From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.
The Chiemgau Arena, a shooting range with paved rollerski loops just outside of Ruhpolding, Germany, is a venue unlike almost anything in North America, with the exception perhaps of a few former Olympic sites. And even if Soldier Hollow has nice rollerskiing, too, Ruhpolding has a bit more: other teams, for one, but also spectators who show up even in the summer just to watch some of the world’s top biathletes train.
Here are a few of our photos from a morning of training earlier this week, when the U.S. national team and the National Guard team joined three German groups as well as the Ukrainians to use the range for a workout.
Leif Nordgren on the range.
German men ski past, cooling down from a sprint workout.
Per Nilsson checks in on Lowell Bailey after a prone stage.
Annelies Cook lines up in prone as Russell Currier skates away.
Spectators show up to the Chiemgau Arena even in the summer!
Tim Burke hones his shooting.
Lowell Bailey in the midst of a speed.
Part of the German women’s biathlon team practicing shooting drills.
U.S. women’s coach Jonne Kahkonen discusses a shooting stage with Susan Dunklee.
Looking down the range at the beginning of the Americans’ training session.
Lowell Bailey on the range.
Jay Hakkinen (front) and Tim Burke drop in for a speed.
Russell Currier shooting prone.
Annelies Cook in a standing stage.
Two members of a German junior team run through the range as part of their foot-based shooting combination workout.
U.S. shooting coach Armin Auchentaller looks on as Jay Hakkinen takes a standing stage.
Jake Dalgren of the National Guard skates through the range.
The view from the end of the range into the mountains.
Susan Dunklee (front) and Sara Studebaker click their magazines into place before a prone stage.
U.S. and National Guard coaches line the range; women’s coach Jonne Kahkonen holds up a magnetic board showing an athlete where their shots fell on the target.
National Guard coaches Sarah Lehto and Travis Voyer observe their athletes.
Russell Currier speeds by in front of the stadium.
Leif Nordgren doing one of the ten speeds in his workout.
Sara Studebaker training in Ruhpolding, Germany this summer.
