The Walden Cross Country Fitness Club

 

The Walden Biathlon Club offers biathlon programs from beginner air rifle (Biathlon Bears) to competitive (IBU) .22 calibre training. 

Biathlon Bears
Introduction to Biathlon is offered to children age 10 and older through the Biathlon Canada Biathlon Bears Program.  This program is currently offered on air rifles, at the Walden Cross Country Fitness Club’s Naughton Trails.  If there is sufficient interest, we may also offer an adult Introduction to Biathlon as an air rifle program. 

Junior Racing Team – Biathlon
Focus: Training and Racing
The Biathlon Racing Team trains along with the Junior Development group to work on their skiing skills. The Junior Racing Biathlon program for youth aged 12 to 18 who have completed the Radical Skiers program or reached a comparable level of skiing and training. The program provides biathletes the opportunity to develop their skiing and shooting skills with physical conditioning, shooting education and proper skiing techniques. The Junior Racing program follows Biathlon Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model. The Junior Racing Team will travel and compete at regional, provincial and national events

There is a mandatory joint participation in either RS-Unlimited or RS-Track Attack cross country ski programs. The group meets once a week starting in October until the end of March

.22 Program

In addition to the air rifle programs, Walden Biathlon Club offers a training program to biathletes “aiming” to compete with .22 calibre rifles at IBU (International Biathlon Union) level competitions such as Provincial Cups, North American Cups, and Nationals.

 

Walden Biathlon Club also offers opportunities for supporting, non-competitive member (parents, friends, older siblings, other interested parties) to gain training and experience as Biathlon coaches and/or officials.

All athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, as well as those participating in Biathlon Bears or other entry level programs at the club level, are required to be members of Biathlon Ontario ( www.biathlonontario.ca ) and the Walden Cross Country Fitness Club, in addition to their Walden Biathlon Club membership.

This membership in Biathlon Ontario includes membership in Biathlon Canada. Membership provides liability insurance for members participating in biathlon-related activities, and gives members the right to vote on how Biathlon Ontario governs the sport of Biathlon in Ontario. Membership provides eligibility to access Biathlon Ontario and Biathlon Canada Coaching and Officials Certification and Training Programs. A Competitor membership includes: eligibility to attend Biathlon Ontario sanctioned Athlete Training Camps; the right to participate (providing eligibility criteria are met) in all events sanctioned by Biathlon Ontario or any other provincial Division of Biathlon Canada, by national organizations such as Biathlon Canada and the United States Biathlon Association, and the IBU; and access to Coaching and Officials Programs offered. Your membership in Biathlon Ontario and Biathlon Canada provides funding to support Biathlon activities and programs in Walden and clubs across Canada through the development of quality programs and support materials for the Biathlon Bears and other athlete training programs; the development and maintenance of the Long Term Athlete Development Model for Biathlon; the development and facilitation of coach training programs and materials; and the development and facilitation of officials training programs and materials.

Membership options are: Non-Competitor – this includes coaches, officials, volunteers who help with programs and events, supporters of biathlon, and Recreational Athletes. A “Recreational Athlete” is defined by Biathlon Canada as someone who participates in “Club Only” activities. This does not include any events which include participants from outside of Walden Biathlon Club.

Competitor – Junior – age 10 to 14

Senior – age 15 to 34

Master – age 35+