BIATHLON

Biathlon Development Team – Train to Train and Learn to Compete

Juniors 12-14 

Full Program ~140 sessions

Comprehensive program and training from May until March.

Training Days

Monday – online session

Tuesday – Dryland

Wednesday – Dryland 

Saturday – Shooting and Dryland 

*Winter sessions include one additional ski day.

Multisport Athlete ~130 sessions 

This program is meant for athletes in other programming in the spring. 

Athletes can choose one dryland training session in the spring only.

Athletes need to consult with the coach if the program is appropriate. 

Training Days

Monday – online session

Tuesday or Wednesday or Saturday – Dryland

Saturday – Shooting 

Full programming in Fall and Winter

Intro Program (fall and winter only) ~100 sessions 

Designed for first year juniors.

Athletes will need to attend a summer camp to become familiar with shooting with a sling prior to fall training.

Training Days

Monday – online session

Tuesday – Dryland

Wednesday – Dryland 

Saturday – Shooting and Dryland 

Included: 

• General training plan
• Coach monitored training log through Training Peaks – Basic account
• 3 Individual Coach meetings/ year

Expectations/Commitments:  

• Committed to attend training sessions
• Strives to achieve 350-400 hours of training per year
• Learns to communicate independently with coaches
• Makes an effort to complete training log
• Maintains a positive growth mindset

Seniors 15-18

Full Program ~190 sessions

Comprehensive program and training from May until March.

Training Days

Monday – online session

Tuesday – Dryland

Wednesday – Dryland 

Saturday – Shooting and Dryland 

*Winter sessions include one additional ski day.

Multi Sport Athlete ~170 sessions

This program is meant for athletes in other programming in the spring. 

Athletes can choose one dryland training session in the spring only.

Athletes need to consult with the coach if the program is appropriate. 

Training Days

Monday – online session

Tuesday or Wednesday or Saturday – Dryland

Saturday – Shooting 

Full programming in Fall and Winter

Included: 

• Individualized training plan
• Coach monitored training log through Training Peaks – Basic account
• 6 Individual Coach meetings/ year

Expectations/Commitments:  

• Highly motivated
• Committed to attend training sessions
• Strives to achieve 450-600 hours of training per year
• Communicates independently with coaches 
• Completes training log weekly with appropriate RPE and comments
• Maintains a positive growth mindset

Program Fees

Juniors :

Full Program $1700.00

Multi Sport Athlete $1500.00

Intro Program $1250.00

Seniors :

Full Program $2250.00

Multi Sport Athlete $2000.00

Fees can be paid in full on zone 4 or in three instalments May 15, Sept 15, Nov 15

Additional Costs: 

Sea to Sky Nordics Membership click here

Biathlon Canada Membership click here

CCBC Membership – part of registration

Sport Pass – Whistler Olympic Park, Lost Lake Pass and/or Cypress Pass

Race Fees, race ammo, race wax

Camp fees – ie. Summer training, Christmas and Spring Break

Biathlon Rifle Rental Agreement 2021/22

Biathlon Bears Program Description

Biathlon Bears is a three-level progressive skills development program for youth ages 10-13.

The goal of the program is to continuously develop and refine skiing and shooting skills in a safe and fun environment through a combination of drills, games and relays, and to provide an introduction to an active, outdoor sport-for-life.

Biathlon Bears is for young athletes in the FUNdamentals and Learn to Train developmental stages of the Canadian Sport for Life Long Term Athlete Development Model. Biathlon Bears leads into our Development Team program or our Teen Leadership program.

Registration Prerequisites

In order to participate in our Biathlon Bears program, you must meet the following prerequisites:

– membership with the Sea to Sky Nordics (click here to register)
– registration with Biathlon Canada as a “Recreational Athlete” (click here to register)
– no biathlon or shooting experience is required, but prior participation in a biathlon camp, recreational biathlon race or demo day is recommended
– at least one season of cross country skiing experience is required for all levels of Biathlon Bears

Program Levels

The three levels of the program are called Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, and Polar Bears.

Athletes will be assigned into one of the three different levels based on their experience, ability, personal goals, and approach to training.

Black Bears is the entry level for our biathlon program. At this level the goal is to develop existing skiing skills while acquiring basic shooting skills. All participants without prior shooting experience will begin at the Black Bears level.

Grizzly Bears is the next level for experienced biathletes. At this level the goal is to continue to develop skiing skills while consolidating basic shooting skills. At least two years of skiing experience and one year in Black Bears, Young Vikings or equivalent shooting experience is a prerequisite for the Grizzly Bears level.

Polar Bears is for advanced skiers who are passionate about Biathlon and consider it their primary winter sport activity. This level is for young athletes who are interested in progressing to our Development Team. This level is designed to develop and refine skiing skills including speed, power and aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility, and to develop a solid foundation of basic shooting skills for progressing to the Development Team.

2020/21 Winter Schedule & Dates

This winter, the Biathlon Bears program offers training sessions on Wednesdays and Sundays. Optional additional skiing sessions on Tuesday nights in Whistler are also available.

In the winter, we recommend that Biathlon Bears ski once on weekends and at least one during the week. Polar Bears should be skiing three times a week.

SUNDAYS

Dates: Dec 6-Mar 7 (13 sessions – no practice on Dec 27)
Time: 8:45-14:00
Location: Whistler Olympic Park
Activities: skiing and shooting training.

WEDNESDAYS

Dates: (Dec 16-Mar 3 (11 sessions – no practice on Dec 30)
Two times/locations to choose from:
Cypress 6:30-8:00 pm
Whistler Olympic Park: 5:00-6:30 pm
Activities: Skiing only, no shooting training.

Program Fees

Program fees cover coaching, lane fees, ammunition, and use of club biathlon rifles.

Trail passes are not included in the program fee.

$52.50 discount season passes to Whistler Olympic Park and Lost Lake (each) can be purchased in connection with program registration.

Sundays and Wednesdays: $600

Equipment Required

Participants are required to provide their own ski equipment (skis, boots, poles), for both skate and classic skiing techniques. The skiing program follows the Track Attack coaching model and skiing techniques are split equally between classic and skate sessions throughout the season.

Equipment rentals are available through Whistler Olympic Park, Cypress, and local ski shops.

Participants should come to practice prepared for the weather conditions with multiple sets of pants, jackets, gloves, and hats. At least 3 pairs of gloves and 3 jackets are recommended in wet weather!

PARENT PARTICIPATION

Parent involvement is a required part of our Biathlon Bears program. This requirement can be fulfilled by helping with coaching, doing setup/takedown at practices, assisting on the range, volunteering at events, or by assisting with the administration of the program.

Parents who are interested in coaching or volunteering at events are encouraged to take a Silver Coach workshop and an Entry Level Officials Course through the Whistler Biathlon Society.

No clubs will have access to the buildings or flexspaces at Whistler Olympic Park due to Covid-19 protocols.  So, for the 2020/21 season, we are going old school! Parents are expected to stay at Whistler Olympic Park on Sundays and provide their vehicles for their children to have lunch and warm up between skiing and shooting. Athletes should not be sharing a vehicle with a different family due to the inability to socially distance.

Masters Biathlon Program Description

Our Masters Biathlon program is a training program for experienced biathletes age 19 and older. Organized shooting training sessions are provided in connection with our Development Team practices.

Registration Prerequisites

In order to register in our Masters/Recreational Biathlon program, you must meet the following prerequisites:

– previous participation in our Masters Biathlon program or Recreational Biathlon program, or equivalent experience
– membership with the Sea to Sky Nordics (click here to register)
– registration with Biathlon Canada as a “Masters Athlete” (click here to register)
– have a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
– have your own biathlon rifle

2020/21 Schedule & Dates

FALL SEASON: SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER

In Fall, our Masters Biathlon program is offering self-paced training on Saturdays. There is no cost to participate in these sessions.

WINTER SEASON: DECEMBER-MARCH

SATURDAYS

Dates: Dec 6-Mar 7 (13 sessions – no practice on Dec 27)
Time: 11:00 -16:00
Location: Whistler Olympic Park
Activities: shooting and skiing training.

WEDNESDAYS (combined sessions with Whistler Nordics)

Dates: Dec 16 – 3 (11 sessions – no practice on Dec 30)
Time: 17:00 – 18:30
Locations: Whistler Olympic Park
Activities: Skiing

PROGRAM FEES

Program fees include coaching and lane fees at training sessions. Program fees do not include trail passes or ammunition.

Masters must provide their own ammunition.

WINTER SEASON: DECEMBER-MARCH

Saturdays: $300
Wednesdays: $100

Equipment Required

Masters must provide their own biathlon rifle, ammunition, and skate roller ski equipment.

For on-snow training, skate skiing equipment (skis, boots, poles) is required.