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SOLDIER HOLLOW, MIDWAY, Utah – The Utah National Guard hosted the 50th anniversary of the Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship at Utah’s own and the former Olympic venue, Soldier Hollow, from Feb. 17–21, 2024. More than 200 National Guard members from 24 states competed in the week-long national championship.
“This is where the athletes from all over the states and territories can come and compete against each other, build up friendships,” said Army 1st Sgt. Shawn Robinson, Chief of Competition for the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship. “But to just get that sense of competition, camaraderie, and it works on our arctic skills; shoot, move, and communicate.”
The biathlon races combine cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, where competitors must demonstrate competence with marksmanship and heavy endurance while skiing. The biathlon is a tremendous test of service members on their military knowledge and skills of shooting, moving, and communicating.
“This is honestly the coolest thing I’ve done in the Guard, the camaraderie, the training for it,” said competitor 1st Lt. Shawn Peden, Montana Army National Guard. “Having the ability and opportunity to do something like this isn't easy, so the fact that the National Guard gives Guard members the opportunities to do this is awesome.”
Staying physically fit and combat-ready is important to all National Guard members, regardless of what job they do in their units.
“I love the fitness aspect of it, and I love to shoot,” said competitor Staff Sgt. Tadhg Nakada, Utah Army National Guard. “Military-wise, it's a good thing, we always have stress shoots, and that's what this is, a stress shoot.”
Whether or not you're from a location with snow, you're still able to volunteer for your state's National Guard team.
“This is my first year ever doing it,” said competitor Spc. Daniel Hargis, Montana Army National Guard. “They were just looking for people and I signed up. It's just been great, great community, great environment, super cool people from around the nation.”
The final event of this competition is the military patrol; Which encompasses 20-kilometer cross-country skiing (15 kilometers for females) and rifle shooting. The size of the patrol is four members, including a leader and three members. The leader does not take part in the shooting.
The harsh conditions that the Utah climate brings to these competitors level the playing field for all members participating in the event.
“Everybody was in the same boat of skiing through really tough snow, and just being persistent and shooting the best we could,” said competitor Warrant Officer Shawna Thieschafer, Minnesota Army National Guard. "It was snowing the whole time, but it was fun."
This event combines a morale boost for the service members as well as a way to practice important warrior tasks and drills.
“I think this has been a great competition,,” said 1st Lt. Alexis Tousignant, Colorado Army National Guard. "This is my first time at nationals and it's been a phenomenal experience, and I can't wait to come back next year."
The male and female winners from the individual race that took first place for both the Sprint Race on day one and the Relay Race on day two were:
Eli Neilsen from the Vermont National Guard.
Joanne Reid from the Colorado Biathlon Club.
The male and female winners from the team race that took first place for both the Pursuit Race on day four and the Patrol Race on day five were:
Vlad Kapustin, Erin Graham, Brian Letourneau, Eli Nielsen, Vermont National Guard.
Belle Murray, Samantha Hall, Shawna Thieschafer, Minnesota National Guard.
The United States Biathlon Association announced back in September 2023, that it will be moving its headquarters from Maine to Utah and will be based at Soldier Hollow.
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2024 10:27 |
| Story ID: | 464492 |
| Location: | MIDWAY, UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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