|
In biathlon, the athletes ski almost exclusively in the skating-style, so no kick wax is ever used. Otherwise, biathletes use much of the same equipment that can be found in cross-country skiing and Nordic combined. That is, except for the addition of the rifle!
Skis
All brands and manufacturers of skis are found in biathlon, like other Nordic sports. The only catch is that most, if not all, competitors use skate-style skis, rather than classic-style skis, which require the use of a groomed track. Biathlon courses are not required to have groomed tracks, and the skating-style is faster anyways!
The major ski producers, like Madshus, can be found beneath the feet of top biathletes. The skis are the same as those used in cross-country skiing, though many biathletes opt for harder flexed skis to counteract for the added weight of the rifle that they must carry. Additionally, since biathlon races are held over a maximum distance of 20-kilometers, biathletes might also choose to opt for even harder flexed skis since the power required is so much greater than in a 50-kilometer cross-country ski race.
Boots
Almost all biathletes use skating-style boots, though there are a few athletes that have chosen to use classic-style boots because of personal preference. Perhaps the only important factor in boot choice here is that the shoe fits the foot. One possible minor factor is weight: the lighter the boot, the better. Top boots today can be custom fit using heat-sensitive linings.
Poles
Most biathletes today seem to be using the simple-strap grip system that has been in skiing since the ages of the Birkebeiner saving young Crown Prince Håkon. It is simply a loop through which the hand is placed, giving some security from the pole being dropped at the end of the pole swing.
The ski poles used are the same as for cross-country skiing. Special materials, like carbon fiber, are used to produce sturdy, yet lightweight poles.
Gloves
The technology in gloves is not particularly special. There is one small difference between the gloves of cross-country skiers and biathletes: many choose to cut a hole in the index finger part of the glove so that they can get direct contact between their index finger and the rifle trigger. Otherwise, things are the same.
Targets
The targets used in biathlon are of two types, but both have the same dimensions. In prone, the athletes shoot at targets that have a scoring area of 4.0 centimeters. Standing targets have a scoring area of 11.5 centimeters.
On the World Cup and at the Olympic Games and World Championships, electronic targets are used. A hit is registered and a white disc falls if the bullet breaks an electromagnetic field covering the scoring area. Range officials reset the targets using a computer attached to the microprocessor in the target. Sometimes bullets that hit a little outside the scoring area register as hits because bullets splatter when they hit metal, sending shrapnel into the scoring area.
At other competitions, and for training, mechanical targets are used. If the bullet hits the metal target, then a white disc is forced to cover it. The targets are reset using ropes extending from the target to the shooting point.
Rifle
The rifle of choice for 80 percent of the World Cup field is German-made. It is highly accurate in that it can shoot groups of five shots at subzero temperatures with a diameter of less than two centimeters from a distance of fifty meters. The bolt-action is rather simple: pullback with the trigger finger, push forward with the thumb.
A biathlon rifle features a few more accessories than the average hunting rifle. There is a harness, which allows the rifle to be worn like a backpack while out on the course. A sling attaches the rifle to the arm using a cuff (or, armband) worn on the upper part of the non-trigger finger arm. There are also snow covers on the front and rear sights to keep the weather from entering them.
Biathletes are not allowed to use sights that enhance vision. Therefore, the sights used are of the peep-sight sort.
Specifically, the rifle is a .22 caliber long rifle. It must weigh at least 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds). The trigger weight must be at least half a kilogram.
The rifle is loaded using magazines, sometimes incorrectly referred to as clips. Each magazine holds five bullets. Each bullet must be individually chambered by the bolt-action. This means that the rifle must be non-automatic.
Ammunition
There are many different brands of ammunition, but there is a single standard that all must meet in order to be used in sanctioned international competitions. Its maximum velocity cannot exceed 380 meters per second, and the projectile must be made of lead. The cartridge holding the bullet can be made of anything, though brass is the most common.
|
