Fantastic come’n’try laser biathlon day run by East Gippsland Biathlon Club (EGBC) at the at the Marlo Public School Fete day over Easter. The Morton Family, who are local East Gippslanders, held a number of sessions during the Fete day for locals and visitors to try laser biathlon and brand new beanbag biathlon!

The lasers were immensely popular with over 100 people participating and receiving expert tuition from the Morton family – all whom have “Olympian” after their name – Cameron 2006 Winter Olympian, Darice 2016 Winter Youth Olympian and Damon 2018 Shadow Olympian!

The sessions used the newly purchased APEOM system which comes from Czech Republic and allows both prone and standing targets to be experienced. The laser rifles have a bolt action similar to a biathlon rifle so users become familiar with the bolt action of a .22 rifle. Plus, they offer the great advantage of being useable by any age and being electronic are 100% safe.

The Morton family set up the East Gippsland Biathlon Club in 2015, to bring biathlon to regional East Gippsland given its proximity to the Mt Hotham snowfields. The Club is active in the East Gippsland region and from the start of Term 2, will be holding weekly biathlon and roller-ski sessions leading into winter.

The Fete was also the introduction into Australia of beanbag biathlon. Discovered from Skiclub Koethen via #summerbiathlon, the format is new to Australia, loads of fun and can be used with roller-blades to offer a modified form of biathlon to all ages. As part of the Biathlon in East Australia organisation of clubs and Associations, EGBC trialed beanbag biathlon at the fete and it was an instant success.

If it’s good enough to start budding biathletes in this way in Europe, it's good enough in Australia!

Watch out for beanbag biathlon coming to your local area!

For more information and to get involved in biathlon in East Gippsland email egbc@gmail.com or call 0407 510970.