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ASF Hosts Biathlon Training for Injured Veterans

By Pam Greene, ASF Program Director

DSC_0026On December 16-19, 2015 the ASF hosted its first ever Nordic biathlon camp for injured service members in conjunction with Capital Region Nordic Alliance, a Paralympic Nordic Sport Club. Nine veterans, whose injuries range from amputation to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to orthopedic injuries, came to Windham to learn more about this Paralympic sport.

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Over the course of the three days, the group learned about how to take their military shooting skills and adapt them to biathlon shooting. They practiced indoors with laser rifles (for the visually impaired) and outdoors with pellet rifles. They took to the streets to learn the skills of Nordic skiing using roller skis. With choices of skis, classic roller skis, or Skikes (similar, but you can wear a sneaker instead of a ski boot) everyone had success on the road. This event wetted their DSC_0143appetites for more time and on snow experience with biathlon. Several participants are Paralympic eligible and will be attending a camp in Lake Placid in conjunction with the Empire State Games with hopes of moving on to Paralympic competition in the future.