Ski, shoot, succeed

Demanding an extraordinary combination of physical endurance and pinpoint shooting accuracy, modern biathlon has evolved from its military roots but a strong connection remains

- Written by Felix Petit

TO BE a good biathlete you must ski fast and shoot well.

” On the surface, former French biathlon Olympic champion Vincent Defrasne’s advice sounds manageable.

However, having dabbled in this snowy endurance sport as a subaltern on 'Exercise White Fist', I can confirm this is an oversimplification. Langlauf skiing uphill demands a figure skater's coordination, and to hit the necessary targets while exhausted requires the poise of Annie Oakley on beta blockers.

In its most basic form, modern biathlon consists of cross-country skiing in loops around a predetermined course with a round of target shooting each lap. Competitors have to carry their own rifle for the entirety of the race, and once each circuit they must stop and fire at five targets that are electronically covered when hit. The shooting takes place from both the prone position and standing unsupported, with targets set up at a distance of 50 metres. Depending on the format, each target missed means a one-minute penalty added to the race time or competitors must ski a 150-metre penalty loop.

Most of those trying the sport for the first time settle for wheezing up the slopes and thanking their lucky stars for any shooting success. In sharp contrast, the biathletes on the world cup circuit are sinewy racing snakes with lungs the size of wheelie bins who float effortlessly over the snow before hitting all their targets in rapid order.