Courtesy Photo | Guardsmen with the Alaska National Guard biathlon team participate in the Alaska...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska— After claiming first place at the 2014 National Guard Bureau’s Western Regional Biathlon and finishing third at the national biathlon competition, the Alaska National Guard biathlon team has been training all year in preparation for the upcoming season.
During summer months and as a result of the late snowfall this year, the team turned to alternate aerobic exercise and spent a lot of time on the rifle range to keep up the high level of physical fitness that the sport demands.
“Year round training is required for biathlon competitors,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Wilson, 38th Troop Command executive officer. “We maintain our aerobic fitness by roller skiing or if too slick, running. Rifle training continues regardless of the snow conditions.”
Biathlon is a winter sport that combines skiing and precision marksmanship. Participants alternate between skiing laps intended to get their heart rate up, and then transitioning to shooting small targets at 50 meters while attempting to control their breathing.
In addition to shooting and roller skiing all summer, several team members traveled to Jericho, Vt., for training camps and participated in additional U.S. Biathlon Association camps. In the past, NG biathlon members have gone on to represent the nation in various international competitions, including the Biathlon World Cup and the Winter Olympics.
Alaska Guardsman Spc. Tadhg Nakada, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, made the 2014 NG development team and is currently training in Canmore, Canada, in preparation for the USA Youth & Junior World Championship Biathlon Team trials that will be held in Anchorage this December.
According to Wilson, if Nakada wins a slot on the USA Junior Team he could go to the Junior World Biathlon Championships held in the Republic of Belarus next year.
The National Guard’s three 2015 Regional Biathlon competitions were canceled recently due to lack of funding. This results in the Alaska team automatically qualifying for the Chief of the National Guard Biathlon Championships that will be held in Camp Ripley, Minn., next February.
“This year we are qualifying all state teams to attend the event,” said Maj. Christopher Ruggerio, National Guard Biathlon coordinator. “We have limited the event from a 15-person team to a nine-person team and are leaving the selection process to each state to determine the team.”
The AKNG team consists of Air and Army Guardsmen from across the state, both men and women, enlisted and officers. They are always interested in Guardsmen who would like to join the team.
“We are still a young developing team,” explained Wilson. “I’m looking for accomplished cross country skiers with the interest, motivation and willingness to join the AKNG team and learn the biathlon sport.”
Wilson and Ruggerio are both looking forward to a great biathlon season and hoping to see participation from all states and territories.
| Date Taken: | 12.05.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.05.2014 14:45 |
| Story ID: | 149527 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 199 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Alaska Guardsmen train for national biathlon competitions, by Balinda ONeal, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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