Crosscut Community Biathlon Race — “Pursuit”

Crosscut will host two Citizen Biathlon Races during the winter of 2022-23. The first on Saturday, January 21, 2023 will be a sprint format and the second on Saturday March 18, 2023 will be a “pursuit” format.

We invite the community to come join us for these fun races and learn about biathlon. No prior experience with biathlon is necessary. Ammo and rifle will be provided to participants in the novice category. A novice safety and training session will be held the morning of the race (mandatory for all novices). Crosscut’s biathlon coaches will be on hand to go over safety protocols and zero rifles. This is a great opportunity for the biathlon-curious to experience the sport!

Race Format

Community Race

For the novice race, we invite the community to come join us for a fun race and learn about biathlon. No prior experience with biathlon is necessary. Ammo and rifle will be provided to participants. A novice safety and training session will be held the morning of the race (mandatory for all novice racers). Crosscut’s biathlon coaches will be on hand to go over safety protocols and zero rifles. This is a great opportunity for the biathlon-curious to experience the sport!

IBU Category Competition Race

The competition race will feature racers of multiple IBU classes from around the region.

Race Format

The Novice and U13 race will be conducted on a shorter, flatter course. It will feature 3 laps (1.5km) and 2 shooting bouts, with penalty loops (150m) for missed targets. Novices will shoot off of a block, and they will not ski with rifles. This race will use 30 second interval starts.

The IBU/USBA category competition race will feature three courses — a longer, steeper 2.5km course and a 2.0km, slightly less steep course, and a 1.5km moderate course. The format for all will be a skate ski “pursuit” with 15 second interval starts, penalty loops (150m) for missed targets, and consist of 5 skiing laps and 4 shooting bouts (PPSS).

Race distances and categories are as follows:

12.5km (5 laps x 2.5km): Men in the following categories – Senior (22-35) & Junior (19/20/21) & Youth (17/18) & U17* (16/15)
10km (5 laps x 2km): Women in the following categories – Senior (22-35) & Junior (19/20/21) & Youth (17/18) & U17* (16/15)
7.5km (5 laps x 1.5km): Masters Men & Women and U15* Men & Women
4.5km (3 laps x 1.5km): Novice** Men & Women and U13** Men & Women

* U15 and U17 racers will do a rack-to-rack race, i.e. will not carry rifles on course.
** Rifles for U13 and Novice racers will remain at shooting points

All competitors will either need to be USBA (United States Biathlon Association) members or pay a one-day membership fee of $10 during registration.

Registration & Volunteer Opportunities

We will be capping the number of novice racers at 50. Novice races require a lot of hands-on assistance from staff and volunteers. We have determined that capping the number of novice racers is the best to ensure a safe and enjoyable race for all. There will be no cap for the competition race.

Registration will closes Thursday March 16th at 5pm. No race-day registration.

register here

We would be so grateful if you would take a look at the options on the volunteer sign-up sheet and consider volunteering for the event — an event like this truly takes a village! There are morning and afternoon slots for everything from parking lot duty and range setup to penalty loop and scoring tracking. Thank you!

Volunteer Sign Up

Schedule

Competition Race Schedule

8:30-9:-00am – Competition racers check in at the Crosscut Biathlon Stadium (racers receive bibs and timing chips)

9:00-9:45am – Zeroing for IBU Classes U14 and up (competition racers ages U14 and up need to arrive on the range, knowing their zeroing time and lane and ready to begin zeroing at 9am; lanes will be assigned the afternoon before the race and included in the pre-race racer email; novice racers do not zero)

9:45-9:50am – Competition racers remove all personal belongings from the range, including rifles

10:00am – Start of Competition Race U14 and up (single starts at 30 second intervals; start list sent to racers the afternoon before the event and posted to the information board at the event)

12:00pm – Awards for Competition Race

Novice Race Schedule

Novice Racers include U13 IBU category racers and novice category racers

9:00am-12:00pm – Novice/U13 racers check in at the Crosscut Biathlon Stadium (racers receive bibs and timing chips)

12:15-12:45pm – Mandatory Novice Clinic (all novice racers must attend the novice clinic)

1:00pm – Start of Novice/U13 Race

2:30pm – Awards for Novice/U13 Race

Class order and start list will be assigned after registration closes on March 16th at 5pm.

USBA Membership

Competitors will either need to be USBA (United States Biathlon Association) members or pay a one-day membership fee of $10 during registration.

Parking

Race parking will be in Crosscut’s Lot D adjacent to the new Biathlon Stadium. This lot is accessed from the Bridger Bowl road. See parking map for info.