
The 2022 Canadian Biathlon Championships are coming to Prince George in March.
The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club will host the championships at the Otway Nordic Centre March 13-17, 2022.
Lyle McLeod, President of Biathlon Canada, made the announcement Wednesday.
Local Chief of Competition, John Neumann, said: “We are honoured and excited to have Canada’s best biathletes gather in Prince George to compete in and enjoy our beautiful city and the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club facility.”
About 250 of the top biathletes in the country will be coming to compete on the trails located on Otway Road. Biathlon is the combination of cross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship. Athletes will ski a set distance and then, with their hearts racing, shoot toonie sized targets. Time or distance penalties are given for shots missed. Their ability to do this represents an incredible level of athleticism and endurance.
The Caledonia Nordic biathlon program has consistently resulted in athletes that compete on the national and international stage. It is the home club of several former Olympians including Megan Tandy and Sarah Beaudry. Currently, Sarah Beaudry, a 2018 Olympian, and Emily Dickson are training for high level competitions at an international level. With this kind of reputation in place, Caledonia Nordic Ski Club is bound to put on an exciting event that will encourage each athlete to bring their best game as well as provide entertainment and tourism exposure for our community.
Prince George has a dedicated group of biathlon officials and has a reputation for excellent volunteer responses. Events will include the following:
- Sprint – March 13
- Pursuit – March 14
- Mass Start/Individual – March 16
- Single Mixed Relay – March 17
“Prince George and Caledonia Nordic have a long history of developing top level Biathlon Olympians,” said McLeod. “Biathlon Canada is thrilled to award the 2022 National Championships to Prince George and Caledonia Nordic this coming March. I look forward to returning then for what I’m sure will be an outstanding event.”
Those interested in volunteering or simply coming out to watch some of this fascinating sport can visit the Caledonia Nordic Website at https://www.caledonianordic.com/