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HomeMy Public PortalAboutWinter Sports: BiathlonLocals race in biathlon at west Yellowstone Three area skiers -- Glen Eberle, Tuck Miller and Karla Miller -- placed high in Bozeman Biathlon competitions held in West Yellowstone, Mont. Jan. 10 and 11. The competition featured five kilometer; 10, 15 and 20 kilometer races. Clear skies, no wind and good tracks greeted skiers while the temperature reached 25 degrees on Saturday and fell to it on Sunday. Eberle placed second in the junior men's 15 kilometer race with a time of 1:02:01. Eberle was penalized five minutes after shooting in the prone position and none standing. Eberle also placed second in the 10- kilometer sprint held on Saturday with a time of 39:40. He missed two times shooting in the prone position and two times standing. For every miss, a racer takes one 150 -meter penalty lap. Karla Miller missed four times in the prone position and three times standing to finish third in the junior women's 10 kilometer competition. She raced without carrying her gun and finished with a time of 47:41. Miller also took first place in a special five kilometer race. Tuck Miller took a sixth in the senior men's 20 kilometer with a time of 1:28:56. He nLissed nine times prone and four time standing. He then took fifth place in the senior men's 10 kilometer with a time of 41:16. He missed his target four times in each position. The skiers will travel to Rosendale, N.Y. for a 20 kilometer race on Jan. 16 and a 10 kilometer sprint on Jan. 18. After that they will travel to Burlington, Vt. for the in- ternational try -out races Jan. 24- 30. - WINTER IN IDAHO'S HEARTLAND -- 1987 -88 Tuck Miller of McCall aims the business end of a .22 rifle that he u s e s while competing i n biathlon, an unusual sport which combines marks- manship and cross country skiing. liathlon has come to McCall in a big way. Miller and two other lo- cally- trained biathletes competed for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, and a sanctioned b i a t h l o n shooting range was built near McCall that was the site of the 1987 U.S. Biatnlon Championships: " of the Biathlon ��r Glen I \ \/\ a+ %? I \�� ) Ws��,� 1r 7L- �� �`� � �� '� f� /env Skiers aim for medals in nationals By PF-TE ZIMOWSKY The Idaho Statesman MCCALL — The crack of a .22 rifle. The scraping of skis against icy snow. The huffing and puffing of athletes on the trail. Sounds of the biathlon can be heard at the Payette Lakes Ski Club near McCall as the nation's top nor- dic ski racers and shooters prepare for the 1987 Biathlon National Cham- pionships, March 16.21. Imagine trying to aim a .22 -cali- ber rifle at a 1 3/4 -inch target 55 yards away, with your heart pound - ing at 180 beats per minute after furiously skiing about three miles up and down hills. The biathlon is a ballet of preci- sion shooting and skiing. It com- bines two sports that contradict each other. It pits'the vigorous exer- cise of nordic ski racing against the steadiness and .concentration of marksmanship. That's the beauty of the challenge ..switching gears," says McCall's Glen Eberle, 23, an Olympian who will be competing at the nationals. Eberle held his breath, his eye concentrating on the target 50 meters away. He squeezed the trig- ger gently and the crack of the 22 was accompanied by 'the sound of the bullet hitting its target. Get your skis, watch the action MCCAII — Spectators are wel- come at the 1987 Biathlon Na- tional Championships, March 16- 21, near McCall, and there is no charge to view the competition, says Hugh Cooke, race publicity chairman. The location of the competition is the Payette Lakes Ski Club, lo- cated about three miles north of McCall on Highway 55. Observers can walk or ski from *he Little Ski Hill Lodge to the Some skiers shoot between heart beats. Others try to compensate for their pulse. "It shows in your sight picture. You always see a little wobble ... with practice, you adjust for the wobble," says Eberle, who just re- turned from international military championships in France. Eberle grew up on skis and has been involved in the biathlon for eight years — seven years on the na- tional team. 'In biathlon, skiers must ski a cer- tain distance, stop and shoot from either standing or prone positions, Today's biathlon rifle is a far cry from the big -bore rifles used in the past. Skiers now carry a .22- caliber, bolt - action, weighing about 9.5 pounds. It has to have at least an 18 -inch barrel. The rifle has a hand -grip type stock and in most instances, extra clips are stored in the stock. They cost be- tween $900 and $1,300. Eberle has designed a special lightweight rifle stock, which is being used by members of the U.S. Biathlon Team. Two other McCall skiers, Lyle range, which is about a quarter - mile, says Cooke. The race's start and finish are near the range. "Probably skiing is more ad- vantageous," says Cooke, "espe- cially if they (spectators) want to cover more ground. A dry run for race personnel is planned March 16 at 9 a.m. Competition most days starts at 9:30 a.m. ana continue sKUng. Arriving at the range, they have to get their ski poles out of the way. They grab their rifles, which are slung over their backs, remove the snow covers protecting the sights and gun barrel, fire five shots, and take off skiing again — all within 35 to 40 seconds. After shooting, the skiers usually put on their ski pole straps back over hands while on a dead run. "It's really something to see," says Bill Freutal, Boise, chief of competition for the nationals. Freu- tal is a former biathlete and coach. Nelson, three -time Olympian, and Tuck Miller, a member of the U.S. National Guard team, will also be in the national competi- tion. The altitude of the course at McCall is about 5,000 feet, similar to that at Calgary, Alberta, where the 1988 Winter Olympics will be held, says Freutal. Officials hope that, with the new range, McCall will be in the running as the site for the 1988 Olympic Trials, he says. The shooting range was built by the Idaho National Guard to Olympic specification. It is on Boise Cascade land and is being The biathlon has its roots in the Stone Age when hunters armed with spears traveled on ancient skids. About 60 skiers from around the country will carry on the tradition of hunting on skis, but their quarry in McCall will be medals. The biathlon has been included in the Winter Olympics since 1960. The sport is growing and about 700 ath- letes participate in competition con- ducted by the U.S. Biathlon Associa- tion. Americans, once trailing the sport, are now making strides. Josh Thompson, 24, Gunnison, Colo., recently won a silver medal in the 20- kilometer event during the Subaru Biathlon World Champion- ships. Catagories are included for junior and senior men and women. Skiers in individual competition have five rounds to knock down five targets — about 4 3/4 inches in diameter for standing shots and 1 3/4 inches for prone shots. Missing a shot means extra time and effort. The skier is penalized one minute of time for every miss in the 20- kilometer men's and 10 -kilo- meter women's races. In other events, the skier must ski a 150. meter penalty loop for each miss. See BIATHLON, Page 3E 7"1 e ldo`t0 C5 P f1�1�/yZ Y7 Wyoming man wins senior ,f biathlon title ;i McCALL - U.S. biathlon team member Glen Eberle had the fastest ski time, but had five misses at the shooting range, and Darin Binning of Pinedale, Vyo., captured the senior men's 20 -kilo- meter race Tuesday at the U.S. National Biathlon Championships. In the junior men's 15K, the Col- lege of Idaho's Joel Harrison took second place in his first -ever biathlon race. Harrison had the fastest ski time, but lost to Paul Lincoln of Hanover, N.H., who had two fewer misses. In the women's 10K, Anna Son - nerup of Hanover won with a time of 44:53 and three misses. With several inches of new snow, the track was described as fast, but the snow clogged the tar- gets at times, and several pro- tests were lodged at the race's conclusion. In biathlon competition, partici- pants ski through a course on cross country skis and stop sev- eral times to shoot at a target from the prone or standing posi- tion. RESULTS Senior Men 20K 1. Darin Binning, Pinedole, WYO., 1:06.33 (3); 2. Glen Eberle, McCall, 1:08.30 (5); 3. Lyle Nelson, Essex, Vt., 1:08.45 (3); 4. Willie Carew, Putney, Vt., 1:08.67 (5); 5. Chuck Lydo, Tahoe City, Calif., 1:10.55 (1); 6. Stew- art Jennings, Big Sky, Mont., 1:11.50 (1); 7. Rich Gross, Bend, ore., 1:11.51 (7); B. Curt Schreiner, Day, N.Y., 1:12.12 (5); 9. Rolmond Dombrozskis, Seattle, 1:12.31 (4); 10. Jon Engen, Bozeman, Mont., 1:12.53 (5). Women 10K 1. Anna Sonnerup, Hanover, N.H., 44:53 (3); 2. Pam Nordheim, U.S. team, 46:57 (4); 3. Nancv Bell, Stowe, Vt., 48:32 (4); 4. Mary os- tergren, Croftberry Common, Vt., 49:22 (5); 5. Joan Smith, Honeyoye Falls, N.Y., 50:37 (3) ; 6. Julie Newnam, Mercer Island, Wash., 50:37 (5); 7. Sue Strutz, Homer, Alaska, 52:28 (7); S. Peggy Hunter, Lake Placid, N.Y., 53:02 (10); 9. Helene Arnold, Stowe, Vt., 53:11 (6); 10. Kim Spindler, Tahoe City, Calif., 55:30 (7). Junior Men 15K 1. Paul Lincoln, Hanover, N.H., 1:01.29 (6); 2. Joel Harrison, New Meadows, 1:01.41 (8); 3. Bob Morrow, Fairport, N.Y., 1:02.27 (5); 4. Duncan McFarlane, Derby, Vt., 1:02.37 (6); 5. Ben Michaud, Bethel, Maine, 1:02.59 (5); 6. Ben Neal, Winooski, Vt., 1:03.28 (6); 7. Ted Peck, Stone Ridge, N.Y., 1:04.14 (8), Biathletes aim for shot at Olympics McCall competition grooms young talent Biathlon By PETE ZIMOWSKY The Idaho Statesman t MCCALL — Fresh snow cov- ered the site of the U.S. National Biathlon Championships in McCall on Thursday, and the race course was being groomed for events today and Saturday. But the guns weren't silent, even though it was a rest day in competition. On the biathlon range at the Payette Lakes Ski Club, fresh tal- ent was being groomed for the Olympics of the '90s. Junior competitors — under 20 years old — were going through a boot camp of sorts. Biathlon coaches from across the nation were offering tips on a sport that combines cross- country ski rac- ing and marksmanship. Of the more than 30 teen -agers going through the training ses- sion, 10 will be selected for Team '92 -94. On Sunday, team members will head for Finland, where they will compete and train said Bill Continued from Page 1A rigorous maneuvers at the range. As College of Idaho's Joel Har- rison, 18, dropped to a prone posi- tion to shoot his .22- caliber rifle, a coach videotaped him. Other skiers were recorded as they (skied to and away from the range. The video will be used to help them, develop their technique. The pace was hectic as coaches watched the targets through spot- ting scopes and advised the teens on their shots. Commenting on the juniors' camp, Spencer said, "If I can come up with another Lyle Nel- son, it will be worthwhile." Nel- son, a former McCall resident, is a three -time Olympian. Nelson won the senior men's 10- kilometer race Tuesday. Coincidentally, Spencer con- ducted a biathlon clinic in McCall in 1965 and one of the high school juniors attending was Lyle Nel- son. Spencer, of Sandy, Utah, who is development coordinator for the U.S. Biathlon Association. His job is to develop a core that America will draw upon for the biathlon competition in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. In Oc- tober, 1986, the International j Olympic Committee decided to stagger the summer and winter games. The Winter Olympics are set for 1988, 1992, 1994 and 1998. The youths are on a busy sched- ule. Many of them just finished competing in the junior national biathlon competition last week in Alaska before they caught a plane for Idaho. The teen -age competitors, clad in everything from drab - colored sweats to pink and black leopard - spot running tights, ran through Since then, Nelson has become a sports hero to youngsters inter- ested in the sport. Glen Eberle, McCall, a member of the U.S. biathlon team, recalled how Nel- son was his hero. Now Eberle is skiing in the same competition as Nelson. Nelson offers advice to young biathletes. "He's super .... He gives motivating talks and in- spires young people," Spencer said. Spencer believes biathlon camps such as the one in McCall will help America's chances in the Olympics. European countries have a larger pool to draw from when it comes to the biathlon. There are only 200 active biath- letes in the United States. The Soviet Union boasts of 500,000, Spencer said. "It's next to hockey as the most popular sport." However, the biathlon has gained recognition in the United States since the U.S. was host for Olympic and world- championship competition at Lake Placid, N.Y., Spencer said. Youths get involved in the sport in many ways. "My dad started a sports shop and I read some stuff about it (biathlon)," said Duncan McFarlane, 16, a Vermont skier. He entered a novice race, and it wasn't long before he bought a rifle. "It's fun," he said. Harrison said he had been ex- posed to the sport while living in the McCall area and was inspired by Josh Thompson during a biath- lon camp. Thompson, of Gunni- son, Colo., won a silver medal re- cently in the 20- kilometer race at the world championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. On Thursday, the young biath- letes learned how to refine their shooting. They learned about waxing and other skiing tech- niques. As they aimed at the targets during the training session, many of them had their sights set on the Olympics. -7111 31er 7 An,. biathlons t I'm a sport shoo mfg enthusiast, and growing up in Idaho with the possibility of shooting in my own back yard certainly initiated my shooting interest. That initial op- portunity led to competitive shooting in three Olympics (biath- Ion) and possibly a fourth in 1988. Many of you are aware that McCall hosted the national cham- pionships in biathlon (cross -coun- try skiing and rifle marksman- ship) in 1987. For our Olympic team selection races this year we're coming back to McCall. That's an honor to the state con- sidering that other major ski re- sorts hoped to lure the tryouts to their state. Idaho was selected for three reasons: McCall did an oustand- ing job; the whole state took an interest in the event; and Gov. Andrus put the icing on the cake by declaring biathlon week in Idaho, making an effort to person- ally meet the team members and extending the invitation to return. Despite being headquartered in faraway Vermont, the biathlon team has selected Gov. Andrus to be honorary team captain for the 1988 Olympic team. I'm glad our governor supports the shooting sports, and I'm also glad he is putting a mild amount of pressure on the shooting enthu- siasts to help turn guns into sports equipment, not weapons. LYLE NELSON, Boise Ne- uv 5 S e p 1 30, 1 7 Biathlon course readied for U.S-. trials BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Dump trucks and graders kicked up dust in the early autumn heat last week so that c biathlon racers will benefit r when the snow and cold comes I this winter. Eight members of the Idaho National Guard and their heavy I equipment spent five days last r week expanding and improving a McCall's biathlon course and t shooting range in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Biathlon t Trials in December. The guardsmen, members of the HHC116 Engineer Battalion of Lewiston, were finishing the i job they started last summer, when many of the same workers built the shooting range on Rock Flat near the Little Ski Hill. The range allowed McCall to host the 1987 U.S. Biathlon Championships last winter. The success of that event led to the scheduling of the Olympic trials on Dec. 5 -6 and Dec. 9 -10. Last week, the guardsmen moved large amounts of dirt around the shooting range, with the greatest benefit being the addition of a large spectator viewing area, said Mack Miller, chief of course for the trials. One of the problems during the U.S. championships was the tight quarters around the range and the lack of good viewing for spectators, Miller said. Biathlon combines cross country skiing with marksmanship. Also, the guardsmen spent time widening and clearing ex- isting trails and installing culverts to make the course easier to run, especially in marginal snow conditions, said Jack Kappas, who helped d. , the guardsmen's efforts. r The culverts, donated by Evergreen Forest Products, will hannel water away from the ace course in case of a repeat of ast year's warm, wet weather, Kappas said. Removing stumps, rocks and ogs from the course will allow aces to be run with as a little as foot to 18 inches of snow on he ground, Kappas said. The work was done as part of he guard's Domestic Action Program, in which community projects are performed while giving guardsmen on -site train - ng in operating equipment, said Sgt. Steve Lisenbee of Lewiston. The guard is careful to take on only projects which other- wise could not be funded to avoid taking business away from private contractors, Lisenbee said. Another motivating interest for the guard is the fact that several guardsmen are com- peting for spots on the Olvmnic team, said Kevin Grove of Mc- Call, who is chief of the trials. About 23 biathletes will com- pete for seven positions on the Olympic team, and a half -dozen of those skiers are National Guard members, Grove said. The evolution of the biathlon course is due to cooperation between the organizers and owners of the land, including Boise Cascade Corp., Brown Tie and Lumber Co. and the Payette National Forest, he said. In addition, Contel is install- ing a communications system that will connect the biathlon pd$& i of 3 range with the Little Ski Hill lodge for quick reporting of results, Grove said. Grove met in McCall over the weekend with Jed Williamson, president of the U.S. Biathlon Association, and Bill Spenser, a technical delegate from the U.S. Olympic Committee. Both men "were tickled pink" by the preparations so far, Grove said. "I had no negative feedback whatsoever." The U.S. team has not for- mally committed where it will train after the trials, Grove said. But McCall has an_ advantage because it is at the same eleva- tion and has similar snow condi- tions as Calgary, the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, he said. The biathlon team from Great Britain already has com- mitted to pre- Olympic training in McCall, and four non - European nations are consider- ing sending their teams to Mc- Call for training, he said. Other area residents helping organize the trials are Ann Eberle, race secretary; Bob Coats, timing; Spence Miller, chief of range; Mike McGee, timing, and Bill Dorris, chief of timing. ;Pdg(� p of '? hP __ ter- #PW.s - !//--Zf-/ k % Funding changes send U.S. (Note: This column, which will appear regularly, is being written by McCall - trained athletes who are competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team.) BY GLEN EBERLE WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. - With the Olympic Trials only two weeks away, tension is building here in West Yellowstone among the group of athletes who will be vying for the seven spots on the 1988 Olympic Biathlon Team. That tension combines with the over- whelming quiet of a tourist trap in the off season to produce some creative and often bizarre ways to let off steam. For example, as I write this, I.can hear the last sporadic uproars of a crowd that has gathered for the kind of outrageous event that biathletes of the old days were somewhat infa- Shooting For Calgary mous for. The women's biathlon team has gotten together with a few of the girls who work in our hotel to sponsor a contest to determine which male athlete's posterior looks better in a Lycra racing suit. It's nice to see that American bi- athletes still know how to have a good time, for, to quote Bob Dylan, biathletes toward top "the times... they are a- changin" for the U.S. team. I began my participation in the sport in the spring of 1980, at a time when American biathletes were known more for their knack of hav- ing lots and lots of fun than for their ability to perform well on the interna- tional circuit. It was a time when "making the team" was the dominant goal, and the resulting trip to Europe was seen as a rewarding end in itself rather than as a chance to prove your mettle against the best in the world. I've lived with the difficulties of receiving a paltry amount of support while I knew that the European "amateurs" that I com- peted against were paid full salaries for training and were given brand new Audi Quattros each year. And I've felt the frustration of knowing that my teammates and I had as much raw talent as any of the best athletes in the world, but that we didn't have the inforipation, the fa- cilities, or the support which was necessary to distill our natural abili- ties into something useful. But it's amazing what money can do. Our organization, the U.S. Biath- lon Association, was given a little over a million dollars as ashare of the profits that were generated at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Ange- les. And our Board of Directors, as tired of living hand -to -mouth as were the athletes, did a bold thing. Rather than use the money to establish an endowment, they chose to spend it in order to achieve the goals that we had always dreamed of. So far it's worked. The U.S. Na- tional Team has suddenly, in the course of two seasons, become a threat to the biathlon powers of the world, even to Russia, where it's estimated that there are half a million active competitors in the sport. We now have the best coaching, sports medicine support, financial support for athletes, training camps and the best equipment obtainable. And people who have observed the sport over a long period are saying that we now have by far the most talented group of athletes that this country has ever fielded, and not just a few of them, but at least 15 who could be threats to the best in the world. Yes, we still know how to have a good time. But there is a sense of reserve, of purpose, that is present even when we're letting loose. It is one of the most rewarding and excit- ing things that I can think of to be among these people and a part of this team at this moment in history. _! far - A /PWs 1 f /ii a% (Note: The author, of McCall, is training for the U.S. Olympic Biath- lon Trials, which are set to begin in McCall Dec. 5. His column will appear regularly.) constantly searching for ways to be better, faster, stronger. With only a month left before the Olympic Trials in McCall, the search for more speed is becoming increasingly frantic. Am I fast enough? Tough enough? How should I base prep skis? Can I really do it? Questions with difficult answers seem to be going through everyone's head. Keeping your head while others about you are losing theirs. That's what it comes down to. Making the 1988 U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team is going to be anything but easy. Americans are becoming a force to be reckoned with internation- ally and it takes more and more work each year to keep up. Josh Thompson, 1987 World Championships Silver Medalist, is definitely ahead of the rest of us and is a shoo -in for a team spot. Fifteen of America's finest are going to fight to the death for the next six spots. After four years of sacrifice, it going to come down to about two hours of racing the first week of December. So this is what it comes down to? No glamor, no bright lights, just an- other month in an obscuue hotel room in an obscure town. Then we take our final exam and put our minds and bodies to the test to be judged by the outside world. It seems a little unfair that only seven of us will go to Cal- gary, but nobody ever told us it would be fair. BY TUCK MILLER WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONT. - Munich, Geneva, Salzburg, Vienna, Helsinki, Zurich, West Yellowstone. That's right, West Yellowstone, Montana. It's ironic that after travel - ing over 70,000 air miles, racing and -' 100 training in 15 U.S. states and 11 for - ? eign countries in the last 10 months we end up in West Yellowstone to search for the pot of gold at the end of the Olympic rainbow. This small mountain town is where snow usually falls first in the U.S., so America's best Nordic skiers are slowly trickling into West Yellow- stone to put the finishing touches on years of preparations. But where's the snow? tl With no snow yet, dry-land training is the order of the day. Roller- skiing, shooting, strength workouts, running and equipment maintenance take up our days. Evenings are consumed by video reviews, team meetings, plan- ning (and a little fly- fishing), """" The physical part is easy. It's the mental part that's hard to deal with. Making an Olympic team is so ulti- mately important to us that we're Tuck Miller trains on roller skis. constantly searching for ways to be better, faster, stronger. With only a month left before the Olympic Trials in McCall, the search for more speed is becoming increasingly frantic. Am I fast enough? Tough enough? How should I base prep skis? Can I really do it? Questions with difficult answers seem to be going through everyone's head. Keeping your head while others about you are losing theirs. That's what it comes down to. Making the 1988 U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team is going to be anything but easy. Americans are becoming a force to be reckoned with internation- ally and it takes more and more work each year to keep up. Josh Thompson, 1987 World Championships Silver Medalist, is definitely ahead of the rest of us and is a shoo -in for a team spot. Fifteen of America's finest are going to fight to the death for the next six spots. After four years of sacrifice, it going to come down to about two hours of racing the first week of December. So this is what it comes down to? No glamor, no bright lights, just an- other month in an obscuue hotel room in an obscure town. Then we take our final exam and put our minds and bodies to the test to be judged by the outside world. It seems a little unfair that only seven of us will go to Cal- gary, but nobody ever told us it would be fair. Decision looms over biathlon BY PENNY EBERLE For The Star -News Tuesday is decision day for the committee organizing the U.S. Biathlon Olympic Trials schedul- ed to be held in McCall. The decision to be made is whether or not snow conditions in McCall are favorable to hold the Olympic trials at the McCall biathlon range near the Little Ski Hill. The trials are scheduled to begin Dec. 5 with a 20- kilometer race, and will continue on Dec. 6, Dec. 9 and Dec. 10. with other qualifying races. As of Tuesday, snow depths were too low — just a few inches — at the race site for racing to take place. The local organizing committee, including race chair- man Kevin Grove and former Olympian Mack Miller, said at an informational meeting last week that a snow depth of 18 inches would be ideal. If organizers determine there will not be enough snow to hold the trials in McCall, the event will be moved to West Yellowstone, Mont., where biathletes are now training and where another biathlon course is located. Grove has been receiving reports regularly from the Na- tional Weather Service, and a storm was predicted to move through the area Tuesday night and today, with the possibility of a four to six inches of new snow. All local volunteers are ready to move equipment and materials into action at the Little Hill if snow conditions are deemed favorable on Tuesday. McCall had its induction into the sport of biathlon last March, when the newly built range was the site of the U.S. Biathlon Championships. Earlier this year the McCall range, which is located along the cross - country ski trails at the Lit- tle Hill, became one of only five sanctioned biathlon courses in the country. Prior to the range being con- structed, the town was no stranger to the sport of biathlon, which combines expert rifle marksmanship and Nordic ski- ing. Lyle Nelson, a three -time Olympian, Glen Eberle a 1984 Olympian, and Tuck Miller, a member of the U.S. National Guard International team, all hail from McCall. All will compete for one of seven positions on the team that will go to the 1988 Winter Olym- pics to be held in Calgary, Alber- ta. The athletes have already been training for a month at West Yellowstone, as it usually is the first place with early snowfall. This year, the weather has not produced much snow there as well. For the first two weeks of training the athletes had no choice but to do dry -land train- ing, including the use of roller skis and weight - lifting. The biathlon. range at West Yellowstone is located at an altitude of 8,000 feet, which is an important factor in their usually early snowfall. As of last Wednesday, the athletes were training on snow with a base of about nine inches. If the trials are held at West Yellowstone, officials from Mc- Call have been invited to go there to assist with the race. The lack of snow in McCall has many people questioning why the event was planned so early in the season. Originally, the dates for the trials were set for the week before Thanksgiving, but the U.S. Biathlon Association later decided to move the dates up two weeks. USBA program director Jed Williamson said in a telephone interview that the reasons for having the trials early in the year relieves a lot of stress on the athletes. "Once the seven members of the Olympic team has been pick- ed, it gets the pressure out of the way," Williamson said. "The athletes can then train as a team, and compete as group," he said. Team members will go to Europe and compete on the World Cup circuit before going to Calgary for the Olympics in February, he said. (Note: This column, which will appear regu- larly, is being written by McCall- trained athletes who are competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team.) BY LYLE NELSON Imagine standing in t h a Olympic starting gate, checking your equipment for a final time, reaffirming your race goals, and then blowing out one last ex- panded breath to relax tense mus- cles. The greatest moment I ever had in sports was standing in the gate at my first Olympics with only 10 seconds to start time. During those 10 seconds I realized that the culminating purpose of our year's hard work would be over in just one hour. I was turbo- charged; for one hour I would try harder than ever before in my life. No excuse could justify backing off even the tiniest degree. Those 10 seconds made me very appreciative of our American freedom of choices. A dream was low -.go, Shooting For Calgary coming true for me. I wouldn't trade those 10 seconds for $10,000. That Olympic experi- ence couldn't have happened with- out passing one crucial barrier - The Olympic Trials. As most McCallites know, the 1988 Olympic Biathlon team is due to be named in McCall fol- lowing four tryout races Dec. 5- 10. These trials will be the be- ginning of long, distinguished athletic careers for some, and the last major competition for others. I have been on three Olympic teams, competed in three high -risk TV sports shows and too -many- to -count world biathlon champi- and Tuck Miller. rill of a I i'feti onships. Do you think the upcoming Olympic trials are a big deal to me? You're darn right they are. Like the rest of the Olympic contenders, I am totally consumed with mental and physical prepara- tions. The emotions and mental pressure accompanying these races are extreme. There are about 15 athletes who have a chance to earn one of the seven Olympic berths. All 15 have different reasons for wanting to make it, and will be affected differently if they don't. For several older athletes who have never made an Olympic team, this will be their last chance. Life's other interests, such as families and careers, will pull them from the athletic arena. If they have enjoyed the process leading to the Olympics - the training, travel, association with teammates, learning experiences - then they can't fail. The Olympics may elude them, but the rewarding experience of the four -year preparatory phase should still make it a positive pursuit. The younger guys can always look four years ahead. They will 1181 be stronger and wiser, and us old goats will be gone. The top ath- letes have so much confidence and skill that these races are just a tune -up for the Olympics. It is a stress -free, enjoyable set of races for them. No one on the national team will be devastated if they don't make it. (Not more than a y anyhow.) These athletes kndaow that athletic success does not make the person. Failing in one instance does not make us a fail- ure. Referring to McCall's entrants, I hope Tuck Miller makes it so that he can relish the same 10 seconds I did 12 years ago. He has enjoyed the Olympic process more than most, and knows that he is Olympic level, so he'll come out a winner regardless. Glen Eberle needs to make it just to show off pure athletic talent dur- ing his second Olympics. For me, these trials may repre- sent my farewell to Olympic sports. I hope they fill me with appreciation for having lived the Olympic dream, and release my energy to pursue another dream. ,T{1 C Sj d fL 5&dh De-C ­), l9 N7 Olympic Biathlon trials waiting for shot of snow Announcement due today on status of U.S. races By JEFF WELSCH The Idaho Statesman When once the outlook was bleak, now a powerful 11th -hour blast from Mother Nature may rescue the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Trials for McCall. Two days ago, the U.S. Biathlon As- sociation was ready to move the Olym- pic Trials to West Yellowstone, Mont. But if the McCall area received half of the snow that was forecast for Tuesday night, the event will begin as scheduled Saturday at the Little Ski Hill. The USBA will announce its decision at 9 a.m. today, race officials Kevin and Julie Grove of McCall said Tuesday night. "It's scary," Julie Grove said. "It's down to the wire." Which is much improved from Sun- day's outlook. Barely two inches of snow were on the ground then. At least 10 inches were needed or the first Olympic Trials of any kind to be staged in Idaho would be moved to West Yellowstone, where the athletes have been training. As late as Tuesday afternoon, after six inches of snow had fallen, Kevin Grove remained pessimistic. Outside, it was raining. "If I had to make the decision right at this moment, I would not hold it here," he said. "If we can extend the deadline and get four or five inches tonight, we still may pull it off. Basically what we're trying to do is give the athletes the best area for the race. That's the first consid- eration." USBA officials arrived in McCall from West Yellowstone on Tuesday evening to inspect the course and study the weather forecast. The course, thanks to the efforts last summer of the Idaho Na- "... We're just looking for that little bit more of snow. Unfortunately, Mother !Nature hasn't given us a lot of leeway." — Julie Grove tional Guard, was in world -class shape, except for the snow cover. The forecast called for six to eight inches of new snow Tuesday night, and by 7 p.m. it was snowing heavily, Julie Grove said. So the USBA postponed the decision to today, three days before the scheduled start of the event. "Everyone, including the Olympic Committee and the biathletes, wants to come here, and McCall really wants to put it on," Julie Grove said. "Everybody is set to go. We're just looking for that little bit more of snow. Unfortunately, Mother Nature hasn't given us a lot of leeway." The biathlon is a unique Olympic event that combines cross - country skiing with rifle shooting. The trials begin with a 20- kilometer race Dec. 5, followed by a 10•kilometer event Dec: 6. After a two -day break, the action resumes with a 20- kilometer race Dec. 9 and a 10- kilometer competition Dec. 10. As many as 35 athletes will compete for seven berths on the U.S. team, which is seeking its first Olympic medal ever. Among the favorites to make the team are former McCall resident Lyle Nelson, who has been in the three Olympics, and current McCall resident Glen Eberle, who was on the 1984 Olympic team. Biathletes settled the issue right there. As of Tuesday afternoon, the t course northwest of McCall won t W0% had been packed and was ready for competition, but it needed at least four inches of in M new snow on top of the eight it already had. The forecast had called for six to eight inches of new snow, but the same warm - By JEFF WELSCH i�� /` ing trend that hit Boise pushed The Idaho Statesman / the temperature up to 40 de- The show will go on, but it grees after midnight in McCall. won't be staged in McCall. The United States Biathlon Snow turned to rain late Association, which had post - Tuesday night in McCall, leav- poned its decision for two days ing the Little Ski Hill four in hopes of giving McCall a inches shy of the amount shot at hosting the first Olym- needed for the tiny resort com- pic Trials of any kind to be munity to host the Olympic staged in Idaho, could wait no Biathlon Trials this weekend. longer. The athletes, who have Race officials instead were been training in West Yellow - forced Wednesday to move the stone, were told to stay put, event to West Yellowstone, and Grove and three other key Mont., where it will begin race officials in McCall packed Saturday and conclude Dec. 10. their bags for the trip to south - "It snowed until about 6 last western Montana, which at night, but then the rain started, 6,400 feet is some 1,400 feet and when I went out at 5 this higher in elevation than the morning it was pouring down shores of Payette Lake. rain," McCall's Kevin Grove, one of the race coordinators, "Yeah, we're disappointed said Wednesday. "That kind of See BIATHLON, Page 3B Biathlon Continued from Page 1B because we had the whole state involved, - from the governor on down," Grove said. "It was a good thing for the state of Idaho. In that respect we're very disap- pointed. But as far as the biathlon itself, I can't be disappointed be- cause of the fact we've got to fipd the best site for the athletes to have the trials. It's not fair to them to bring them to a site that has marginal snow, so we'll go over there and start over." Grove said West Yellowstone received about three inches of new snow, leaving its course in "fair" condition. The primary dif- ference between the courses at West Yellowstone and McCall, he said, is the terrain. While McCall's is hilly, much like the Olympic course at Canmore, Al- berta, West Yellowstone's is in a relatively flat meadow. "By doing that," Grove said of having the event at McCall, "we were going to possibly bring some different athletes into view be- cause we had different terrain." Though disappointed that McCall isn't able to host the event this year, Grove said all the work the community and the Idaho Na- tional Guard put into the event wasn't for naught. Until this year, at least two feet of snow was re- quired to stage biathlons at the Little Ski Hill, but because of work completed during the sum- mer, a competition can take place with as little as a foot of snow. "At least now we know we do have a world -class course," he said, "and we do have the ability to run it with marginal snow." British biathletes enjoy McCall as training site BY PENNY EBERLE For The Star -News Great Britain is famous the world over for its royal family, historic buildings, rich history and lush green countryside. The sport of skiing is not one that is usually associated with the small island na- tion, but a group of young British athletes soon hope to change that fact. For the past two weeks, the British biathlon team has been staying and training in McCall in readiness for the upcoming Winter Olympic games, which start this weekend in Calgary, Canada. The team of seven athletes and their two coaches were scheduled to leave McCall Tuesday on their way to Canada. While in the town, they trained daily at the newly sanctioned biathlon range at the Little Ski Hill west of McCall. Members of the team are: Neil Danby, who comes from Hull in Yorkshire; Trevor King from Southhampton, Hampshire; Michael Dixon from Fort William in Scotland; Ed Nicoll from Pre- ston, Lancashire; Benjamin Rex from South Devon; Cal Davies from Leeds, Yorkshire and Mark Lansing; from Manchester. Both King and Dixon took part in the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. King competed in the biathlon, and Dixon took part in the cross - country races. The team's coach is Norwegian Paul Hougen. In his late 40s, Hougen has been taking part in biathlon since he was a small boy of eight. He noted that in childrens' competition, the racers do not carry their rifle with them, but leave it at the shooting range during the ski- ing section. Hougen is assisted by Keith Oliver from Liverpool, Eng- land. The British team members are all in the British Army. Most of the biathletes from European nations belong to the armed forces, and the sport's combination of cross -coun- try skiing and rifle marksmanship has a long history in the military. Many border patrols in Scandinavia and Russia are led by men who also compete in biathlon competition. The British team has been train- ing together since May 1987 after their national championships. As Britain doesn't usually receive too much snow, the team has been training in Scandinavia, Austria and Germany. They also trained on "roller- skis" on dry land in the highlands of Scotland. Watching the biathletes at the range, they are strong, fast skiers, using the skating method of skiing. On the range, their army training shows through, with a high per- centage of targets hit. The team is financially supported by grants from the British Ski Fed- eration and corporate and individual sponsors. The army does not sup- port the team financially, but it gives the athletes the time off from their duties to train extensively. The team members also person- ally contribute $100 a month each toward the costs of their training. The athletes had nothing but praise for the tracks and the range facilities. "We couldn't have asked for better track conditions," Nicoll said. "The terrain and altitude here should help us tremendously when we g--t t© Canada." All the team members said they enjoyed their stay in McCall. Although the British team has not been considered a top medal contender at the Olympics, the team members are optimistic that they will perform well. "The better we do, the more support the sport will keep gaining at home," King said. "And that will help our future athletes." X�4k N'Fwj- 1---441 Nl Photo by Penny Eberle Cindy Casner gives shooting tips to Ted Eberle, 10, at Little Ski Hill biathlon range. G 9W YoUths take a shot a biathlon PENNY EBERLE This week, as mcLaii -orea biathlete Lyle Nelson competes in his fourth Winter Olympic games, some local youngsters may be looking toward the biathlon com- petition in 1998. A new program taking place at McCall 's sanctioned biathlon course at the Little Ski Hill now i�s youngsters the opportunity to learn about and participate in the sport. Jack Kappas, who is the Mc- Call junior Nordic coach, is trying to start a biathlon program de- signed for younger athletes. Biathlon, which combines cross - country skiing with rifle marksmanship, has come to the orefront locally largely due to the fact that three of the sports top competitors are from McCall. Along with Nelson, locals Glen Eberle and Tuck Miller have both been top contenders in com- petition. Eberle took part in the 1984 Olympics, and he and Miller both ski on the National Guard International Team. Area youngsters not only have these three athletes to look to as role models in the sport, but an- other up- and - coming local biath- lete, Joel Harrison, is also prov ing to be a driving force in the sport. Harrison, a student at the Col- lege of Idaho, is a member of the Junior National Biathlon Team. He was out training last week at theUcCall course under the watch of several youngsters who may be dreaming of international competition. Harrison was joined at the range by Cindy Casner, another junior team member, and their coach Chris Mellgard. The ath- letes and their coach are in train- ing for the Polar Cup competition to take place in Finland in March. After skiing with Kappas on the Nordic trails, the young skiers came onto the shooting range, where Casner instructed them on the use of the rifle, and explained about the targets. The youths were each able to shoot from the "prone," or laying down, position at five targets, and quite a few tar- gets were hit. Casner said that the biathlon facility in McCall gives a great opportunity for local children to get a head start in the sport. "This is a great range," she said, "I needs to be put to use, and whi not start young ?" In Europe, children take part it biathlon competition from the ag( of six or seven. The only differ. ence between children and adul competition is that the childrer leave the rifle at the range during the skiing section, while adult., carry their gun with them. Kappas hopes to incorporate ; gun- safety course into the pro gram so that youngsters under stand the precautions and safet, necessary when handling guns. Kappas hopes to get the pro gram going this season, and thei start off earlier next season. Any one interested in the program cal contact Kappas through the Littl Ski Hill at 634 -5691. Lead Story Main News Opinion Arts/Events Outdoors/Rec Junior Steelheads Sports/Schools Of Record Groups Info Desk Announcements Public Notices Current Edition W V1,Irome "OF er_'a9j,.c 11 - 011Yfiost Don Bailey at Mat PM Advlsoryl t clIA fir Finuat - -- LEAD STORY — THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 Lead Story Index Taking A Shot Youths age 10-14 learn biathlon at new Jug Mountain range BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News Salle Monahan tried to relax as she lay prone in the snow at Jug Mountain Ranch. Monahan had just completed a lap on cross - country skis and now had to control her breathing and heart rate enough to shoot a .22 rifle bullet more than 160 feet and hit a target": i it less than 2 inches in diameter. z+it y Monahan and 18 other youths age 10 to 14 are part of the new biathlon team organized under the McCall Winter Sports Program. During a typical practice, the athletes will work on various , e hsirN .bym em> skills, whether it be skiing, shooting, or shooting after skiing, From left, Sofie Monahan, Maverick Mendia said Cory Corbet of McCall, the teams coach. and Lily Daniels practice theirshooting atthenew biathlon range at Jug Mountain Ranch. The range is located at the cross -country trails around Jug Mountain Ranch east of Lake Fork. The range was built last summer to specifications of the U.S. Biathlon Association, David Carey of Jug Mountain said. "We found a great spot but it did require a lot of dirt work," Carey said. "With the help of Ryan Miller to blow up some very large rocks in our way and Mike Place excavating to remove the rocks and lots of dirt, we were able to rough in the range." The winter sports club received a grant from the NRA Foundation for about $9,600 worth of equipment, which included several .22 rifles, air rifles, targets and spotting scope. The 10- year -old minimum age was imposed for safety reasons, said Corbet, an Alaska native and former member of the U.S. National Biathlon Team who was named an alternate on the 1998 U.S. Biathlon Olympic Team. "We wanted to make sure athletes were mature enough to handle the rifles safely and take directions well," she said. Athletes were required to take a rifle safety class, volunteers took a safety class taught by an NRA certified instructor, and 10 adults are certified as range safety officers, Corbet said. "The athletes love the shooting part," she said. 'They always feel such a sense of accomplishment when they hit the target and the metal paddle comes up!" Safety Lessons Biathlon teaches the youths personal responsibility, as they need to be able to keep their rifle safe as well as watch what is happening around them, Corbet said. "They learn to control their pace of skiing and learn about heart rate and focus on the task at hand," she said. The addition of shooting has led more youths to stay with the winter sports club after age 13, when participation usually drops off, she said. The team is not scheduled to compete in any competitions this year. Sanctioned events are held annually in West Yellowstone, Mont., and Bozeman, Mont One barrier is the rifles now used by the biathletes, which are single -shot rifles. Competitions require rifles to hold magazines of five shots, Corbet said. Another grant or donations are needed to buy competition rifles, she said More work will be done this summer to widen the range to allow for more shooters, cover the targets, storage for gear and supplies and trail work, Carey said. The range will not be opened to the public to protect the safety of the people who use the trails both in winter and summer, Corbet said. Bade To Index/Menu Biathlon range built at Little Ski Hill hosted 1987 nationals BY TOM GROTE for The Star-News The new biathlon range at Jug Mountain Ranch is not the first biathlon range built in McCall. • Biathlon range built at Little Ski Hill hosted 1987 nationals Bade To Current Edition In 1986, a range was built on private land near the Little Ski Hill west of McCall as a training project for the Idaho National Guard's 116th Engineer Battalion of Lewiston. The range was selected to be the site of the U.S. Biathlon Championships in March 1987, attracting entrants from around the nation. The range also was selected to be the site for trials in December 1987 to select members to the U.S. team for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. However, lack of snow forced the races to be moved to West Yellowstone. David Carey of Jug Mountain Ranch remembers attending a summer biathlon event at the Little Ski Hill range while he was in college. The ranae was taken out of use in the 1990s when the land on which it was located was sold and the new owners blocked access. This summer, Carey provided a site at Jug Mountain and built a range for the new biathlon team formed by the McCall Winter Sports Club. "It is these sort of events that I feel makes McCall so special and unique," said Carey, who has a child on the new biathlon team. We want to help be a part of that and make sure we do not lose opportunities like that,' he said. One McCall resident who knows the value of biathlon is Lyle Nelson, who competed for the U.S. in biathlon in four Winter Olympics. Nelson's last Olympics was in Calgary, where he was selected to carry the U.S. flag during opening ceremonies. "The biathlon training is an example of what McCall does so well - create opportunities for kids to be outdoors, physically active, excited and learning new skills," said Nelson, who now works in development and marketing for St. Luke's McCall. Precision shooting teaches youths how to focus and be calm under distracting conditions, "which also carries over into lots of life's challenges," he said. Back To IndexlMenu Back To Current Edition © Copyright 2009 -2017 Central Idaho Publishing Inc. • All rights reserved Lead Story Main News Opinion Arts/Events OutdoorslRec Junior Steelheads Sports/Schools Of Record Groups Info Desk Announcements Public Notices Current Edition McCall, ID 36 OF Overcast ateirsl PMT Ckek far FaweWJ OUTDOORS 1 RECREATION— THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017 McCall's Ariana Woods wins gold at U.S. biathlon nationals BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News McCall's Adana Woods is a national champion in biathlon after winning the gold medal in her age group on Sunday at the U.S. Biathlon National Championships in Jericho, Vt. The gold -medal performance by Woods in the 7.5 kilometer mass start race capped a weekend that saw her win fifth place in the sprint race on Friday and seventh place in the pursuit race on Saturday. The performance comes just two weeks after Woods competed in the U.S. Cross - Country Junior Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. Woods, 17, skis with the Bridger Ski Foundation in Bozeman, Mont., where she has attended since age 13. She is a junior with Idaho Virtual Academy, a publicly funded online charter school. "Adana's ski technique and shooting is improving," said Jean Paquet, head coach for development for the U.S. Biathlon Association. "I really liked the way she pushed the last lap of the mass start," Paquet said. "She was second and she was able to get the first place." Woods will stay in Bozeman and train with her team through April before returning to McCall in May, said her mother, Stefanie Woods. Her summer training on snow begins at the end of May with a biathlon camp in Truckee, Calif., followed by a Nordic training camp Bend, Ore. She will then be in McCall most of the summer doing dry-land training and will also travel to Canada for more training, Stefanie Woods said. Back To Indez/Men� Welmme You are logged on as Don Bailey Subscription Expires 10222017 Renew Subscription Edit Amount Log Oft Outdoors Index Spring chinook fishing to open April 22 on Little Salmon River • Registration open for this year's free Kelly's Academy • F &G to host hunter education field day on Saturday • Junior Steelheads Page Back To Current Edition