Just before the start of the first IBU Junior Cup in season 2021/2022, young athletes and coaches from around the biathlon world gathered in Martell for the IBU-IOC Winter Camp. The camp’s goal was to support the twenty participating federation’s “existing structure by providing expertise and guidance to create a long-term legacy for our sport.”

Guidance from five IBU Coaches

69 athletes and 21 coaches from 20 National Federations came to Martell for ten days of intensive training sessions under the guidance of five IBU Coaches including Head Coach Matthias Ahrens (Canada), Walter Hörl (Austria), Armin Kasslatter (Italy), Trym Rostad (Norway) and Anna Sprung (Austria).

Athlete Role Model

This camp´s special guest was Germany´s Ex Biathlete and Olympic Champion Laura Dahlmeier who joined the camp for the first 3 days as an Athlete Role Model sharing her experience and knowledge about skiing techniques with the next generation of athletes.

Evening events

Besides physical training and shooting practice, athletes and coaches participated in the evenings in workshops on skiing technique, mental preparation, shooting and wax care. But also some social parts were organized, therefore on the occasion of the St. Nicholas Day, Nikloaus and his „Krampusse“ visited the camp group to bring some small gifts.

Test Competitions

The camp culminated with a sprint competition and a mixed relay, a chance to show off new-found and improved skills and prepare for the first Junior Cup of the season. The winners of the sprint competitons were Elza Bleidele from Latvia and Konstantin Vasilev from Bulgaria.