Conway, New Hampshire, might not be surprised that yet again, Sean Doherty is bringing home a medal in his luggage from a major international competition. But after two years of winning at the youth level, making the podium as a junior is still a big accomplishment. Doherty starts Sunday's pursuit ten seconds out of first place.
When Chloe Levins arrived in Belarus, she had been sick and missed a training block. She wasn't thrilled with her first race, but by the time round two rolled around she was ready: Levins cleaned all ten targets to place 18th. Pearce Hanna led the Canadian team by finishing 34th in the men's 7.5 k sprint.
Susan Dunklee had her best shooting of the year to move from eighth up to sixth in the World Cup pursuit in Antholz, Italy, on Saturday, the best U.S. result of the year. Canada put two women in the top 30, and American Hannah Dreissigacker moved from 60th up to 42nd - beating former star Miriam Goessner on her final loop.
“If they wanted a fair race, there’s no way it would start today,” was what Tim Burke said of the crazy conditions in Oberhof, Germany, for the World Cup sprint. While no North Americans made the top 30, Lowell Bailey (USA) led the way in 34th and Christian Gow of Canada placed a solid 48th in his individual World Cup debut.
The United States Biathlon Association expanded its selections for World Youth and Junior Championships from eight to 13 athletes, and named four who will also get to compete at Open European Championships. Plus, some action shots by Lake Superior Biathlon coach Daniel Guay.
Eight biathletes, hailing from New England through Minnesota to the West Coast, have been named to the U.S. team for World Youth and Junior Championships in Minsk, Belarus, in mid-February. Team namings came after a three-race trials series in Mount Itasca, Minnesota. Additional discretionary picks are anticipated after January 1st.
The U.S. Biathlon Association will reduce its World Cup team to just three men and three women in the beginning of January, ruling out relays in Oberhof, but it's only temporary - seven men and women will race on the IBU Cup and potentially earn promotions to the top circuit.
Biathlon is a roller coaster, but the beauty is that lows can turn into highs: Hannah Dreissigacker wenf from placing 78th in her last World Cup competition to cleaning all ten targets and finishing 17th in today's sprint, good for her first top-20. Susan Dunklee placed 19th with two penalties.
The United States biathlon team went into today’s World Cup pursuits looking for improvement, and two athletes nailed it: Lowell Bailey finished 17th and Susan Dunklee 19th. Both used deliberate shooting strategy on Ostersund's gusty range to make their moves.
The United States biathlon team started the season off on the right foot, finishing the World Cup mixed relay in seventh place and being within a shot of the leaders for the entire race. "Today we were in it all the way until the end- It gives us good confidence going forward," said Tim Burke.
For reasons as wide-ranging as fairness of competition, stress on athletes, health of coaches, and saving money, several North American ski and biathlon organizations have policies limiting the use of high-fluoro waxes at some competitions. And they have nothing but positive feedback from their experiences.
U.S. Biathlon, unlike some national teams, doesn't select its World Cup team each spring. Certain team members prequalify, but there were at least two spots up for grabs at the four-race rollerski trials held in August and October in Jericho, Vt. The final team was announced Tuesday, one month before the season starts in Sweden. (Updated)
Clare Egan and Max Durtschi have been promoted to the highest rung of U.S. Biathlon's Development structure, while Patrick Johnson, Kelsey Dickinson, Jakob Ellingson, and Paul Schommer have joined the Development Group.
After moving to Truckee, California, a little over a year ago to join the Far West Elite Team, Patrick Johnson has picked up biathlon. Now a member of USBA's Development Team, he has his sights set on IBU Cup racing this year and hopefully an Olympics in the future.
“You know we do other workouts,” Tim Burke says with a laugh more than halfway up the 4,867-foot Whiteface Mountain. Minutes before, the U.S. biathlete completed Tuesday's big effort in 13 minutes, 21 seconds, finishing about 1,300 feet higher than he started for a new record in the hill climb named after him.
U.S. Biathlon's Max Cobb also chaired the IBU Technical Committee for the past several years - and he just passed rule changes at the IBU Congress that include a system-wide qualification points system and added Wild Card entries to major events. "People voted in favor of a more fair, open, and sporting system – I was really gratified," Cobb said.
In her second year of biathlon, Clare Egan is a member of U.S. Biathlon's development group and already seeing strides this season. In August, she placed third at North American Rollerski Championships for her best-ever biathlon result. "My skiing’s just going to keep getting better ... and with the shooting, I have to just put in the time," she says.
Max Durtschi left cross-country ski racing in 2009 for a professional career in cycling. Now that he's retired, Durtschi has his sights set on a new frontier: Biathlon.
Following the final week of training in Finland and three days of rollerski races at the coveted Blink Festival in Norway, U.S. Biathlon coach Jonne Kähkönen gives an across-the-pond update from his native Finland.
Biathlon in Bozeman was booming in the 1980s but in the last two decades, the sport has declined in the mountain town as cross country skiing popularity has grown. However, a group of community members is trying to bring biathlon back to Bozeman with the formation of the Bridger Biathlon Club, and they are off to a good start.