Biathlon Yukon group trains for season’s first competition

It would take a lot more than a lack of snow to prevent the members of Biathlon Yukon from training for the upcoming season.

It would take a lot more than a lack of snow to prevent the members of Biathlon Yukon from training for the upcoming season.
The organization is coming off one of its most successful years to date in the sport, which included highlights such as multiple medals at the Arctic Winter Games as well as a third place relay finish at the 2008 nationals in B.C.
“It’s been quite a while since we had such a good showing Outside,“ said Cassandra Wheeler, co-coach with Biathlon Yukon. “I am hoping for a couple of these guys to get podium finishes this year.“
Despite not being able to ski and the competitive season not beginning until January, Biathlon Yukon members have been training regularly since the beginning of September.
The junior/senior group is currently getting lots of practice with the shooting aspect, meeting at the biathlon range three times a week. As a result of the lack of snow, the Yukon biathletes have had to resort to running as opposed to skiing. The purpose of running is to stimulate the heart rate, which makes practice more similar to a competition.
The more competitive members of the organization meet on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at the range. Tuesday’s practice devotes more focus with the technical aspects regarding shooting, while Thursday is based more on fitness and Sunday is a combination of the two.
The difference between the weekly practices can include biathletes shooting an additional four to nine clips on Tuesday as opposed to Thursday, where an individual competitor would have to run at a fast pace in order to shoot around six clips. Each clip contains five shots. 
Thursday also features a greater running challenge with less emphasis on shooting technique.
Biathletes shoot in both the standing and prone positions at the practices. Competitors that are15 years and older are required to shoot both standing and lying down at a competitive biathlon race. 
In addition to the three practices at the range, members in Biathlon Yukon have their own individual training programs.
Biathlon Yukon is planning to send a contingent of athletes to three competitions this season. The first will be the North American Cup, which is being held in Canmore, Alberta in November.
The second is in the westerns, which will take place in January in Edmonton and the final competition is the nationals. This year the nationals will take place in Quebec and are scheduled for March.
Wheeler, who has been coaching for Biathlon Yukon for more than five years, said she is impressed with how some of the athletes have improved so far this year.
“A couple of them that are here tonight have come a long way in their shooting,“ she said. “They just weren’t physically strong enough before and just a combination of the age and the amount of training that they have been doing, it started to click now.“
Aryn Clarke, 16, has been a biathlete since she was 10 years old. Clarke is entering into her second season in the senior category and said she learned a lot from her previous year in the sport.
“It was a great learning experience, seeing top notch athletes and how they race and also seeing how we stand in there,“ she said. “It was great to know what to look forward to this year and what to train for this year and to know that we are in there.“
Clarke said one of her goals for the season is to place in the top 10 at nationals. In 2008, she came close, finishing in the 16th spot for the 7.5-km distance, while coming in 14th place in the 6-km.
Clarke trains six days a week for at least one hour each session, which includes cross training in volleyball, running and cycling.
She said she is working on her shooting consistency and composure.
Clarke said she is improving as a result of all of the training.
“It’s great with the training right now because I get to experiment a lot,“ she said.

“In the winter it is too cold to be doing all of the experimenting.“
She said she is looking forward to the winter.
“I love skiing, so I can’t wait to get the snow.“
Biathlon Yukon is holding an open house Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The open house is free to attend, but because of safety issues with the rifles, shooters must be at least nine years old.
Club rifles will be available to use for those participants that don’t have one of their own.