23 Mar Biathlon: The Winter Sport of Cross-Country Skiing and Rifle Shooting
Biathlon is a winter sport which combines cross-country skiing (specifically with the skate skiing technique) and rifle shooting at targets. Contestants race against each other to complete a cross-country ski trail divided into multiple shooting rounds. During the shooting stage of the race, athletes who miss shots suffer a penalty. Penalized athletes then have to cross-country ski additional distance or have extra time added to their total.
Biathlon is unique in that it combines an endurance race with marksmanship. Athletes must be very fit for the cross-country ski portion of the race. In addition, they must also be able to quickly compose themselves to slow their breathing and heart rate to shoot accurately at the targets.
Origins of the Biathlon Winter Sport
The biathlon is rooted in the skiing traditions of Scandinavia. Events similar to the biathlon were held there as early as the 18th century. However, the Norwegian military participated in what people believe to be the first modern day biathlon back in 1912.
Biathlon, in its modern-day form, became part of the Winter Olympic Games for men in 1960. Later, the women’s form of biathlon became part of the Games in 1992.
How popular is the biathlon?
Biathlon is one of the top sports people in Europe watch on TV.
Some people consider the biathlon one of the most “competitive” sports. The reason? If you look back at Olympic medal winners in biathlon, there’s a great diversity of athletes from different countries.
Basic Concepts of the Biathlon Winter Sport
A biathlon competition consists a race broken into two or four shooting rounds. For contestants who miss shooting a target, extra distance is added to their total skiing distance or extra time is added to their total time. The contestant who finishes fastest (in the shortest time) wins.
For the shooting rounds, half are in prone position, and the other half are in standing position. The contestant must hit five targets. Each miss results in a penalty.
The penalty for a target miss will vary according to the current competition’s rules. For example, the contestant may have to ski around a 150 meter penalty loop, which usually takes 20 to 30 seconds. Another common penalty is adding one minute to the skier’s total time.
For the cross-country portion of the race, the vast majority of participants use the skate skiing technique. The skier must carry their rifle at all times. When they’re not shooting, contestants carry it on their back.
How old are biathletes?
It’s not uncommon for athletes in biathlon to be in their 30s or even 40s. In fact, during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, 40-year-old Ole Einar Bjørndalen from Norway became the oldest male gold medalist.
How much time do you need to be a good biathlete?
Professional biathletes train all throughout the year, not just in winter. Some have regimes where they workout twice a day, six days a week. For them, training is essentially a full-time job!
However, one of the biggest hurdles for people wanting to get into the sport is the cost of their gear (the rifle and cross-country skiing equipment). In some regions, newcomers to the sport may be able to find used biathlon rifles for sale.
Since the biathlon is composed of two sports (shooting and cross-country skiing), potential biathletes need to train in both. It takes years for someone to perfect their skiing technique to the level of an internationally competitive skier. Learning to shoot precisely despite a high heart rate and heavy breathing will also take time.
What are biathlon rifles?
A biathlon rifle is a specialized rifle for use in the biathlon winter sport. Specifically, these rifles are lightweight and usually equipped with straight-pull actions, integrated magazine carriers, and ergonomic stocks suitable for both standing and prone shooting positions.
The smallbore biathlon rifles today are typically .22 calibre. In contrast, in military patrol (a team winter sport, predecessor to the biathlon), contestants used fullbore rifles.
What scopes do biathletes use on their rifles in the biathlon winter sport?
The International Biathlon Union (IBU), one of the governing bodies for biathlon competitions, only permit non-magnified diopter rear and globe front sights.
So while the specialized biathlon rifles may appear to have some type of modified scope, biathletes really are using iron sights.
