Teton Transplant

today

Kids and adults try biathlon for the first time

It is said that the most popular winter spectator sport in Europe is biathlon.  Large crowds assemble to watch their favorite athletes speed around the ski course on fast skate skis, interrupted by tense shooting bouts that frequently cause the lead to change several times during the race.

Though participant numbers here are small compared to other sports, there are actually two active biathlon clubs in Washington. The Methow Valley Nordic Team has a biathlon group that caters to youth, but has adult racers as well. A few of the teenagers in the club are nationally ranked. Last weekend (see picture) my kids and I participated in a biathlon in Methow Valley and we had a blast. (No, not literally. The .22 target rounds barely make a popping noise.)

The other local club is the Washington Biathlon Association, based in Seattle. Each year they host six winter races at Stevens Pass and four summer races (run/shoot and mountain bike/shoot) here in Seattle.

They WBA welcomes new participants and is hosting a beginner’s training clinic on January 9th at the Stevens Pass Nordic Center. For more information contact WBA President Bob Vallor, whose contact information is in the linked flyer.

Yesterday’s piece in The Economist looking at the odds of various candidates to win the Nobel Peace Prize is more interesting after today’s announcement.

We all feel like that sometime, whichever side of the political spectrum we identify with.  This hilarious clip from The Family Guy speaks for itself.