Youth Biathlon Program
Biathlon for young aspiring athletes
Crosscut’s youth biathlon clubs support a fun, welcoming, safe environment for youth of all ages and abilities to train, grow, and make new friends along the way. With U12, U14, and U16/U18 groups training year-round, we provide an encouraging and safe coaching environment for young athletes and aspiring competitors.
Our Youth Biathlon Program is very popular!
The best way to become a new participant is to get on the waitlist as early as possible. If you are interested in our Youth Biathlon Program, please fill out an interest form today.
Coach Spotlight: Ann Sorenson
Ann was a member of the US National Summer Biathlon team for 10 years and traveled around the world competing. She enjoys introducing folks to Biathlon and watching the excitement when that first target falls! She passes along the fun, the challenge, and the opportunities the sport can bring with her positive and outgoing personality.
Summer Camps
Below is the information, schedule, and pricing for our Summer 2025 Biathlon Camps. Fill out a Youth Biathlon Interest Form if you are interested in registering for summer camp.
Our dryland biathlon training camps provide a safe, supportive environment for kids to gain an introduction and exposure to the sport of biathlon. The camps are held at Crosscut’s state-of-the-art biathlon stadium in Bridger Canyon.
For participants new to our biathlon program, one session of summer camp is a prerequisite to our Winter Biathlon Program
U12 Camp is for participants age 10-12 years old and U14 Camp is for participants age 13-17 years old — see the below section “What camp should my child join?” for more details
12 year olds previously enrolled in winter programs are enrolled in either U12 or U14 at coach’s discretion based on child’s physical size, rifle handling ability, and safety skills
U14 Camps are designed to prepare kids who are interested in joining the Youth Biathlon Team for the subsequent fall and winter programs and will also include rollerskiing.
Each U12 and U14 camp is four days long, 8:30am to 12:30pm Monday to Thursday
Transportation is provided from Story Mill Community Park to Crosscut each day of the camp
Cost for Summer 2025 is $300 for U12 camps and $315 for U14 camp
A 5% discount is offered for siblings attending camps the same week
We aim to provide accessible ways for everyone to enjoy more time spent outdoors, including ensuring programs are financially accessible and offer need-based scholarships and payment plans — contact us at camps@crosscutmt.org for more information
2025 Camp Dates & Times |
Ages |
Price |
|
June 30 - July 3, 8:30am - 12:30pm |
U12 (ages 10-12) |
$300 |
|
July 14-17, 8:30am - 12:30pm |
U14 (ages 12-17) |
$315 |
|
July 21-24, 8:30am - 12:30pm |
U12 (ages 10-12) |
$300 |
|
July 28-31, 8:30am - 12:30pm |
U12 (ages 10-12) |
$300 |
|
August 11-14, 8:30am - 12:30pm |
U14 (ages 12-17) |
$315 |
Which camp should my child join?
USBA Age = your child’s age on December 31st
If USBA Age is 10 or 11 → U12 Summer Camp
If USBA Age is 12 and child has no biathlon experience → U12 Summer Camp
If USBA Age is 13 or older and child has no biathlon experience → U14 Summer Camp
If USBA Age is 12 or 13 and child has biathlon experience → U14 Summer Camp
Please note: 12 year olds previously enrolled in winter programs are enrolled in either U12 or U14 at coach’s discretion based on child’s physical size, rifle handling ability, and safety skills
If USBA Age is 14 or older and child has biathlon experience → U16/18 Summer Training Program
Contact Ann Sorenson at ann@crosscutmt.org if your child does not fit in any of these categories or you have questions about placing your child.
Equipment
All youth biathlon participants need basic items (i.e. sports clothing and footwear, water bottle, snacks) and a detailed list will be sent at registration. Specialized equipment is listed below.
U12 Summer Camp – No specialized equipment needed.
U14 Summer Camp – Participants will receive a cuff for shooting from prone to keep at this camp. Participants need skate ski boots* & poles*, helmet, and high visibility shirt (rollerskis will be provided if needed).
U16/18 Practice – Participants need to bring their own cuff, watch/heart rate monitor, and rifle. In the summer, participants need skate ski boots* & poles*, helmet, and high visibility shirt (rollerskis will be provided if needed).
*Boots need to have NNN bindings to be compatible with Crosscut’s rollerskis. Poles for skate rollerskiing and skate skiing should be between the participant’s chin and nose; classic poles are too short.
Biathlon Supply Sites
Altius in West Yellowstone - http://www.altiusguns.com
Lost Nation in Vermont - https://lostnationrd.com
Rollerski Shop - http://www.Rollerskishop.com
Youth Biathlon Teams
Crosscut has three teams — U12 Team (ages 10-12), U14 Team (ages 12-13), and U16/18 Team (ages 14-17). These teams train for biathlon with the goal of competing in local, regional, national, and international biathlon races.
New for the 2025-26 season: Athletes on the U12, U14, and U16/18 Teams are required to also join a Nordic ski training program (i.e. Bridger Ski Foundation or Montana Endurance Academy) to complement their biathlon training. Crosscut’s training program focuses on shooting coaching.
The Youth Biathlon Program fees (in fall and winter) include coaching in biathlon, Crosscut Mountain Sports Center winter season passes, rifle use (U12 and U14 only), and ammunition for practices and races. U16/18 Team members are required to own their own biathlon rifle by September 1. We have a fun, supportive, safe team environment.
The Soren Joseph Hartnett Legacy Scholarship Fund offers a variety of scholarships to U12-U20 Nordic athletes in our community, including assisting in the purchase of a biathlon rifle. More information and application available here.
For the 2025-26 Fall and Winter Youth Biathlon teams, program details and registration will be released by April 30, 2025.
Fill out the Youth Biathlon Interest Form below to be considered for the team:
Youth Biathlon Interest Form
Complete this form if your child is new to the program or is interested in participating again after a break. Current Youth Biathlon families should contact their coach with questions about the program or placement.
Soren Joseph Hartnett was a member of the BSF Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon. He died July 18, 2020 after suffering a fatal heart arrhythmia due to previously undiagnosed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. He collapsed on July 15 while doing what he loved most, training with his Bridger Ski Foundation Nordic ski teammates. After his death, his liver and both kidneys were donated to 3 young transplant recipients and gave them a new chance at life.
Soren started biathlon at age 8 to be with his buddies. This interest developed into a strong passion for Biathlon and Nordic Skiing. Soren put all of his energy into it and was on a team representing the United States in biathlon in Norway in the winter of 2019-20. A talented and dedicated athlete, Soren kept at it even when competing against 1100 Norwegians.
He also loved backpacking with his crew, mountain biking, running with his team and playing the fiddle. He was central to Bozeman’s Nordic skiing and Biathlon community and his passing left many of us in overwhelming grief.
His family, parents Mary and Douglas and brother Rowland, created the Soren Joseph Hartnett Legacy Scholarship Fund in his memory to support skiers training with BSF Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon. This scholarship fund has been set up to provide financial assistance to young athletes pursuing Nordic skiing and biathlon with Bridger Ski Foundation Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon, and to provide AED funding for youth athletic groups in the Gallatin Valley.