Due to popular demand, we are adding some winter biathlon races for novices. Similar to our summer Singletrack Shootout event but on skis, the Bayley-Hazen Biathlon Races will include beginner clinics under the guidance of expert instructors, and races for both novices and experts. This is your chance to try this wildly popular Olympic sport!
2024 Bayley-Hazen Biathlon
We'll be holding the second of two citizens biathlon races on Sunday, March 17th. Come give biathlon a try, no matter your experience level! New to biathlon? A novice clinic will teach you rifle safety and shooting basics that you'll need to know to complete the four stage race. Club rifles will be provided. Ski instruction and equipment is not included- participants must know how to ski.
Schedule -
Friday, March 15
Registration closes at 8:00pm. NO day-of-race registration.
Sunday, March 17
Experienced Race Schedule:
7:45-8:45am - Bib pick-up open for Experienced Race at event barn in the stadium
8:00-8:50am - Experienced Race Zero
9:00am - Experienced Race start (wave starts)
Novice Race Schedule:
9:00-10:00am Bib pick-up open for Novice Race at event barn in the stadium
10:00am Novice safety talk and clinic (required) at the shooting range
11:00am - Novice Race start (wave starts)
Awards will be held at the conclusion of both races.
NOTE: The exact start wave schedule is TBD, based on number of entries.
Race format
All categories will complete a four stage biathlon race: lap, shoot, lap, shoot, lap, shoot, lap, shoot, lap. So that’s starting with a lap, four shooting stages, and ending with a lap. For each miss, there will be a short penalty lap to complete before returning to the course. Ski technique will be skate.
In the context of this event kids are anyone ages 9-15 as of 31 December 2023.
Novice category (limit 80 competitors)
For anyone not bringing their own rifle. Club rifles and ammo will be provided. All shooting will be prone (lying down), using a support block for the rifle. Targets will be set to standing (bigger) targets. Competitors will shoot using a block and rifles will stay on the shooting mats at all times.
Expert category (limit 45 competitors)
The expert category is intended for experienced biathletes who are bringing their own rifle. Competitors in the expert category must have a current USBA or Biathlon Canada membership. There will be a zero period before race as stated in schedule.
Adults will shoot two prone stages on prone targets and then two standing stages on standing targets.
Kids will shoot four prone stages: first two on small (prone) targets and second two on large (standing) targets.
Experienced athletes shoot with a cuff (no block) and carry their rifles for the whole course. We can accommodate kids in the expert category who aren't ready to carry for the whole course or shoot with a cuff. These kids must be able to pick up a rifle off a rack at the start of the range and put it on safely, carry it to their shooting mat, shoot independently on both small and big targets, and return the rifle to a rack at the end of the rack with the bolt open. If an athlete isn't ready for this, they should sign up as novice.
Courses
1.4 km loop for adults (7 km)
0.6 km loop for kids (3 km total)
*As always, courses subject to change based on snow conditions, but this is our plan. If we have enough snow we may send the kids course up the “Pipeline” hill between the stadiums instead of the steeper “Chip Hill.”