Biathlon

The combination of cross-country skiing and firing of rifle requires not only endurance and strength, but also tremendous skill and precision. Unpredictable elements like weather and wind conditions make this sport a fun and rewarding challenge that thousands of cadets participate in each year.

Biathlon is a sport that enhances all aspects of cadet training from the development of leadership and sense of responsibility to becoming physically fit and promoting teamwork.

Biathlon is a directed optional training program for all cadets (ages 12 to 18) across the country. Cadet corps and squadrons are provided with rifles and ammunition for local training, and have access to regional loan pools for additional equipment such as skis and poles. Each year, cadets compete in a series of competitions:

• local or area championship (January)
• provincial or regional championship (February)
• national championship (March)

Cadet biathletes compete in the following series of individual and team races over a distance of five to eight kms depending on their gender:

• individual race (male 8km and female 6km)
• sprint race (male 6km and female 5km)
• relay race (5km)
• patrol race (5km).

The cadet biathlon program is very successful and has produced several world class biathletes such as Canadian Olympians Myriam Bédard and Nikki Keddie.