Snowshoe biathlon?

crunchiespg

crunchiespg

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Does anyone here do snowshoe biathlon? I'm looking for a new fitness hobby, and what could be better than combining shooting with the exercise. I need to get fit again after a bad knee injury.
But as a snowboarder who hasn't skied for years (and not very good when I did) I was thinking of doing snowshoe biathlon.
Googling it shows me all the local biathlon clubs, but not much info about snowshoe biathlon. I'm guessing I can pick up snowshoeing a lot quicker than skiing.

So any info on it?
Cheers
 
Jabol said:
too bad I am not in Alberta....I'd go for it, now that I have a nice 1827 Fortner biathlon rifle :)
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It looks like I'll have to learn to cross country ski. After more research it seems like the only snowshoe biathlon is more of a novelty event in the artic winter games using old school wooden shoes.

But the obvious question is, why do you have a biathlon rifle if you don't do biathlon?
How's it shoot?
 
don't know how she shoots yet, just got it. I got it for sh*ts and giggles, a reason no other than "hey guys, I have the coolest toy in da house". This is one incredibly fine piece of equipment. As for skiing, I did in fact some cross country skiing some years ago and perhaps I will try some real biathlon but closes biathlon venue is a bit of a drive for me plus I am getting old and my kids would be more up to it.
 
Jabol said:
don't know how she shoots yet, just got it. I got it for sh*ts and giggles, a reason no other than "hey guys, I have the coolest toy in da house". This is one incredibly fine piece of equipment. As for skiing, I did in fact some cross country skiing some years ago and perhaps I will try some real biathlon but closes biathlon venue is a bit of a drive for me plus I am getting old and my kids would be more up to it.
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Too old? Nonsense, I've seen 80 year olds blow by when I've been walking the cross country trails.
I don't for a second think I'd ever be competitive in biathlon. But it would be cool to get fit and good enough to at least do it. I'm starting probably 20 years to late to be that good at it. But I need to take more advantage of the winter playground I live in and do more than snowboard. Plus the low impact fitness will be good after my rugby knee injury.

How much was your rifle? About $3500? From nordic marksman?
 
If you want to get into biathlon, check out the Canmore Nordic Center. Once you get the hang of cross country its not hard, just a great work out!
 
paintgunner said:
If you want to get into biathlon, check out the Canmore Nordic Center. Once you get the hang of cross country its not hard, just a great work out!
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Yeh I saw you can do a 5 week intro to biathlon course. I'll probably just start the skiing this year then explore biathlon more next winter.
 
Jabol said:
yes, it came from Nordic Marksman (great people to deal with, very very helpful). But my oder was more customized, barreled action plus Bear stock, top of the line Olympic grade equipment.
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Lol. A funny purchase for someone who doesn't even do biathlon. You definitely need to start.

Pics?
 
crunchiespg said:
Lol. A funny purchase for someone who doesn't even do biathlon. You definitely need to start.

Pics?
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Will do, but my daughter will soon as well. She's a pretty good skiier now she needs to get into biathlon.
True enough, I am not doing biathlon (yet) but a lot of us here with restricted tactical boom sticks don't actually have anything to do with military or tactical operations but rather just blast away at a range (unless they are SWAT officers, of course). Some people like black restricted boom sticks, others like biathlon boom sticks.

Eye candy, isn't she:

 
Jabol said:
Will do, but my daughter will soon as well. She's a pretty good skiier now she needs to get into biathlon.
True enough, I am not doing biathlon (yet) but a lot of us here with restricted tactical boom sticks don't actually have anything to do with military or tactical operations but rather just blast away at a range (unless they are SWAT officers, of course). Some people like black restricted boom sticks, others like biathlon boom sticks.

Eye candy, isn't she:

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I quite agree. Not criticising your choice at all. All anschutz are amazing rifles and that straight pull action is probably the best bolt action there is.

I was lucky that I've spent the last 13 years getting paid to play with the black kit. But for myself now I want to get a nice long range rifle and one of the biathlon rifles.

I'm tempted to go snowshoeing into the back country just to find a nice natural long distance shooting range and be the only one for miles making loud bangs.

Question for you, with that rifle and target .22 ammo, do people wear ear protection?
 
crunchiespg said:
Question for you, with that rifle and target .22 ammo, do people wear ear protection?
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To be honest, I am not sure but I bet the competitors do use some kind of ear plugs that would lower the noise level. The match ammo they use is subsonic so it is quiet ammunition but I bet they would want to protect their ears especially when in, say, a mass start competition, many of them end up on the shooting range at the same time and all those beautiful Fortners and Izhmash rifles blasting away, the noise level may be considerable. I would definitely use ear plugs shooting any firearm, even a rimfire in an open field.
 
Jabol said:
To be honest, I am not sure but I bet the competitors do use some kind of ear plugs that would lower the noise level. The match ammo they use is subsonic so it is quiet ammunition but I bet they would want to protect their ears especially when in, say, a mass start competition, many of them end up on the shooting range at the same time and all those beautiful Fortners and Izhmash rifles blasting away, the noise level may be considerable. I would definitely use ear plugs shooting any firearm, even a rimfire in an open field.
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Me too, but whenever I watch it there's no obvious signs of ear protection.
 
well a 5 man tent group, on snowshoes, marches 3km (or 5 or 10K - you pick it) with loaded toboggan and rifles. Set up tent on the 600m firing point of a range. Light stove and boil one cup water. When water boils - 5 men start abreast and do run down to 100m (on snow shoes)... loading/firing commences when last man adopts prone position. Time ends when each shooter manages 5 hits in 6 inch target face. Lots of fun variations on this theme as you can imagine ....
 
Jabol said:
Will do, but my daughter will soon as well. She's a pretty good skiier now she needs to get into biathlon.
True enough, I am not doing biathlon (yet) but a lot of us here with restricted tactical boom sticks don't actually have anything to do with military or tactical operations but rather just blast away at a range (unless they are SWAT officers, of course). Some people like black restricted boom sticks, others like biathlon boom sticks.

Eye candy, isn't she:

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Nice looking stock on that Annie! What is your length of pull as pictured? I have one on the way too :D Brad at Nordic Marksman was absolutely great to work with on my deal. I will never move fast on ski's but that snowshoe idea sounds interesting! A good shooting rifle can always find a home regardless of what you do!
 
icedragonmx said:
Nice looking stock on that Annie! What is your length of pull as pictured? I have one on the way too :D Brad at Nordic Marksman was absolutely great to work with on my deal. I will never move fast on ski's but that snowshoe idea sounds interesting! A good shooting rifle can always find a home regardless of what you do!
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This particular stock was loaned to Jean-Philippe LeGuellec (Canada National Biathlon team) for two weeks so although I am not sure of the length of pull, it is an adult male size....to use unprofessional terminology.
 
icedragonmx said:
Nice looking stock on that Annie! What is your length of pull as pictured? I have one on the way too :D Brad at Nordic Marksman was absolutely great to work with on my deal. I will never move fast on ski's but that snowshoe idea sounds interesting! A good shooting rifle can always find a home regardless of what you do!
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do share pics once you get it. It is the first time I actually handled a Fortner action and man, it feels like a piece of precise medical equipment.
 
Jabol said:
do share pics once you get it. It is the first time I actually handled a Fortner action and man, it feels like a piece of precise medical equipment.
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Nice history to that stock! :D I can't wait for mine! Sounds like I am in for a treat! That Fortner action has me very interested! The length of pull is the distance from the end of the stock (silver plate on yours) to the trigger face. If you have a tape measure can you do me the favour? Thanks.

I will be posting all about mine when it arrives. It has the "factory" stock on it but this one is special :D I will be mounting a scope with a 28moa AI mount and using the Atlas adaptor rail to mount a V8.1 bipod underneath. Going to be fun!!!

I hope you are going to post targets etc when you get the chance! Enjoy!
 
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