Section 1 EO C111.01 - PARTICIPATE IN A BIATHLON BRIEFING

Traditionally, biathlon consists of two activities—small bore marksmanship and free technique cross country skiing. There are other forms of biathlon competition—these competitions must include a cardiovascular activity and a marksmanship component. The marksmanship component of biathlon demands fine motor control, great stability and precision. Traditionally a .22 cal small bore rifle is used. The combination of these two very contradictory activities makes the sport of biathlon.

Biathlon is considered a life sport. The first recorded biathlon competition took place near the Swedish / Norwegian border in 1767, between companies of border guards from the two countries. Biathlon continued to develop through hunting and warfare until it was introduced as a demonstration sport at the winter Olympics in Charmoix, France in 1924. It was not until 1960 in Squaw Valley, California and a change to small bore that biathlon became a fully-sanctioned Olympic event for men. In 1992 in Albertville, France, it became an Olympic event for women as well.

Cave drawings found in Norway, depicting Nordic skiing and the carrying of a weapon, date Biathlon back more than 5,000 years.

There are six different types of races used in biathlon competitions in the CCM.

An individual race consists of a single competitor start. It is a race of varying distances based on age, gender, weather, and the geographical constraints of the course location. An individual race consists of sequential bouts of skiing and firing, which may include:

1.skiing;

2.firing five rounds;

3.skiing;

4.firing five rounds;

5.skiing;

6.firing five rounds;

7.skiing; and

8.crossing the finish line.

The race is over when the last competitor crosses the finish line.

A time penalty of 40 seconds for every missed target is added to the competitor's final time.

A sprint race consists of a single competitor or group start. It is a race of varying distances based on age, gender, weather, and the geographical constraints of the course location. A sprint race consists of sequential bouts of skiing and firing, which may include:

1.skiing;

2.firing five rounds;

3.skiing;

4.firing five rounds;

5.skiing and

6.crossing the finish line.

The race is over when the last competitor crosses the finish line.

A penalty of skiing one loop for every missed target is added to the competitor's final time.

A mass race consists of a simultaneous start. It is a race of varying distances based on age, gender, weather, and the geographical constraints of the course location. A mass race consists of sequential bouts of skiing and firing, which may include:

1.skiing;

2.firing five rounds;

3.skiing;

4.firing five rounds;

5.skiing;

6.firing five rounds;

7.skiing;

8.fire five rounds;

9.skiing and

10.crossing the finish line.

The race is over when the last competitor crosses the finish line.

A penalty of skiing one loop for every missed target is added to the competitor’s final time.

A pursuit race consists of a single competitor start on random draw or results from a previous event during the same championship. It is a race of varying distances based on age, gender, weather, and the geographical constraints of the course location. A pursuit race consists of sequential bouts of skiing and firing, which may include:

1.skiing;

2.firing five rounds;

3.skiing;

4.firing five rounds;

5.skiing;

6.firing five rounds;

7.skiing;

8.firing five rounds;

9.skiing; and

10.crossing the finish line.

The race is over when the last competitor crosses the finish line.

A penalty of skiing one loop for every missed target is added to the competitor’s final time.

A relay race consists of a simultaneous start. It is a race of varying distances, based on age, gender, weather, and the geographical constraints of the course location. A relay race consists of sequential bouts of skiing and firing for each relay team member, which may include:

1.skiing;

2.firing five rounds (three spare);

3.skiing;

4.firing five rounds (three spare);

5.skiing;

6.tagging / touching either the torso, arms, hands, legs, feet, head or the rifle of the outgoing member of the team in the relay handover zone; and

7.the last skier completing the above sequence with no tagging / touching. They end the race by crossing the finish line.

The race is over when the last competitor of the last team crosses the finish line.

A penalty of skiing one loop for every missed target is added to the competitor’s final time.

A patrol race consists of a simultaneous start of a firing bout on the range. It is a race of varying distances, based on age, gender, weather, and the geographical constraints of the course location. The team must ski together with a distance of no further than 30 m apart from the first to the last skier. This distance is measured when they enter the range and cross the finish line. It may also be measured while on a skiing bout. Members of the patrol must carry patrol equipment in a pack. The equipment will vary, but usually consists of four to six wool blankets. The blankets are carried in packs and the division of the blankets is left to the discretion of the team. A patrol race consists of sequential bouts of skiing and firing, which may include:

1.firing up to 20 rounds;

2.skiing;

3.firing up to 20 rounds;

4.skiing;

5.firing up to 20 rounds;

6.skiing;

7.firing unlimited rounds; and finishing when the last paddle on the target indicates a hit.

A penalty of skiing one loop for every missed target is added to the competitor’s final time.

Special rules for a patrol race

End of Patrol

There is a time limit on the patrol race. At the 45-minute mark, the range is closed to incoming teams and penalties are added to the team's final time. For each ski bout not completed by the team, a 15 minute time will be added to their final time.

Results are based on ski time(s) combined with any time credits or penalties assessed to produce a final time. First place is awarded to the team with the lowest time.

At stage one the squadron Commanding Officer (CO) is the Officer of Primary Interest (OPI) and will recommend who will participate in the zone competition based on the squadron’s biathlon program. If no biathlon program is in place at the corps, cadets may still compete at the CO's discretion. Biathlon teams consist of three competitors of the same gender, one of which must be a junior (have not reached the 15^th birthday on or before 15 March of the training year).

At stage two cadets will compete in a zone competition with corps in the same geographical area. Corps that cannot participate in a zone competition due to geographic limitations may conduct a local competition and mail in the results to the Zone / Regional Biathlon Coordinator who is the OPI for this stage. The regional biathlon coordinator is responsible for posting the names of the competitors who will advance to the provincial / territorial competition, based on the competitor's results, and the region’s total allowable competitors.

At stage three the number of competitors in each category will depend on the number of zones in the region, and are decided by the Regional Biathlon Coordinator who is the OPI for this stage. These categories are female team, female composite team, male team, and male composite team. Composite teams are composed of top individual competitors in a zone, who are not necessarily from the same corps. Corps teams are selected based on the aggregate score of the fastest three competitors from the corps. Individual members of corps teams do not need to be declared until after the final race results are posted.

Stage four in the selection process is based on the number of teams permitted to compete per region. The OPI for this stage is the National Biathlon Coordinator. Corps teams must contain the fastest junior and fastest senior competitor, plus the next fastest skier from the same corps based on their final time from the qualifying race.

Composite teams are selected based on final race times, from the remaining competitors who are not already selected for a corps team. Each composite team will consist of the next fastest senior competitor, next fastest junior competitor, and the next fastest competitor.

Discuss regional team allowances (located at Figure 1).