Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 40 HERE'S A ROUNDUP OF SEVERAL PLACES TO GET YOUR BIATHLON FIX THIS WINTER SEELEY LAKE, MISSOULA COUNTY Seeley Lake's Nordic ski course is proud to host a yearly biathlon for all ages and abilities, with a shooting range specifically set up for the event. Volunteers are on-hand to assist novices with the rifles. The course consists of three loops of three kilometers, making for a 9k course. Visit seeleylakenordic.org, or email info@SeeleyLakeNordic.org. BOHART RANCH, BOZEMAN Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center is home to the Bridger Biathlon Club. The course's state-of-the-art shooting range makes this a destina- tion for biathlon events. Come to one of the Try-It Biathlon days or cheer on your local biathlon club at one of their races. Schedule and info at bohartranchxcski.com or bridgerbiathlonclub.org. RENDEZVOUS SKI TRAILS, WEST YELLOWSTONE West Yellowstone is a hotbed of winter activities, and Rendezvous Ski Trails is no exception. They host the popular SPAM Cup Citizen Race Series and Biathlon Cup Race Series throughout the winter, plus other opportunities. Visit skirunbikemt.com/spam-cup, or visit destinationyellowstone.com, then search "Rendezvous Ski Trails." a rifle. Don't worry, they have vol- unteers on hand to keep everything running smoothly, a good thing when firearms are involved. Bridger Biathlon is at the center of the growing biathlon trend. e club operates out of Bohart Ranch near Bridger Bowl. e Bridger Biathlon Club was founded in November 2013 and currently has over 30 youth participants. e club hosts multiple events each year, travels to other races, and runs biathlon camps for kids. e popular "Try It Biathlon" is for anyone in the community who is interested in biathlon, but hasn't had an opportunity to try it out. West Yellowstone boasts the largest open-to-the-public biathlon course in the West, hosting com- petitions and training: everything from local clubs to top athletes training for world competitions. Marc Sheppard is front and center of the biathlon activity in West Yellowstone. After spending years traveling the world in international biathlon competition, Marc turned his affinity for work- ing on the specialized rifles and biathlon gear into a year-round business in 2003. Today, Altius Handcrafted Firearms is the only comprehensive biathlon gear manufacturer in the U.S. Biathlon can be expensive to get into, but the cost is relatively low once you're geared up. Bi- athletes need a .22 caliber, custom-built rifle that can fire accurately in extremely cold tempera- tures. A full biathlon setup will run around $4,000, including the rifle, a harness for carrying the rifle, a sling for shooting in prone, and other accessories. Safety concerns can raise a red flag for some people. Grade-school kids ski racing and shooting a rifle? Sounds sketchy. But Sheppard is quick to point out that before any child picks up a rifle or enters a biathlon program, they are put through comprehensive safety training, consistently reinforced during practices. Beyond that, children under the age of 14 do not carry their rifles while skiing the course. ey ski one loop, arrive at the shooting range, receive their KAREN JENNINGS

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