Login required to started new threads

Login required to post replies

Biathlon
Quote | Reply
Anyone here do biathlon? I know there is winter and summer biathlon and the sport has always interested me.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I did in junior high, where on the planet are you? there are local associations that have open house type events. MTB biathlon is best.

Pactimo brand ambassador, ask me about promo codes
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [MTBSully] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I am in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PA biathlon club is a summer biathlon club. I am trying to do a lot of research on the best places to try it out/get started. It looks like Lake Placid, NY. and the Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine region are the best bet for me. In the meantime I just want to get a set of skis and try out some cross country skiing. This research lead me to the telemark ski style...not sure how applicable telemark skiing is to biathlon skiing.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I'd love to give it a try. One major hurdle the biathlon gun, from when I looked they are extremely expensive and very customized. I assume you could go to a local association and rent one.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [AndysStrongAle] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
http://minnesotabiathlon.com/

Pactimo brand ambassador, ask me about promo codes
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
You want skate skis.

Pactimo brand ambassador, ask me about promo codes
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
We have a cabin in the Methow Valley (Central Washington). Members of the US cross-country and biathlon teams train there with some regularity, and Sadie and Erik Bjornsen live in the Valley. Our high school has the only active shooting range on a public school campus, so I am told. There is a local winter biathlon club.

Based on my observations, the development track in winter biathlon goes as follows -- learn how to skate ski really well, learn to shoot and get range certified, join a club that has a shared rifle program, get competent in putting the two disciplines together, buy a gun, race. As you would expect there is a reasonably high learning curve. Most people can get to an acceptable competency level in skiing and shooting prone. Putting them together and developing shooting skills standing is much harder. People also struggle with training opportunities, as you can't just ski around with a gun and shoot at the range we have whenever you like.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [AndysStrongAle] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
AndysStrongAle wrote:
I'd love to give it a try. One major hurdle the biathlon gun, from when I looked they are extremely expensive and very customized. I assume you could go to a local association and rent one.

Depends on what you consider extremely ;) $3500 isn't insane for a rifle (for a nice German rifle), but if you can find the sub-par Russian rifle it's about $1500
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Biathlon isn't always cross country & rifles. There's a number of variations that can be done. It can be snowshoeing, running or cycling for the cardio portion. Sometimes, although not common, rather than rifles archery equipment is used.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Did a summer biathlon once - it was tons of fun. Run/shoot prone/run/shoot standing/run. The runs were pretty short - maybe 1.5 mi on a trail through the woods. The event supplied the rifles - plain ol' bolt action .22's. The rifles remained at the shooting station and when you came in off the run, you were handed a loaded 5-shot magazine. Load, shoot your 5 rounds, hand off the weapon, and take off running.

_________________________________________________
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare" - Juma Ikangaa

http://www.litespeed.com
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [scorpio516] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I'm cheap, my boss is cheaper. I'd consider the Russian one $1k over budget, wife would consider it $1,500 over budget :)
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [AndysStrongAle] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
There's a company in CA that makes biathlon stocks for a $150 Savage bolt action.

Naturally you lose the speed of the Forsner/straight pull action, but I know I'm WAY too slow skiing for that to matter ;)
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [AndysStrongAle] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Ive wanted to do a running one for quite some time! Ive seen a couple gut always after the fact. If you find one, ill do it with you!

who's smarter than you're? i'm!
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I know there is winter and summer biathlon and the sport has always interested me.

It doesn't sound like your that interested...:)

Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [Sanuk] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Sanuk wrote:
I know there is winter and summer biathlon and the sport has always interested me.

It doesn't sound like your that interested...:)


Ohhh, but I am. I just didn't want to sound too desperate for information.

I am a pretty good skier (but have never done cross country), pretty good triathlete (I do well locally), and pretty reasonable shooter (I am no stranger to NRA CMP competition). I am really looking for something to fill out the winter months that isn't running on a treadmill, sitting on a bike trainer, and swimming inside...too much.

More importantly, I want something that I can get my kids into. My wife and I come from hockey backgrounds and she used to be a show jumper. We are no strangers to expensive sports. The costs of to gear, coaching, etc. are not an issue for us. Finding the knowledge and where to start...is. Being 6-8 hours away from Lake Placid, NY is also an issue. We live in the city of Philadelphia and love it for now...but we are wanting to find what works for us so we can plan our future a few years down the line.

One thing we know...we want to travel, be outside, and be healthy.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [AndysStrongAle] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
There is a beginners clinic in Elk River the 24th of Feb...

I think they should do more archery biathlons, a recurve bow is way cheaper than a rifle.

Pactimo brand ambassador, ask me about promo codes
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [TiDriver] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
TiDriver wrote:
Did a summer biathlon once - it was tons of fun. Run/shoot prone/run/shoot standing/run. The runs were pretty short - maybe 1.5 mi on a trail through the woods. The event supplied the rifles - plain ol' bolt action .22's. The rifles remained at the shooting station and when you came in off the run, you were handed a loaded 5-shot magazine. Load, shoot your 5 rounds, hand off the weapon, and take off running.


X2. Tons of fun and I'd do it again if given the chance!

DFL > DNF > DNS
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [MTBSully] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
MTBSully wrote:
There is a beginners clinic in Elk River the 24th of Feb...

I think they should do more archery biathlons, a recurve bow is way cheaper than a rifle.

I think you may be mistaken, a serious Oly recurve & arrows is going to run well over 2 bills without breaking a sweat. I haven't shot competitively for over 10 years, but I couldn't afford the switch to Olympic recurve. Arrow shafts are over $500 / dz and titanium points IIRC were something like $10 or more each, generally should have at least 2 dozen arrows at the minimum, 3 dozen being closer to optimum. Then there's the bow. The handle & limbs are sold separately and the skies the limit. Same with sights. Basically, if a person is going to buy a serious biathlon shooting machine, it's going to cost money.

So, really are we doing this to show how much money we can spend or how much fun we can have? 99% of people can't even shoot to the potential of cheap tools let alone good ones, so they wouldn't know the difference anyway.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [racin_rusty] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
That is why I think you set up some targets at 10 meters and shoot cheap o’ $100 recurves with some cheap ass arrows.

The challenge with biathlon is having an outdoor rifle range near enough people to be worth building.

Pactimo brand ambassador, ask me about promo codes
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [MTBSully] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Or just do what the Canadian Cadet corp does and use pellet guns.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [MTBSully] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
MTBSully wrote:
You want skate skis.

That...but also, skiathlon looks like a load of fun!
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [Francois] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Francois wrote:
MTBSully wrote:
You want skate skis.


That...but also, skiathlon looks like a load of fun!

A pair of skate skis and a pair of classics.

You could use combi boots to just buy a single pair and racing, but classic boots and skate boots are different enough you want 3 pairs (skate training, classic training, and combi for racing).

I'm planning to head up to NH this spring and get some roller skis to try and fit in another type of training over the summer...
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [AndysStrongAle] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Sorta like triathlon bikes but cheaper

They constantly try to escape from the darkness outside and within
Dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good T.S. Eliot

Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [scorpio516] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I've done a skiathlon before it was actually a thing and everyone was still racing pursuit. It is possible to classic in skate boots but much less effective the other way, so I wore skate boot s the whole time, and worked fine.

I still prefer the pursuit format to the skiathlon. 2x15k races is a whole different event than another 30k event.

Pactimo brand ambassador, ask me about promo codes
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Okay, well all of that aside I think I am going to jump on some cross country skiing gear. my question would be...do biathletes use cross country skiing gear and then throw a rifle over their shoulder, or are they using something slightly different? If it is different, what do I need to be asking my local ski shop?

There are a lot of end of season sales going on right now and I was wondering what a full set of equipment looks like. What would you/have you buy/bought? What are the trusted brands?

I figure now is the best time to buy new.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [LifeTri] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Regular skate skis and skate boots are all you need that's not gun related. Same skis, boots, and poles.

Only tricky part is matching boots to bindings - Most companies use NNN bindings. Salomon uses SLS. I don't think any 3rd party makes SLS boots.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [scorpio516] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Excellent! Now it looks like I need to find a local retailer that actually sells the stuff.
Quote Reply
Re: Biathlon [SallyShortyPnts] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
SallyShortyPnts wrote:
TiDriver wrote:
Did a summer biathlon once - it was tons of fun. Run/shoot prone/run/shoot standing/run. The runs were pretty short - maybe 1.5 mi on a trail through the woods. The event supplied the rifles - plain ol' bolt action .22's. The rifles remained at the shooting station and when you came in off the run, you were handed a loaded 5-shot magazine. Load, shoot your 5 rounds, hand off the weapon, and take off running.



X2. Tons of fun and I'd do it again if given the chance![/quote

We should do the mixed team event like in curling. I'd do the skiing and you do the shootin' :-)
Quote Reply