Dear Bluff Country Biathlon Supporters,
Below, you will find an update from the last 2 Bluff Country Biathlon (BCB) events of the 2022-23 winter season and preview of the biggest events of 2023-24.
After a short 3 week annual recovery phase in April, the team is back in training with their sights on the following National and International competitions:
2023 US Biathlon (USBA) Regional Select Camp - Airens Nordic Center, Brillion, WI
USBA selected the following BCB athletes and invited them to attend this prestigious camp. Only a small number of athletes are invited to attend this summer camp. USBA Coaches/Former Olympic Athletes will be coaching at camp.
USBA asked the coach of BCB (Holly Hanson) to coach at the Regional Select Camp as well.
2023 US Biathlon Summer National Championships at Camp Ethan Allen in Jericho, VT - July 31st - August 6th
2023 Youth and Junior World Championships Trials at Mt Itasca, Coleraine, MN- December 26th-31st *
2023 Youth Olympic Trials at Mt Itasca, Coleraine, MN - December 26th-31st*
*The team representing USA in both the Youth & Junior World Championships and 2024 Youth Olympics will be selected by US Biathlon (USBA) based on performance at these events and other factors.
*2024 Youth & Junior World Championships- Estonia February 23rd - March 2nd
*2024 Youth Olympics - Gangwon, South Korea - January 19th - February 1st
Here are the results from the 2023 USBA National Championships held on top of Mt. Casper in Wyoming and the Liatoppen Biathlon Festival held in Norway.
In biathlon, the shooting results are always stated in the number of missed shots per position/bout.
There are a total of 5 targets to hit during each shooting position/bout. In sprint races, there are 2 shooting bouts; 1 prone position & 1 standing (total of 10 targets). In longer races it's 2 shooting bouts in prone and 2 in standing position for a total of 20 targets. Biathletes have to ski a 150 meter penalty loop for each missed shot which adds approximately 30+ seconds onto their time. So, if an athlete misses 4 shots total in a race, it can add 2+ minutes onto their overall time.
Both prone and standing targets are at a distance of 50 meters from the shooting platform. Prone target is only 1.8" wide (approx size of half-dollar coin) and Standing is only 4.5" wide. Rifle sights are NOT magnified. They are simple peep sights that require perfect concentric circle alignment between the front and back sights like this example.