Alongside Snow Australia's Interschools competition, Biathlon Australia is hosting a Laser Biathlon Schools Event at Perisher tomorrow.

Students spent time on the range on Monday afternoon honing their skills ahead of Tuesday's competition. 

Entering the Biathlon Australia schools racing is a fantastic way to start an athletes journey into the wonderful world of international biathlon, a winter Olympic Sport.

Using laser systems which are a great introduction to biathlon, biathlon schools racing allows school students from eight-years-old to learn focusing and self-management skills as they learn to ski fast, slow down as they come into shoot and then focus to hit the targets.

BA first staged school events in 2017, and were building momentum before COVID caused a break for two years in 2020 and 2021. Competition returned in 2022 and is getting stronger with students entering from both the private and public school systems.

Over 70 competitors will take part with schools including Kings, Tudor House, Jindabyne Central School, Cranbrook, Ascham and Pymble Ladies College looking to build on past successes.

Biathlon is becoming more attractive for school children who may have tried cross country but are looking for something different, adding a different and exciting dimension. It’s not always the fastest who wins, but the athlete who can combine skiing fast with the precision of visiting the Range, taking aim and hitting a target. With two visits to the range, the athlete has to enter the range twice and so often the lead or winner can change on the final shoot.

For students who enjoy the experience, options are available in summer and winter to continue in the sport. Dryland training with roller-skiiing and laser runs held with transferring summer training to winter racing.

Contact Biathlon Australia (executiveofficer@biathlonaustralia.com.au) and find out when summer trainings are being held in Sydney and schools can also have sessions run for them.

Keep an eye of the Biathlon Australia website, for training dates, camps and of course more racing!