looks on as Jay Hakkinen takes a standing stage.
Russell Currier shooting prone.
Part of the German women’s biathlon team practicing shooting drills.
Lowell Bailey on the range.
Leif Nordgren doing one of the ten speeds in his workout.
Jake Dalgren of the National Guard skates through the range.
Lowell Bailey in the midst of a speed.
Sara Studebaker training in Ruhpolding, Germany this summer.
Jay Hakkinen (front) and Tim Burke drop in for a speed.
Spectators show up to the Chiemgau Arena even in the summer!
The view from the end of the range into the mountains.
