Integrated within all of the Maine Winter Sports Center programs, participants starting as young as age 10 get to try the exciting sport of biathlon. Biathlon is the Winter Olympic sport combining rifle marksmanship with cross-country skiing. Whether it's adding a new twist to a weekly ski workout or pursuing goals nationally and internationally participants learn the necessary components to become an efficient biathlete.
August 2-8 - U.S. Biathlon Summer Festival - Jericho, VT
August 9-15 - MWSC Elite Team Camp - Sugarloaf, ME
Recent Update:
July 17, 2010
June and July have been busy months. The Biathlon Team has been hard at work putting in some big hours and some good quality sessions. This is the time of the season where we focus a lot on building up our overall fitness level, our basic skills, and trying to get a jump on our “weak links”. We are still incorporating a lot of variety into each week, mixing it up and doing some fun workouts. As we get closer to the season, the work will become more biathlon specific.
A couple weeks back we did a joint MWSC trip to Katahdin and that was a sweet trek to Maine’s highest point. We spent the night before camping, which is always an adventure with this group. We also climbed another small mountain just outside of Ft. Kent called Daboullie Mountain. It was a rainy day, but perfect for a run/hike in the woods.
The Maine Team Camp just finished up with some of the top Nordic racers from Maine making the trip up here to the County. We had some fun sessions with them and taught a little biathlon to a few as well. Just the week prior we held our first Middle School Racer Camp and those kids have some energy! Non-stop, always on the go; the future looks good within this group.
Up next is the Fat Tire Festival at the Nordic Heritage Center and the Southern Maine Biathlon Club will also be heading up this way for their annual summer camp. Just after that it will be off to Jericho and Sugarloaf for a two week camp.
June 27, 2010
Middle School Racer Camp
Racers from Maine gathered at the 10th Mtn. Center for their first summer Nordic camp. The kids were greeted by an enthusiastic group of coaches and athletes. The morning of day one consisted of some speed, agility, and strength activities led by the highly coordinated and graceful Russell Currier. In the afternoon the kids took to the range and learned some biathlon basics with the MWSC Biathlon Team instructing each group. Swimming at Jacuzzi Falls, games and Avatar for the first or third time, depending on who you were, filled out the evening.
Day two started off with some rollerski basics on the grassy infield. Eventually moving on to the roller loop the kids found their ski muscles and zoomed around the stadium working on their balance and coordination skills. Eventually they were able to venture out on to the 3km of paved trail at the 10th Mtn. Center. The day ended with a little biathlon obstacle course relay.
For two days in a row, these M.S. racers only sat down to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Outside of that, they were on the go, learning, being active, and having a blast! As the road signs read, "Maine - the way life should be".
For more info on the Biathlon Program
Contact Gary Colliander
