Biathlon ACT held a great biathlon camp in conjunction with the Australian Cross Country Roller-Ski Championships. The Camp brought together NSW and ACT’s aspiring 2020 Winter Youth Olympians together with biathletes who were both starting out in the sport or had been engaging with programs in Sydney, Southern Highlands (NSW), East Gippsland (VIC) and ACT.

Superbly managed by Coach Cameron Morton who had his work cut out structuring a program across the different levels of athletes, the Camp included .22 biathlon on metal biathlon targets, roller-skiing and laser biathlon. An exhibition of laser biathlon was held after the roller-ski races on Saturday at Mt Stromlo Forest Park.

The Camp commenced on Friday afternoon allowing some intensive one-on-one biathlon coaching at Canberra Rifle Club, included racing at the AUSXC Roller-Ski Championships, where the biathletes achieved some fantastic results (click here to read more) and finished on Sunday after further biathlon target sessions and roller-ski endurance/technique sessions.

The Camp offered live-in accommodation and meals with all athletes and their parents, coming together as a team and parents being instructed on how to assist with the coaching sessions and Range supervision (license required). As biathlon grows, the importance of upskilling volunteers to assist coaches is crucial. The Camp also included a session on how to safely clean and look after a biathlon rifle and discussion on travelling safely with firearms and ammunition.

Many thanks to Biathlon ACT for their great hosting of the Camp and Canberra Rifle Club for their hospitality, accommodation and clubhouse facilities.

We also thank Darcie Morton for taking time out of her university studies and own training program to assist with coaching the development athletes, who very much appreciated her insights into life as a top Australian biathlete.

For more information on how to get involved with biathlon in ACT email actbiathlon@gmail.com