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.
- Two members of a German junior team run through the range as part of their foot-based shooting combination workout.
- Per Nilsson checks in on Lowell Bailey after a prone stage.
- Jay Hakkinen (front) and Tim Burke drop in for a speed.
- Spectators show up to the Chiemgau Arena even in the summer!
- U.S. shooting coach Armin Auchentaller looks on as Jay Hakkinen takes a standing stage.
- Russell Currier speeds by in front of the stadium.
- Russell Currier shooting prone.
- Jake Dalgren of the National Guard skates through the range.
- 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.
- Lowell Bailey on the range.
- Leif Nordgren doing one of the ten speeds in his workout.
- Part of the German women’s biathlon team practicing shooting drills.
- The view from the end of the range into the mountains.
- Leif Nordgren on the range.
- Annelies Cook in a standing stage.
- Tim Burke hones his shooting.
- Annelies Cook lines up in prone as Russell Currier skates away.
- Susan Dunklee (front) and Sara Studebaker click their magazines into place before a prone stage.
- Lowell Bailey in the midst of a speed.
- U.S. women’s coach Jonne Kahkonen discusses a shooting stage with Susan Dunklee.
- Sara Studebaker training in Ruhpolding, Germany this summer.
- Looking down the range at the beginning of the Americans’ training session.
- German men ski past, cooling down from a sprint workout.
- National Guard coaches Sarah Lehto and Travis Voyer observe their athletes.
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