Section 1 EO C211.01 – IDENTIFY CIVILIAN BIATHLON OPPORTUNITIES

There are many training opportunities for biathletes at the local, provincial/territorial, national, and international levels. These training opportunities include clinics and camps ranging from weekend programs for basic and intermediate training, to year round advanced training. Training development clinics offered include coaching, race opportunities and training programs for all ranges in skill levels from the beginner to the advanced competitor training at the national team level.

Local ski resorts/clubs may offer a selection of biathlon programs. Biathlon Bears is a community coaching program offered across Canada. The Biathlon Bears program is open to novices and the training is tailored to the athlete’s skill level. This program offers training to develop both skiing and marksmanship skills. There is a ranking structure in the program. As skills are learned and mastered, the biathlete progresses to the next Biathlon Bear level.

For examples of local biathlon training opportunities, contact the local ski resort/club.

Divisions of Biathlon Canada are located within many of the provinces/territories. These division offices run training and offer support to the local resorts/clubs.

For examples of provincial/territorial biathlon training opportunities, contact the division office/Website.

Biathlon Canada is the governing body for the sport of biathlon within Canada. There are two national biathlon training centres located in Canmore, Alberta and Valcartier, Quebec. These centres offer training to the national biathlon teams.

For examples of national biathlon training opportunities, contact Biathlon Canada (www.biathloncanada.ca).

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is the governing body for the sport of biathlon internationally. There are biathlon training centres located across the globe. National training centres offer training to athletes who will be competing internationally. The international training centres allow high performance biathletes to train in various geographical regions where the elevation above sea level, and the changes in the oxygen density, create different training demands on the biathlete. This allows the biathlete to adapt to the environmental conditions prior to the competition, thus increasing their expected performance outcome.

For examples of international biathlon training opportunities, contact the International Biathlon Union (www.biathlonworld.com).

Local ski resorts/clubs offer competitive events across Canada from beginner to advanced racing opportunities.

For examples of local competitive biathlon opportunities, contact the local ski resort/club.

The division offices located within many Canadian provinces/territories offer regional competitive biathlon events. Many of these events require advancement through a ranking process. There are race qualifications that the competitors must meet, which may include, but are not limited to, age, gender, resort/club or team standings, or previous race standings (if in a series of races). Not all races lead to a higher level, they may only be a participatory race.

For examples of provincial/territorial competitive biathlon opportunities, contact the division office/Website.

National competitive biathlon events offered through Biathlon Canada include:

For examples of national competitive biathlon opportunities, contact Biathlon Canada (www.biathloncanada.ca).

International competitive biathlon events offered in conjunction with the IBU include:

For examples of international competitive biathlon opportunities, contact the International Biathlon Union (www.biathlonworld.com).

Biathletes who were introduced to the sport through the Canadian Cadet Program have seen Olympic glory. There are numerous ex-cadets who are successful on both the national and international scene. These biathletes include Myriam Bédard, Nikki Keddie, Martine Albert, and Jean-Philippe Le Guellec.

Jean-Philippe Le Guellec, from Shannon, Quebec, was introduced to the sport of biathlon through the air Cadet Program. He won three gold medals at the 2007 Biathlon Canada Championships in Charlo, New Brunswick and participated in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

Myriam Bédard, from Ancienne-Lorrette, Quebec, was introduced to the sport of biathlon through the Army Cadet Program. She was the first Canadian athlete to win a World Cup biathlon event in 1991, and the first North American athlete to win an Olympic medal in the 1992 Winter Games at Albertville, France. She also won two gold medals at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. These were the first Olympic biathlon gold medals won by a North American biathlete. On 4 November 1998 Myriam Bédard was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.