The Vancouver Island Biathlon Club (VIBC) is holding a mountain bike biathlon race Sept. 8 for beginners and veterans alike.
No experience? No problem.
Trained staff will offer participants instruction and safety tips so they can experience this unique and challenging sport. Just bring your mountain bike and helmet, and VIBC will supply the rifle and ammunition.
This will be the last summer biathlon race of the season. Visit www.vibiathlon.ca to read about upcoming winter biathlon races.
“Biathlon is a combination of cross country skiing and rifle marksmanship,” long-time member Christoph Dettling said. “In most races, athletes fire at five targets after skiing a loop on a very hilly course. The elevated heart rate creates a real challenge in hitting targets 50 metres away. These targets are 4.5 cm for prone position shooting and 11.5 cm for the standing shoot. In most races, athletes must ski a penalty loop for every shot missed.”
Don’t you need snow for biathlon?
“Not necessarily,” Dettling said.
For the upcoming race, participants will bike a short, hilly loop to elevate their heart rate and simulate the challenge of the sport. There will be four shooting bouts of five shots, with a loop in between each bout. As in most biathlon races, there will be a penalty loop for each shot missed.
Isn’t this too challenging for beginners? Dettling shakes his head, smiling.
“The really interesting thing about this sport is that while it can be challenging, it is also so much fun and suitable to a surprising range of people. At the end of the day, it’s about staying fit and having fun in a safe environment.”
The deadline for entry is noon on Sept. 5. Race preparations commence at 9 a.m. on Sept. 8. The event is at the Mount Washington nordic site near Raven Lodge.
If you are at least nine years of age or older, download the registration form at Race Notice and send to secretaryvibc@gmail.com.
For more information about the VIBC, visit www.vibiathlon.ca, or call Christoph at (250) 884-3473.