A training camp was held at the Whiskey Flat Biathlon Range, Mt Hotham in the last week of the April school holidays. The Camp was a mixture of State Team, State Development Squad, Developing athletes with Masters biathletes also joining the Camp.

The Camp commenced on Monday 12^th April, with the athletes, coaches and supervisory parents travelling from the ACT after a week of training sessions and the AUSXC National Roller-Skiing Championships.  Athletes attended the Range each morning for shooting technique and training sessions. Focus was on shooting speed and accuracy and adjusting the positioning of the athletes on their mats.

The afternoon sessions were focussed on roller-skiing, developing good technique and athlete knowledge regarding managing their own roller-ski sessions once the camp had finished.  Athletes learned  to determine their fitness level and where improvement was needed.  

On Wednesday, the Camp athletes travelled to Wodonga to train with North Eastern Victoria Biathlon at the SSAA Biathlon Range. The SSAA Range is currently the only Range where biathletes can roller-ski into the shooting range. It’s a great facility and it was of great benefit for the athletes to training their shooting on roller-skis.  

The Camp finished on Saturday morning  with a roller-ski time-trial and shooting competition. These activities allowed the athletes to monitor their improvement over the week and focus on the areas where they need to continue their development.

It was a great Camp experience and the continuity of 5 ½ days of training allowed all athletes to progress their skills to the next level. A big thanks goes to the following people without whom the Camp would not have been held: 

• Coaches – Damon Morton and Cameron Morton
• Bembooka Lodge who provided their fabulous lodge for use by the athletes at a most reasonable daily cost
• SSAA Wodonga / North Eastern Victoria Biathlon 
• Hotham Resort who continue to support biathlon and its development
• Cheryl Wilby – Cheryl was the Camp house-parent, shopped, cooked, mentored, supported, organised, took photos and anything else that needed to be done! Without Cheryl, the Camp would not have been possible, and our biggest thanks to her for undertaking this role.

Camp feedback was excellent from the athletes and we look forward to holding our next Myt Hotham Training Camp.