Top cadet biathletes step up training in advance of March nationals (9 photos)

NEWS RELEASE
CADET BIATHLON
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This past weekend, 20 of the top cadet biathletes in Ontario were working on their ski technique and marksmanship skills in preparation for the 2018 Cadet National Biathlon which will be held in Brookvale, P.E.I. from March 7 to 10. 

The Sea, Army and Air Cadets traveled from across Ontario to train at the Algoma Rod and Gun Club’s Biathlon Ski Course. The Sault was chosen for this years training camp as it offered a challenging ski course and hills.

The other benefit is the nutritional, well-prepared food by the volunteers at the Rod and Gun Club for the athletes to replenish them after a long day of training. 

This is a fitting choice as the Sault’s course is the only national level ski course, approved by Biathlon Canada in Ontario. These biathletes had earned their place on Team Ontario at the recently held Regional Cadet Biathlon which was also held here in the Sault, 10 and 11 February.

Training consisted of hill climbing and skiing drills while coaches offered tips on improving the technique that would help when competing against the top cadet biathletes in Canada. Cardio exercises build up stamina while keeping heart rates optimal while skiing the course. The biathlete practice when to start decreasing their heart rate as they are transitioning into the range to shoot. 

Focus on the principals of breathing sight picture, trigger control and follow through were aspects that coaches assisted with for the biathlete to shoot at the falling plate targets using .22 calibre Anchutz target rifles in the prone and standing positions in this Olympic style event. A combination of good skate skiing and marksmanship define a good biathlete.

The 2018 Cadet National Biathlon is the final stage of the Canadian Cadet Movement Biathlon Series and will see different age groups ski the one to two and half  kilometer ski courses logging six to eight and half kilometers while entering the range up to four times with penalty loops of 100 meters for each missed target. 

Members of Team Ontario are Iris Li, Jessica Chan, Makayla French, Carolyn Brown, Daniel Rivera, Kevin Chang, Peter Cole, Alex Frappier, Tyler Caldwell, Victoria Desfosses, Vivian Mullins, Jessica Matill, Zachary Nyenbuis, Branden Lohnes, Adrian Poncelet, Ale Bolduc, Darcy Hayden, Abigael Lohnes, Troy Martel, and Joshua Kiers. 

The challenging Rod and Gun Club ski course starts getting prepped for skiing in November. Major Pierre Breckenridge who oversees the local ski course and is the Chief of Competition during race competition provided details involved in maintaining and preparing the course. Volunteers brush saw the season’s two to three feet high growth which can protrude through the ski trail snow and affect the skier’s race times. 

Once the first snow has arrived a snow machine is used to pack snow and that is followed by the snow machine towing the rough groomer to fill in holes of this natural course.

Once there is a four to six-inch base the snow machine tows the hydraulic groomer to level and even out the wavy bumps.

When the course is ready the Soo Finnish Ski Club will bring in a big groomer to get the ski trail packed and set. The process of the snow machine pulled hydraulic groomer is repeated after snow falls. To handle large amounts of snow which can be common here in the Sault, the Soo Finish’s big groomer is again brought in which significantly reduces the time to complete the course. 

Some of the course goes through swampy areas and even with the colder -20 Celsius weather there is water running under the packed ski trail which presents its own challenges for grooming and maintenance.

The 14-year-old snow vehicle used for grooming was purchased using a Trillium Grant and will soon need to be replaced as the repair bills to keep the machine operational are getting significant. These repair costs which are bore by the local 2310 Army Cadets come from fund raisers intended for optional training programs for the cadets. It is hoped that new grant funding can be secured in the near future to replace the older machine with an ATV or UTV that would be equipped with tracks for winter work with the tires used when the snow is gone to get all year round use. 

To follow and cheer on Team Ontario as they compete at this years National Cadet Biathlon please visit its Facebook page.

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