A collection of tips from members to help increase the enjoyment of your biathlon experience.
If you have a favorite hack that you'd like to share with others send it to [email protected]
You'll be standing around at the range for long periods of time and the plastic soles of ski boots don't offer much insulation. Overboots or the walking covers many boot makers offer these days go a long ways toward keeping your feet warm, as can chemical toe warmers.
On the standing around theme, extra layers are a must, especially for really cold days. A warm jacket, zip off pants, and heavier gloves or mittens really help when you're not racing. You may also want to toss an extra base layer into your race bag for those times you find yourself underdressed once you get to the range.
Neck buffs are magic and add a lot of warmth in spite of their thin fabric.
Shooting requires a certain dexterity, but cold hands aren't good for accuracy either. Consider having a range of glove thicknesses and learning which work well for you at different conditions.
Some people like bringing a change of clothes with them to the range to get out of their sweaty racing outfit before helping later in the race.
If you watch the World Cup, you'll see many athletes have modified their glove to have a trigger finger hole. If you're an experienced shooter that might make a difference for you, but if you're new to the sport, you may want to try without for awhile (lest you end up with a cut in your glove that you don't like).
Race days are long - most people will arrive at the range between 8:30 and 9:00 and be there until 2:00 some days. Be sure to bring enough water and food to get you through the day.
An insulated water bottle can help your drink from getting too chilly throughout the day
Some people like to bring a thermos with a hot beverage in it to help keep them warm during the day. People have brought straight hot water, tea, and even hot broth to enjoy.
You may not learn whether you'll be racing in the first or second wave until you pick up your bib so be prepared to adjust how much you eat, and when, to avoid under fueling, or having a heavy stomach, during your race.
If you find it difficult to remember to drink enough during the day, try wearing your bottle belt while not racing.
Identifying the zeroing paper you signed up for can be tricky at first. Look for the large "1A" sign and then map to your lane. Another good suggestion is, at races with 3 papers, to sign up for the "B" paper since it's in the middle.
Make sure that you have your race bib on top of your warm up layers. It helps race staff know that you're zeroing at the correct time and makes it easier to get your attention if needed.
You must have your skis on while zeroing.
You'll be sharing the lane with others during zeroing. Being considerate with your time on the mat will allow everyone get plenty of cycles in. When the mat is open and you ski in to shoot, hit the mat, take your five shots reasonably quickly, and then leave the mat before reviewing your group and making any sight adjustments.
People watch biathlon at the Olympics and see how fast racers get into shooting position, shoot, and then get back to skiing and think that's what they should do. Those athletes have spent countless hours practicing those motions to make them fast and smooth. When you're new to biathlon, take a "slow is smooth, smooth is fast" approach to your time at the range and you'll likely feel more in control and hit more targets as well.
For windy days, practice "shading" your sights to adjust for the wind. If you're using a club rifle, this will be your only option, and if you have your own rifle, it saves you from remembering how many "clicks" you've adjusted in case the wind changes throughout the race.
Don't fret if you don't have good glide heading out to the range in the morning. It's more important to choose a wax for what the snow temperatures will be at race time.
If you're not sure which wax to use and are waxing at the Nordic center, many people in the wax room will be happy to offer your some advice. Comparing wax choices with others at the range also makes for popular conversation and learning.
Sunscreen! Long days outside, high elevation, and even a little sun is a recipe for sunburns
CBC race courses are standardized for the season (barring any unforeseen problems with trail conditions). If you're new to skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch you can practice on them ahead of time to try out your pacing, or see which race category is the right one for you.
Helping with score keeping is a great introduction to volunteering at a race, and allows you to watch how different people go about their shooting and observe how the race officials manage the event.
You'll find most everyone at a race to be welcoming and willing to answer questions or offer tips. You'll have more luck conversing early in the morning, before people begin preparing for zeroing, or connecting with the competition officials through email the week prior to the race.
When skiing out to the range, if you're not feeling like tackling the Biathlon trail hill, take the right turn after the creek for a less steep approach to the range.
The snow may be very cold some mornings on your way to the range. If your wax is set for the warmer temperatures at race time there's no shame in doing the "classic walk" - don't fight the lack of glide and save your energy for the race.
