Late June Update
A good mix of new and old participants at our June 22nd clinic and sprint race. Thanks to everyone who showed up and all our volunteers who made it happen. Results for the sprint race can be found at the link below. This was just the start of the summer season with a lot more happening. Our next event will be the Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit Weekend being held at Osceola Ski & Sport on July 6th & 7th. This is a two race weekend (sprint on Saturday, pursuit on Sunday) sponsored by both Syracuse and Polar Bear (Old Forge) Biathlon clubs. You can pre-register at skireg.org (link below). You can race both races, Saturday only, or Sunday only depending on yur schedule. Novices are welcome and we'll hold the usual rifle safety training session each day. This is also a good opportunity to complete the new US Biathlon Association Rifle Safety assessment (see the link on the left side). Lots of dates and club info coming out in the next email blast so keep an eye on your inbox!
Summer Biathlon Clinic & Sprint Race
We're kicking off the summer biathlon season with our biathlon clinic and sprint race at Pratt's Falls Park on Saturday, June 22nd. If you've never tried biathlon before, this is a great opportunity to take part in an extended clinic to learn the basics in a small group setting. For the experienced biathlete, this is the chance to get a solid training day in and pickup a few tips along the way. All participants will have the chance to show off their improved skills in a short (~4km) sprint format race following the clinic. This is open to anyone 13 years and older who is interested in giving biathlon a try. Details and registration can be found at the link below. We can always use extra hands to setup/officiate/teardown so if you're able to help, just let us know at the volunteer sign-up link. If you have any questions, just email info@syracusebiathlon.com and we'll get right back to you.
Important rifle safety update for all competitors (Part 2)!!
The National program for rifle safety training certification is up and running with the expectation that it will be the only allowed system for rifle safety certification starting this fall. It is highly recommended that any biathlon competitor (new or old) complete this as soon as possible to make sure that you are not turned away from an event. There is a new page (see left side menu) with the necessary information to complete this training. If you have any difficulty accessing the training course or if the instructions are no longer accurate, please use the 'Contact Us' menu and let us know so it can be investigated.
Important rifle safety update for all competitors!!
US Biathlon has updated the rifle safety training for both new participants and veteran competitors. This is now an online process that must be completed prior to attending a race. To access the training, goto center.usbiathlon.org and log-in (if you're a current USBA member) or create a free account. Once logged in, go to the 'Education' section and select 'U.S. Biathlon Courses'. Complete 'Basic Rifle Safety Course' which will be a short presentation followed by a quiz. This is best done on a computer rather than a cell phone. Do not go to a race hoping to complete it there as venues will not be setup for access and this will probably take you 20 minutes or so.
Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit Weekend
The annual pursuit championship weekend hosted by Syracuse and Polar Bear Biathlon will be held on Saturday & Sunday, February 10th & 11th. Both days will be at the Osceola Ski & Sport Resort with registration available at skireg.org (links below). We always need volunteers to make our races a success so if you are able to help for a couple of hours on either day, let us know you're coming via the volunteer sign-up link below or just stop by the range the morning of the event. Please note that the Sunday race has a later start time than normal due to another event occurring that morning. If you have any questions ahead of time, reach out to info@syracusebiathlon.com.
Have you always wanted to give biathlon a try but weren't ready to take part in a race? Now's your chance for a low pressure day to learn and experience everything about the sport. The Syracuse and Polar Bear (Old Forge) biathlon clubs will be holding a "Try-It' clinic on Saturday, October 21st at the Osceola Ski & Sport Resort. This will be a fun day to learn how to safely handle rifles, the basic rules of biathlon and then try out your shooting skills on the range. Club members will be available each step of the way to instruct and support you as you experience the challenge that is biathlon. The entry fee of just $35 will cover the fee for the clinic, use of a rifle during the event, all the necessary ammo and the US Biathlon Member-for-a-Day insurance. If you've ever wanted to learn more, this will be a great opportunity! Sign up at the link below:
August 19th Races Are Cancelled
Unfortunately, we are cancelling the August 19th races due to a lack of volunteers. This essentially boils down to a safety issue where there is too much risk to hold the events without enough people working the various areas of the race. If you are looking to get in some more races before the end of summer, Saratoga Biathlon will be holding a weekend event on the 26th so be sure to give them a try.
IMPORTANT!!
We are in a critical need of volunteers for the August 19th races. Safety is always our number one priority and we need 4-5 people offering to help out on race day to make this event happen. If you can help out during the races, please let us know via the volunteer sign-up page before Tuesday (8/15) at 8am otherwise we will need to cancel the event. Also, if you are planning on racing, be sure to pre-register before Thursday night to help insure that we have enough competitors to make the race a go!
Registration for the August 19th running and mt. bike biathlon races at Osceola are now open. Race details and pre-registration for the race can be found at the link below. Be sure to sign-up early so we can plan for the event and you save $5 over day-of-race entry. We are also short-handed on volunteers for these races and need a handful of people to offer to help out. Let us know that you can lend a hand for the date through the volunteer sign-up page.
Congratulation to Shelly Jones and Mike Jones, our 2023 Summer Pursuit Challenge Weekend Champions!. Another great day for biathlon & thanks to everyone who came out. Results for the pursuit race can be found at the link below.
Day one of the Syracuse/Polar Bear Biathlon Pursuit Challenge Weekend in in the books! Thanks to all the competitors and volunteers that turned out. Results for the sprint race can be found at the link below.
Registration is now open for the Syracuse/Polar Bear (Old Forge) Pursuit Challenge Weekend. Details and pre-registration can be found at the link below. Can you help out during the event? Let us know you'll be able to lend a hand at the volunteer sign-up.
The ominous forecast of thunderstorms for the June clinic and race ended up being a decent day with just a few raindrops. A good mix of old and new biathletes turned out to get in a solid training day followed up with sprint time trial. Thanks to all our volunteers for putting on a great event & extra thanks to Dinnie & Lisa Sloman for stepping up as race directors for the day!
A beautiful, end-of-season winter day at Osceola Ski & Sport met those folks taking part in our last winter event of the season. This was a two-person team relay event except for those who wanted an extra challenge and skied both legs themselves. Thanks to all the volunteers who turned out to make the day a success. Results can be found through the link below:
Thanks to everyone who took part in our winter races this year either as a competitor or volunteer!! A big thanks to Osceola Ski & Sport who hosts our events and does such a great job with the grooming and setup. Plans are in the works for summer races so stay tuned.
Registration is now open for our last winter race of the season. This will be a two-person team relay format so you can race with a friend or we'll find you a teammate. Want a longer, more challenging race? You can be your own team and ski both legs of the race. Details for this event can be found at the registration page below. We always need a bunch of volunteers to make these races a success so if you can help out just let us know on the volunteer sign-up page.
It took a few date changes but we were able to get the 2023 Winter Syracuse-Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge Weekend into the books. A double-header event at Osceola Ski & Sport allowed us to crown this years champions. Congratulations go out to repeat champions - Stina Bridgeman and Gary Brackett!! Gary was able to hold off an impressive challenge from Noah Kenyon in the pursuit to take the title by 40 seconds. As time penalties were used for these events, this was the difference of one miss out of thirty the thirty shots taken over the day. Thanks for everyone who took part and a big 'Thank You' to our volunteers and Osceola Ski & Sport who made these races possible.
A small but enthusiastic group turned out for the mt. bike biathlon on the 20th. Congratulations go out to Brayden Ashby who used some good shooting and solid speed on the bike to take the top spot. First timer Shelly Jones was also impressive hitting 16 out of 20 targets in her first race. Results for all competitors can be found at the link below. This likely to be the end of our summer events for the season but there may be a something added if we can find the time. A big thank you goes out to all our volunteers and participants who help out with setup & teardown at our events. Your assistance makes a huge difference and helps us continue to hold these events. Looking forward to seeing you this winter!!
Mt. Bike Biathlon Registration Now Open
Our August event is going to be a Mt. Bike biathlon format race being held at the Osceola Ski & Sport Resort on Saturday, August 20th. Pre-registration is now open so be sure to enter as early as possible to guarantee your spot and help us plan for the day. If you're new to biathlon, this race is open to anyone 13 and older who completes a mandatory rifle safety/biathlon orientation session the morning of the race. Your entry fee includes the use of a rifle during the event along with the necessary ammo. The format for all competitors will be a modified pursuit format (interval starts, four shooting stops) with a total course distance between 7.5 to 10km. Details can be found on the registration page and any additional questions can be sent to info@syracusebiathlon.com for more info. We always need more volunteers in order to make these events happen so if you are just interested in watching, we can give you an up-close spot while you lend a hand. Just let us know you'll be there by using the volunteer sign-up page or stop out to the range on race morning and ask for Pete.
Mt. Bike Biathlon Volunteer Sign-up
Syracuse-Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge Weekend Results
It was a very warm weekend for the SBC/PB Pursuit Championship Weekend but a good time was had by all. Both days of this competition were held at the Osceola Ski and Sport Resort which provided challenging trials and a great range. Congratulations go out to Ann and Scott Sick who defended their championship from last year. Ann ran away with the women's division while Scott had to hold off Dinnie Sloman on Sunday to take the win. A good mix of novice and experienced biathletes took part each day with several new faces trying biathlon for the first time. Our next event will be a Mt. Bike biathlon format race in August so keep an eye out for details.
Saturday Sprint Results
Syracuse-Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge Weekend
The
Syracuse and Polar Bear (Old Forge) Biathlon Clubs will be jointly
holding the annual Pursuit Challenge Weekend. This year, both days of
competition are going to be held at the Osceola Ski & Sport Resort
with the spring format race on Saturday followed by the pursuit format
on Sunday. Additionally, we will be having a fun event following the
sprint race on Saturday to make the trip even more worthwhile (Don't
expect adherence to IBU rules for that one though). This event is open
to anyone 13 and older with first-timers and novices welcome to join
in. First-timers must complete a mandatory rifle safety/biathlon
session which will be held each day before the race. We will also have
club rifles available for your use during the event and provide the
necessary ammo which is included in your entry fee. Details and
pre-registration can be found at the link below or contact
info@syracusebiathlon.com with any questions. Note, if you can only take
part on one of the days, don't hesitate to register - it is not
mandatory to race both days. We also need as many volunteers as possible
so if you can help out (or know of someone who might be interested), be
sure to let us know through the volunteer sign-up below.
Pursuit Weekend Volunteer Sign-up
June Race Results
A solid group turned out to Pratt's Falls Park on June 18th to take part in the first Syracuse summer event of the year with a clinic and sprint race event. A good mix of new and experienced biathletes spend the morning working on shooting drills followed up with a sprint format race on the trails of the park. Results for the race can be found at the link below. Keep an eye open for more information on our upcoming weekend event with the Polar Bear club in July!
PURSUIT RACE CANCELLED!!
Just a heads up that the pursuit race in Osceola on Sunday, March 20th has been cancelled. The warm temps along with the rain forecasted for Friday and Saturday has wiped out any snow in open field areas such as the range and penalty loop. Trails are still mostly skiable so if you want to get in one last ski of the season be sure to get out there today (maybe tomorrow).
Eleven teams survived the rough drive to Osceola for the team relay event on March 12th. Race conditions were slightly better than in February but it was still a challenging day with snow and wind. At least the targets were visible this time! One more event on the schedule with the pursuit race of the Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit weekend challenge being held on Sunday, March 20th at Osceola Ski & Sport. We're watching the snow conditions and should have a decision on Friday evening. Results for the team relay and a link for registering for the pursuit race are below.
The March 12th (Saturday) race is a go! Osceola has solid snow coverage and we'll be getting plenty over the next 12 hours. Driving conditions may be a bit rough so give yourself a little extra time in the morning. If you did not pre-register, try to be at registration when it opens (8am) so that we will be able to get you partnered with relay teammate.
One more race for the winter season (and a bonus race). Syracuse Biathlon will be holding a team relay format race on Saturday, March 12th at Osceola Ski & Sport. Mass start, extra rounds, tag zones - what more could you ask for? Registration for competitors is now open at the link below. Want to help out at the race? Let us know you'll be coming at the sign-up below or see one of us at the range the morning of the event.
Now the bonus event. The pursuit portion of the Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge Weekend had to be cancelled due to flooding/ice in Old Forge before the Feb. 20th race. In order to finish off the pursuit weekend challenge, Old Forge will be hosting the pursuit race but at Osceola Ski & Sport on Sunday, March 20th. Competitors will be sent out in the order of their finish at the Syracuse sprint race. If you weren't able to make the sprint race, you can still jump in on the pursuit race. Registration for this event should be available in the next day or two at Skireg.
Congratulations to everyone who took part in the February race! After being suckered in with decent weather through the zero session, snow squalls set in right at the start of the race. Competitors and officials alike were left trying to even see the targets through the snow that was coming down at an amazing rate. This also caused problems with many rifles with sights getting blocked and firing pins failing. The snow tapered off after about 30 minutes only for high, swirling winds to move in and wreak havoc with the shooting. Anyone who made it through this day was certainly a winner! A big shout out all our volunteers who stood out in the elements to keep the race going and making sure everything was done safely. Results for the day can be found at the link below. Next up will be our last race for the winter on Saturday, March 12th. We're still discussing the race format along with the Polar Bear Club possibly adding in another race so we can close out the Pursuit Weekend. Look for registration to open this week.
Final Update
Osceola continues to live up to it's Snow Capital reputation and has easily survived the warm temps and rain. Conditions should be very good with cold temps and some snow for the race so it's definitely still on. There are about 10 spots still open so if you've been on the fence you can still join in by registering at Osceola Ski & Sport Resort in the morning. Registration will start at 8, Zero at 9, Start at 10.
February 15th Update - First off, just a reminder that online race registration closes Thursday night at 10pm. There will be day-of-race entries accepted but will have a $5 additional charge and will be subject to our cap of 50 competitors. If you think you are going to race, be sure register ahead of time at the links below. Second, there's some crazy weather heading our way over the next two days with temps in the upper 40's and likely some rain before returning to winter temperatures. At this time, Osceola should have enough snow to get through the warm spell and we expecting to be able to hold the race. We will be doing some setup on Friday so will have an update on conditions at that point. Stay tuned!!
Were you watching biathlon at the Winter Olympics and wondering how you could ever do that? Now's your chance with the Syracuse Biathlon Club! We hold events in both the winter and summer that are designed to get people started with the sport. If you are 13 or older and are able to ski 5-7km then this is for you. We'll provide a mandatory rifle safety/introduction to biathlon clinic the morning of the race to give you the basics to have a safe and fun day. We also provide the use of a rifle and ammo as part of your entry fee so you just need to provide your own ski equipment (rentals are available). For the under-13 crowd, we do offer paintball events on occasion so keep an eye out for those. If you're interested in racing, be sure to sign up at the links below or contact Pete at info@syracusebiathlon.com with any questions.
Winter is back and it's time for biathlon again in Osceola! We have two events scheduled this winter season kicking off with a pursuit weekend in conjunction with the Polar Bear (Old Forge) Biathlon Club. Syracuse Biathlon will be hosting the sprint format race on Saturday, February 19th at Osceola Ski & Sport. This event is open to anyone 13 and older ready to give biathlon a try. We can always use volunteers to help make this race possible so if you'd like to help out please let us know and you'll get a close up view of the race. Registration for both the Syracuse Sprint race and the Polar Bear Pursuit are now open at the links below.
It's been a struggle to get our summer events planned for this year but we're ready to get some biathlon going! Things are starting off with a clinic and sprint race on Saturday, July 10th at Pratt's Falls Park. You can take part in both the clinic and the race or just one of them if you like. Details can be found on the registration page below. Online registration closes Thursday, July 8th at 10pm. Day-of-race entries will be accepted but will have a $5 higher entry fee so sign up early if possible. We can always use more help at these events so if you prefer to volunteer (or bring a friend) signup up at the volunteer link or ask for Pete the morning of the event.
There's
two more events scheduled after this and will be hosted at the new
range at Osceola Ski and Sport. We'll kick off with the Syracuse/Polar
Bear Pursuit Weekend Challenge on July 30th/August 1st. Both events
will be in Osceola with Polar Bear hosting the sprint race on Saturday
and Syracuse the pursuit event on Sunday. This will be followed up by a
mt. bike biathlon on Saturday, August 21st at Osceola. Another perk of
the new venue is that we can hold this format once again. It's a fun
change and allows non-runners to try out summer biathlon. There is also
a 6-hour timed fun bike race the following day out of Osceola so you
can make it a full weekend if you have the energy. Registration for
these events will open after the July 10th race.
One more winter event this year on Saturday, March 20th. There will be limitations to participation in this race due to Covid precautions so be sure to read the information on the registration page thoroughly so that there are no surprises on race morning. We hate turning people away but we also want everyone to be safe. A reminder that this is being held at our new venue - Osceola Ski & Sport Resort which is just down the road from the old venue.
Our first winter event on Saturday, January 18th (along with Old Forge on the 19th) has been cancelled due to a lack of snow. There's some light snow in the forecast but not enough until the weekend to get things back into racing conditions. Our other winter race will be on Saturday, March 21st and we'll have registration for that event open soon.
Another summer season in the books and time to start thinking about the winter. We wrapped up the Syracuse season with the "What The??? biathlon race followed up with a fun two-person team relay event that raised funds for Maddie Phaneuf from Old Forge as she works to make the US National Biathlon Team. Through the many purchases of race advantages and sabotaging of other teams along with donations from many generous folks we raised over $350 dollars for Maddie. After all the wheeling-and-dealing, the team of Janine Phaneuf and Kurt Donath came out on top. The main event saw a new format along with a new trail course that we may incorporate next year. This also wrapped up the inaugural Syracuse/Polar Bear Summer Point Series with the following people leading the pack.
Martha Hampshire - Novice Female
Martin Kelly - Novice Male
Caroline Martin - 18 and under Female
Nathan Collinsworth - 18 and under Male
Stina Bridgeman - Over 18 Female
Mitch Collinsworth - Over 18 Male
Congratulations to our champions especially to Martha and Mitch who were the only ones to complete all six events in the series. All champs will be receiving a recognition award for their accomplishment. Complete final standings and race results can be found at the links below.
New Swag Alert!! - Baseball hats are back in stock so get them before they disappear. This is the most requested item over the past year so don't miss out. Club members got first chance at these as one of the benefits of being an SBC member (and saving $5) so consider joining if you're not a current member. Email info@syracusebiathlon.com if you'd like one held for you until the next event or to arrange shipping. Cost is $20 for SBC members, $25 for non-members and $7 shipping for one hat, $10 for two or more. See the SBC Gear section on the left for photos.
One more summer race for the season and this should be a good time. We're going to start off with the "What The??" biathlon race on Saturday, September 14th. Hate the sprint format? Hate the pursuit format? Good, because we're going with three shooting stops (prone/standing/prone) and four running loops. We may even be throwing a different trail setup at you so this will be interesting. This is also the last chance to earn points for the Syracuse/Polar Bear Summer Points Series. It's not over until it's over so come on out to defend your position or move up a couple of spots.
As we do with many of our last races of the season we are going to use the opportunity as a fund raiser for a NY biathlete working on making the US National team. This year we're going to help out Maddie Phaneuf from Old Forge who was a 2018 Olympian and is back working to get on the National Team after taking a year off. We'll be holding a fun, semi-serious two person relay shortly after the "What The??" event. How does this raise money you may ask? Well, by donating cash you can buy your team advantages in the event or disadvantages to other teams. Don't like penalty loops? Pre-pay so you don't have to run them. Want 10 rounds to hit five targets? We'll sell you the extra rounds. A complete list of opportunities will be available before the start of the race so you can strategize but be sure to bring cash!! 100% of all donations for the relay go directly to Maddie and support her training.
Not done yet! We'll offer a paintball event for the 12 and under crowd at the end so if anyone is interested be sure to get them signed up ahead of time as we won't bring the gear unless we know there will be interest.
Last thing - We've been struggling the past few years with folks not registering until the last moment. We understand wanting to wait on the weather and other commitments but it is impacting our management of the race. Typically we end online registration two days before the event but we are going to try out ending it three days before. Hopefully this way we can get a grasp on the number of participants a little earlier and if it looks like a low turn-out we can make a decision on cancellation in a timely manner. Don't get caught on the earlier cut-off!
Another clinic and race in the books! The rain and wind held off just long enough to get things wrapped up and put away. Good thing as a big tree came down across the range approach trail after we were done. Thanks to everyone who came out and all our volunteers that made the day possible. Links to the results and updated Syracuse/Polar Bear Point Series are below. One more event coming before winter and you'll not want to miss this one. Details coming soon!!
Things are a go for the August 17th clinic and sprint race! If you didn't register online, entries will be accepted the morning of the event (Clinic by 8:45, Sprint Race by 10:45). The weather looks we may get some rain so come prepared. We'll have tents out on the range during the clinic so we can stay dry while working on drills. This is this last clinic for the year so take advantage (and the first 15 registered get a coupon for free ice cream from Hilltop Ice Cream just south of Pratt's Falls). Event details can still be found at the registration link below.
Another great Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge Weekend is in the books! A small but enthusiastic crowd turned out at both venues to make for a fun weekend. When all was said and done, Craig Wiggers took home the men's championship over Mitch Collinsworth. Unfortunately, we had no women completing both days in the non-novice group so we are without a women's champion this summer. Besides being the pursuit weekend this pair of events offered double points in the Syracuse/Polar Bear Point Series standings which is making things interesting. Just two more events to go with a sprint race/clinic on August 17th and a final event on September 15th with a format TBA. Links below will get you all the updates you need!
Thanks to all our participants at the June 22nd clinic and race and extra thanks to all our volunteers for all your hard work. Results from the sprint event can be found at the link below. The 1st set of standings of the Syracuse/Polar Bear Summer Point Series are also now available. There's still five events to earn points with the next chance at Old Forge on June 30th with their sprint race (registration available on skireg.com).
Registration for both days of July's Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge is now open!! Race one or both days starting with a sprint format race at Pratt's Falls on Saturday followed by the pursuit format race at McCauley Mt. in Old Forge on Sunday. A great opportunity to earn toward the Summer Point Series standings plus get 2X on Age Group and Shooting points this weekend only. Syracuse will also be holding a paintball biathlon for our 12 and under crew.
Just a quick note to let everyone know that we have finally put together a summer schedule and are introducing a new summer points series in cooperation with the Polar Bear (Old Forge) biathlon club. Details & registration info will be posted shortly but here's our schedule:
September 14 - TBA Format & Kids Paintball
August 17 - Clinic & Sprint Race
July 13 - Sprint Format & Kids Paintball (Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge Weekend)
June 22 - Clinic & Sprint Race
We are going to continue to offer two clinics/biathlon instruction but are adding in a summer race afterwards open to anyone interested. With Polar Bear's races there will be a total of six events in the point series. And yes, the SBC/PB Pursuit Weekend Challenge will continue and is part of the point series. Check back soon for more info!
Wow! A great day in Osceola with a super turnout of competitors and a great crew of hard working volunteers. The paintballer's also had a great time showing the adults how targets are to be hit & all walked away with a new SBC button. Sub-zero temperatures in the early hours of setup gave way to blue sky, sunshine and temps in the 30's by race time. A big thanks to everyone who turned out for our last race of the winter season and we look forward to seeing you at our summer events later this year.
One more winter event this season! We're going to get the Syracuse/Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge accomplished on the weekend of March 9th. Syracuse Biathlon will be holding the first day of competition at the Osceola Tug Hill Ski Center and Polar Bear at McCauly Mountain in Old Forge on Sunday. Formats are kind of up in the air at the moment so be prepared for last minute changes & check back for updates. We will also be offering a paintball event on Saturday if there is interest from the 12 and under crowd. Links and info for all events are listed below.
Saturday gave us one of the best race days in Osceola with sun, cool temperatures and fast trails. Thanks to everyone who came out to race and especially to those who helped setup, teardown and lend a hand during the race. A great turnout for the paintball event also with many kids getting their first taste of biathlon. Registration for the March race will be up soon. Due to Old Forge's cancellation we will try to hold it as part of the March race if the details can be worked out.
Pursuit Weekend Update
Saturday's sprint event at Osceola is on with good conditions reported and more snow expected overnight. Expect temps in the mid-teens so come prepared to stay warm. The paintball event is also scheduled to be held after the sprint race.
The pursuit event at Old Forge on Sunday has been cancelled due to loss of snow in the range area and trails leading to the range.
January Race Registration Open!
Online registration for our Saturday, January 26th event is now available. This will be a sprint event and is the first day of the NY/Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge weekend. We will also be holding a paintball event for the 12 & under crowd following the race if there is interest. Volunteers are always needed so bring a spouse, parent, stranger from the side of the road and we'll put them to good use.
Winter Schedule Announced
After a last minute change due to the Lake Placid NorAm, the Syracuse club is pleased to announce our winter schedule for 2018/2019. We will be holding two races at the Osceola Tug Hill Ski Center starting with the Syracuse-Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge Weekend. We will be holding the sprint event on Saturday, January 26th with the Old Forge club hosting the pursuit the following day at McCauley Mountain. Our second event will be on Saturday, March 9th with a format to be announced at a later date. Stay tuned for registration information and additional details.
Up-Next: Summer Biathlon Clinic
Our second biathlon clinic of the summer season is being held on Saturday, August 11th at Pratts Falls. This is a great opportunity for both experienced biathletes and those new to the sport to get in a solid practice session and received coaching on their techniques. There will be three 'levels' or participants depending on your familiarity with the sport and desire for coaching. Be sure to take advantage of this event as it's one of the few times a year we're able to provide one-on-one training and really focus on improving your shooting skills. Additional details and pre-registration is available at the link below.
Up Next: Syracuse-Polar Bear Pursuit Weekend!
We're kicking off our summer race season on Sunday, July 15th with a pursuit format race at Pratts Falls. This is part of the Syracuse-Polar Bear Pursuit Challenge with the weekend champion being named at the conclusion of this race. You don't have to race both days to take part if you are unable to make it to one of the days. Registration information can be found at the links below and if you have any questions please contact Pete at info@syracusebiathlon.com for more details. If you've never tried biathlon this is a great chance to experience the challenge. We'll provide the instruction and use of a rifle/ammo for the event so you can see everything the sport offers. All levels 13 and older are welcome plus we'll have a paintball biathlon event for the under 13 folks. Don't miss out on this great opportunity.
Clinic/Training Day Cancelled!!
Due to a number of issues we've had to cancel the June 23rd clinic at Pratt's Falls. We are working on three more events for this summer so be sure to check back to get your biathlon fix!!
Thursday, June 21st is the last day to sign up for the summer clinic at Pratts Falls park being held on Saturday, June 23rd. This is a great opportunity for all levels to receive coaching and shooting technique work away from a race setting. Online pre-registration closes at 10pm so be sure to sign up as soon as possible (and save $5 in the process!).
DETAILS & REGISTER HERE
An amazing turnout for the March 10th race so thanks to everyone who made it to the race. A huge thanks to all of our volunteers who made the day possible and made a fun & safe event. Apologies for the lateness of the event results as we've had a couple of technical glitches. The results for the open/individual format group are still being corrected but the novice group results can be found at the link below.
NOVICE RESULTS
**1 Cancellation received for tomorrows race - email Pete at info@syracusebiathlon.com if you are interested in racing tomorrow. First one received gets it, any others will be added to a wait list
Great signup response for the March 10th race - we are at our cap of 50 for the rifle event and will not have day-of-race entry available unless we get word that one of the pre-registered folks can't make it. We will post here if any openings become available. The paintball event for the 12 & under group is still open!
Welcome to the Syracuse Biathlon Club website! There's a good chance you've come here after seeing some of the biathlon action happening at the Winter Olympics and wanted to know more or give the sport a try. We love to have new folks come out and try things out and a great opportunity is coming up on Saturday, March 10th at the Osceola Tug Hill Ski Center. This will be our last winter race of the season (we do summer events also) and we have two categories - novice for those participants trying the sport for the first time and open for the experienced biathlete who has their own rifle. For the novice group we start things off with a mandatory rifle safety/biathlon orientation the morning of the event. You'll get a chance to try a few practice shots to get the feel of shooting before heading out for the race. The novice group will ski a total distance of 5km on a relatively flat/rolling hill course and will shoot twice (sprint format). We'll provide the use of a rifle for the event and all the ammunition you will need. As we are expecting a larger than normal novice group we will most likely send the open group out first so you'll have an opportunity to watch them do their race and see the flow of the event. We have all levels of novice from those speedy high-schoolers skating their way around the loop to those who shuffle along with classic. Ski rentals are available at Osceola if you need gear but just make sure to get there early to get that taken care of. Our main race using rifles is limited to those 13 and older but we also hold a paintball biathlon for the younger crowd.
If you have any additional questions feel free to contact Pete at info@syracusebiathlon.com. Online signup closes on March 8th so be sure to register as early. Day of race entry is typically available but will cost more and we may need to put a limit on the number of participants so be sure to sign up ahead of time.
If you can't make this event be sure to sign-up for our email group to stay up to date with future opportunities.
Event Registration (13 and Older)
Paintball Biathlon Registration (12 and under)
Email Group Sign-Up
Update for Saturday's Sprint Event - We have a great number of folks sign-up so it should be a fun day. We will be sending all the rifle-carrying age groups out first in either a mass or wave start. We'll have a break (~10 minutes or so) and then send the non-carrying groups (novice, boy/girl) out in one minute intervals. The novice & boy/girl groups will be skiing the 5km course and everyone else the 7.5km course. Weather is looking pretty nice with overcast skies and temps right around freezing at race time. If you didn't sign up ahead of time you can still join in on race day starting at 8am. Just remember that 1st timers need to take part in the rifle safety/biathlon orientation clinic which will be starting at 9am.
We did have signups for the paintball event this Saturday so we will be holding that after the main event. If there's any kids 12 and under who would still take part in this be sure to show up Saturday. We'll start shortly after the finish of the adult race
As we start to see hints of winter it's time to start thinking about the upcoming biathlon season. The Syracuse club has two events scheduled with the first event kicking off on January 20th. This will be the 1rst day of the Syracuse/Old Forge Pursuit Weekend with the Polar Bear club holding the pursuit format on the 21st. We will then have our second race a little later than usual on March 10th following the Winter Olympics. We will post registration information as we get a little closer to the dates.
It's that time of year for club renewals as we head into the new season. Be sure to get your club membership sent in as soon as possible to make sure you're set before the racing season kicks off. The new membership form is available below. One change for this year is that your membership will last 12 months from when it is received rather than all memberships ending at the end of October.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
One week left to pre-register for our last summer race of the season. This will be held Saturday, September 16th and Pratt's Falls Park. We will start off with a sprint format event and will follow that up with a two-person team relay race. The twist on the relay race is that we will be accepting donations for Maddie Phaneuf is a biathlete from Old Forge attempting to make the Winter Olympic team in February. Those donations? You'll find that you'll be able to buy advantages to your team in the race or penalize your competition! Pre-registration ends Thursday night (9/14) at 10pm so be sure to sign up early. Race day entry will be available but will have a $5 higher fee.
DETAILS & REGISTRATION
Results for the July 22nd race are now updated with the shooting results.
July 22 Results
A nice group turned out for our first summer race of the season this past Saturday at Pratt's Falls Park. Blue skies and little to no wind greeted the competitors (along with a recently deceased racoon on the yellow loop). This was the first day of the Syracuse/Old Forge Pursuit weekend challenge which saw four competitors make their way up to Old Forge the following day. A big congratulations to Cindy & Tom Daly who proudly represented the Syracuse club by capturing the first pursuit championship! They will be the first biathletes to be honored on a plaque which will be displayed at the Old Forge venue this year. The results for our club race are available below (missing the shooting results right now but they will updated them shortly). Our next event will be a biathlon clinic either on Saturday, August 26th or Sunday, August 27th. We're working out that detail right now and will be posting the registration as soon as we confirm the date. This is a great opportunity for the novice and experienced biathlete to get in a solid training day with coaching on your shooting technique. Be sure to take advantage of this as we can only hold a couple of these a year and this likely to be the last clinic for 2017.
July 22 Results
Registration is now open for our summer race on July 22nd at Pratt's Falls Park. This will be a sprint format event (5km for all classes). As always, this event is open to all levels of competitors, ages 13 and older, from the first timer to the experienced. For those under the age of 13 we will have a paint-ball biathlon event right after. If this is your first time trying biathlon there's not much to worry about. You will complete a rifle safety/biathlon orientation session the morning of the race and have a chance to shoot the rifles before hand. The club will provide the use of a rifle for the event along with the necessary ammunition as part of your registration fee. Our course features the dirt trails of Pratt's Falls Park and is a great run through the woods except for those pesky hills. Come give it a try! If you have any questions about the race or issues with the registration page please contact info@syracusebiathlon.com
If you are planning on attending the event please be sure to pre-register ahead of time. There is no fee for doing so and you don't have to pay until the morning of the race. This will save you $5 compared to the day-of-race fee and more importantly it allows the race organizers to plan the necessary supplies for the event.
REGISTER NOW
This event is also part of the Syracuse/Old Forge Pursuit weekend. Old Forge will be holding their event on Sunday, July 23rd at McCauley Mountain in Old Forge with a 6km pursuit format event. For those biathletes running both events there will be an additional $5 discount provided at Old Forge. There will also be a special recognition for the top female and male competitors over the two races. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to try two different race formats in a single weekend and make the trip up to Old Forge. You can register for the Old Forge event at SkiReg.com
Due to low registration numbers for the June 24th clinic we have made the decision to cancel the event. We didn't make this decision lightly as we look forward to holding this event and a great deal of work has already been put in to getting things ready. Unfortunately there is a cost to using the park and having a ranger present which would have cost the club too much money to hold the event this year. We will be holding as least two more events in July and August so be sure to keep an eye out for details on those events coming soon.
Don't miss out on this Saturday's (June 24th) Olympic Day Biathlon Clinic & Training Day event at Pratt's Falls Park in Manlius. This event is for all level of abilities from the first-timer to the advanced. This event will be setup with three level of participants - Group A for those new to the sport and need to use a club rifle & ammo, Group B is for those with their own rifle/ammo and would like the instruction & training drills that Group A will be performing, and Group C for experienced biathletes with their own rifle/ammo who will be self-directed for a training workout. We'll wrap up the day for all participants with a short time-trial event. Be sure to pre-register by Thursday at 10pm to save a few dollars and insure your space in the group (Group A will be limited to 15 entries). If you have any questions or problems registering please contact Pete at info@syracusebiathlon.com
REGISTER NOW
Cancelled/Postponed!! - Due to the rain/thunderstorms forecast for Saturday along with flooding warnings that could make travel hazardous we are cancelling this Saturday's sprint race. We are looking for possible alternate dates to reschedule the event and will update everyone if we can arrange another race.
Thursday Update - Still one and a half feet at Osceola so we're still watching the weather and conditions closely. We will be up there tomorrow to examine the trail and range conditions. We will make a final decision on the race by 4pm tomorrow (Friday) and post an update here and also send out an email to the Syracuse list.
Our final winter club race for the season is just a few days away on Saturday, February 25th in Osceola. This is the last event before the NY Champs and likely to be the last NY club event until the summer season kicks off. While we are facing a lot of warm weather this week Osceola has over 2 feet of base at the moment. We'll be closing watching but expect that there will be enough snow to hold the race on Saturday. This will be a sprint event for all classes and we will most likely use the same distances as the January event. We may need to make adjustments depending on the weather so be prepared for changes at the last minutes. Be sure to pre-register before Thursday at 10:00 pm to save yourself a few dollars and to help us plan the event.
February 25th Sign-Up
Wow!! A great turnout today with 26 novices and 12 open competitors tackling the soft snow and fog at Osceola. Thanks to everyone who made the trip and hopefully you enjoyed the event. As always a even bigger thanks to our volunteers who really stepped up today to handle the big crowd. We look forward to everyone making back to our next event on February 25th and if you didn't make it up today be sure to put it on your calendar and don't miss out.
More new SBC swag! Vinyl decals are back in stock with a 1" diameter round and 3" diameter round of the SBC logo. We have plenty of these available so be sure to pick up a couple at our next event. Can't make it or in a hurry? We'll ship as many as can be stuffed into an envelope for $1. Check out the SBC Gear page for these and other club items.While we're waiting for the first event of the year now is the time to stock up on Syracuse Biathlon swag! Check out the SBC Gear page for the latest items available. Quantities are typically very limited so if there's something you want be sure to get it as it may not last. Remember that SBC members get first chance at new items along with discounted pricing!
New club membership benefit for the 2016/17 season. Club members will received first chance and club pricing on SBC gear. Currently working on a new item so if you want first crack at it when it becomes available be sure to join!
For anyone in involved in the nordic sports there's a new podcast being offered by NY's own Brian Halligan. He covers subjects of interest to all the nordic disciplines and interview many nordic athletes. Be sure to give it a try. You can find it Itunes or at soundcloud.com - search for "Word on the Trail"
The leaves are starting to fall so it's time to renew your Syracuse Biathlon membership. There is no change to the annual fee and we are continuing with the benefits started last year including the $2 discount to Syracuse events. Be sure to renew or join and help the Syracuse club to continue to put on quality events throughout the year.
2016/2017 Membership Form
It was a small but enthusiastic group for the final race of the summer. Thanks to everyone who took part and a bigger thanks to the volunteers and officials who make these events possible. Results for the race can be found below. Bring on winter!
The end of summer is here but we have one more summer race scheduled for Saturday, September 17th at Pratt's Falls Park. This will be a sprint format race with a 5k total distance. Preregistration is now open with an early entry fee of $20 ($15 for those 18 and under). There is also a $10 Member-for-a-day insurance charge for anyone who is not a member of the US Biathlon Association. This event is open to anyone 13 years or older looking to experience the biathlon experience. For those new to the sport we provide instruction/rifle safety training before the race and the use of a rifle & ammunition for the event. For those under the age of 13 we will be holding a fun paintball biathlon event following the race.
Race Day Info:
Registration/Check-in - 9:00-10:00
Rifle Safety Instruction - 10:00 (mandatory for all first time participants)
Zero - 10:00
Race Start - 11:00
Be sure to register early as the entry goes up $5 after the pre-registration period closes.
FINAL SUMMER RACE PRE-REGISTRATION
Closes Thursday - September 15th at 10:00 pm EST
Directions To Pratt's Falls Range
Parking/Range at Pratt's
For those of you on our email list we are adding a sub-group that is dedicated to training & races. This will be for those people interested in getting together for training activities (rollerskiing, running, cycling) or for setting up ride sharing to races. If you interested in getting on the training sub-group (or signing up for the SBC email list) just send a note to info@syracusebiathlon.com asking to be added.
We are holding another biathlon clinic & training day on Saturday, August 27th at Pratt's Falls Park. This will be similar to our June event where the focus will be on developing your shooting skills and biathlon knowledge. This is an excellent opportunity for first time participants to experienced biathletes. We will be starting at 9:00 with our Group A participants (first time participants or relatively new to the sport) where we will have an hour of biathlon basics & information. Group B (biathletes with there own rifles/ammo who want coaching) and Group C (experienced biathletes looking for a training day) will join in at 10:00 as we begin shooting drills and biathlon strategy. We'll wrap up the day at 12:00 with a sprint format time trial. This event is open to anyone 13 and older looking to get into biathlon or improve their shooting skills. The Group A participants will be limited to 15 so that we can insure individualized coaching and access to rifles so be sure to pre-register early. See the registration page for more details or contact info@syracusebiathlon.com.
Thanks to all our participants and volunteers at today's sprint race held at Pratt's Falls Park. The 22 competitors had beautiful weather to tackle the 5k course. Afterwards we had five young biathletes show everyone how it's done in the paint ball race. Our next event is a training clinic on August 27th at Pratt's Falls and we'll have registration information up for that soon. Results for today's race can be found below.
JULY 17th RESULTS
Our next event is quickly approaching! We will be holding a sprint format summer race on Saturday, July 16th at Pratt's Falls Park. This race will be 5km for all classes and will start at 9:00 with registration/check-in, 10:00 for zero/rifle safety, and an 11:00 start (interval starts). Never tried biathlon before? No problem - as long as you are 13 or older and able to run a 5km you're able to give it a try. We even provide you with a rifle to use during the event and the ammunition that you'll need. All first time participants must complete a mandatory rifle safety/biathlon instruction session the morning of the race. For those under 13 we will be holding a paintball biathlon event right after the sprint race so everyone can participate. If you have any questions please contact info@syracusebiathlon.com.
Event Details
Pre-register online - HERE!
Entry fees - $15 for 18 and under, $20 all others. There is a $10 US Biathlon Member for a Day insurance fee for non-USBA members. Race day entries will be accepted with an additional $5 entry fee so sign up ahead of time.
Registration/Check-in - 9:00
Zero/Rifle Safety - 10:00
Start - 11:00
Paintball - after the completion of the sprint race.
REGISTER HERE!
Directions To Pratt's Falls Range
Parking/Range at Pratt's
We will be holding a summer clinic as part of the 2016 Olympic Day Celebration on Saturday, June 25th at Pratt's Falls Park. This event is designed for all levels of competitors and will be focused on developing shooting skills and biathlon strategy. There will be three groups separated by ability:
Note: In addition to the event fee's listed below there is a $10 insurance fee for any participant who is not a member of the US Biathlon Association
Group A - This is for novices who are relatively new to the sport and are looking for personalized coaching during the day. We are limiting this group to a maximum of 15 to insure quality instruction. Rifle and ammunition will be provided. Instruction & drills from 9:00 to 12:00 with a time trial at 12:00. Expect to be finished by 1:00. Entry fee is $20 per person.
Group B - You've participated in biathlon previously and have your own rifle & ammunition but would like some additional instruction & coaching then this may be your best fit. Instruction & drills from 9:00 to 12:00 with a time trial at 12:00. Expect to be finished by 1:00. Entry fee is $15 per person.
Group C - For the experienced biathlete with there own rifle & ammunition just looking for a chance to do some training. Welcome to start with the other groups at 9:00 but no shooting allowed until 10:00. Self-directed training & welcome to join the time trial at 12:00. Entry fee is $10 per person.
There is a $2 discount for all members of the Syracuse Biathlon Club so be sure to renew or join if you are not a member.
Update - 12/8/15 (14:13) The Syracuse Biathlon Club website is in the process of being redesigned. Please bear with us as we move to a new layout.
Hat - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Decal - 1, 2