Biathlon

This thrilling sport blends the challenge of cross-country skate skiing and rifle marksmanship into a unique and engaging sport for all ages. Kincaid Park’s world-class biathlon range is the focal point of the sport in Alaska. Biathlon clubs provide year-round programs and activities at the range.

To use the Kincaid Biathlon range, you will need:

  1. US Biathlon Association (USBA) membership – single day memberships available for rifle safety classes
  2. USBA Online Rifle Safety Training
  3. NSAA In-Person Rifle Safety Class (Hands-on w/ live fire)
  4. NSAA membership supporting biathlon trails at Kincaid
  5. Range use fees supporting biathlon range maintenance

Don’t worry if you don’t have your own rifle; you can pay to rent one when you pay your range use fee. You will need to provide your own 40 grain standard velocity ammunition.

Schedule

Click the link below to view the Kincaid biathlon range calendar.

View Range Calendar

Memberships

United States Biathlon Association (USBA) Membership

Joining the United States Biathlon Association is required to shoot at the Kincaid Park Biathlon Range. You can find more information and pay online at USBA’s website here. Once the form and payment is received, you’ll receive a USBA membership number. You will need this number to register for a safety class and to pay range fees.

Join USBA

NSAA Membership

An NSAA membership is required to live-fire on the Kincaid biathlon range. Your membership directly supports grooming and maintenance of the biathlon range trails.

Join NSAA

Safety Classes

Rifle Safety Class

Completion of a USBA/NSAA Rifle Safety Class is required to live-fire at the Kincaid Biathlon Range. NSAA in-person classes are held at Kincaid Park Biathlon Range, and cover safe rifle handling, care and use of a biathlon rifle, and basic biathlon technique.

Cost: $25 Individual, $30 Family (Cost does not include USBA one-day membership, required for participation on range)

Completion of the online USBA Biathlon Rifle Safety Class is mandatory before attending the in-person practical course. Please dress appropriately for inclement weather on the day of your course. Firearms and ammo are provided for Biathlon Safety Class participants.

NOTE: Minimum age for participation is 10 years old; however participants younger than 13 must attend with parent. If the parent is also getting their range safety certification, then Family should be the selected registration option, otherwise, Individual is appropriate.

NOTE: Each individual who intends to live-fire during the course must complete the USBA online training and have an individual USBA membership number. Individual membership numbers must be entered per attendee during registration.

Upcoming Classes

Friday, December 8th from 6 – 7:30pm

Friday, January 12th from 6 – 7:30pm

Friday, February 9th from 6 – 7:30pm

Friday, March 22nd from 6 – 7:30pm

Friday, April 12th from 6 – 7:30pm

Friday, May 10th from 6 – 7:30pm

  • In order to participate in this in-person class. You must first complete the online USBA Basic Rifle Safety Training.
  • Please forward your course completion to program@anchoragenordicski.com no less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled in-person time. Or be prepared to show your completion to your course instructor.
  • Once you’ve satisfactorily completed your in-person training, your instructor will submit your information to USBA for you to receive your USBA certificate.

The minimum age for participation is 10 years old, and participants under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent.

US Biathlon membership is required for all attendees. Annual and one-day memberships are available online through https://www.usbiathlon.org/membership

Please contact the NSAA office if you have any questions.

Rifle Safety Class

Range Safety Officer Training

Range Safety Officers (RSO) are responsible for opening the range and ensuring all shooters and park users in the vicinity of the range conduct themselves in a safe manner.

RSOs must possess general knowledge of firearms and biathlon, have successfully completed an NSAA Rifle Safety course, maintain current NSAA and USBA membership, maintain current SafeSport Certification (if working with individuals 18 years of age and younger), and NSAA background check. Please see the Kincaid Biathlon Range Standard Operating Procedures posted on our website for a full description of RSO duties and responsibilities.

Stay tuned for upcoming Range Safety Officer Training Courses and reach out to program@anchoragenordicski.com if you’re interested in training.

Range Fees

Range Use Fees pay for metal target repair & painting, paper targets, lead clean-up, range lights, rifle usage (including repair and cleaning supplies), signage, mats, porta potty use, rifle/ski racks, etc. NSAA manages the biathlon range on behalf of the Anchorage Parks & Rec Department. The range use fees are good from Oct 1st to Sept 30th.

A current NSAA membership is required in order to renew your range use fees. Please log in through your account to renew your membership first. If you are not a current member of NSAA, but would like to get started with biathlon, a basic membership of $50 is all that is required. Your membership DIRECTLY supports the Biathlon trails, and helps NSAA continue to provide Biathlon opportunities for all ages and abilities.

Range Fees:

  • Single Use: $15/day
  • Annual: Individual $180, Family $300 (2 people) or $375 (3+ people)
  • Annual fee for day use NSAA rifle: $100.00
  • Spring-Summer (Apr-Sept): Individual $85, Family $150 (2 people) or $175 (3+ people)

Range Use Cards must be brought with you every time you visit the range as RSOs will request to see it. NSAA will provide you with a waterproof range use card. If you have paid your range fees but not received your card yet, please retain your email confirmation to show the RSO at the range.

Range Fees

Biathlon Races

The Anchorage Biathlon Club will be hosting 4 Alaska Regional races. All races and time trials will be timed and results posted online.

All races will follow standard IBU distances (weather & trails permitting)

Racers may choose to race up if desired.

Rules

International Biathlon Union Event and Competition Rules will be in effect for this event, except as specifically modified by the Organizing Committee or Competition Jury. Any modifications to the rules will be discussed prior to race start. The organizing committee reserves the right to modify the parameters of the event based upon local conditions such as weather and trail availability.

Safe Sport

To be in-line with USBA SafeSport protocols, ABC will be requiring any individual coaching/zeroing athletes in the coaching box, to be safe sport trained. Verification by USBA required prior to picking up bibs.

Classes of Competitors

U13/15 Boys & Girls

Youth Men & Women

Open – All ages

Dates & Times

December 3 INDIVIDUAL RACE

Zero @ 1pm

Race @ 2pm

U17/Youth Men & Women – 7.5km (1.5km orange loop) PSPS

U13/15 – 5km (1km purple loop) PPPP

Open 7.5km PSPS or 5km PPPP

Feb 18 MASS START RACE

Zero @ 1pm

Race @ 2pm

U17/Youth Men & Women & Open – 7.5km Mass start (1.5km orange loop) PPSS

U13/15 – 5km Mass start (1km purple loop) PPPP

March 1 SPRINT RACE

Zero @ 5pm

Race @ 6pm

U17/Youth Men & Women& Open – 6km sprint (2km red loop) PS

U13/15 – 4.5km sprint (1.5km orange loop) PP

March 2 PURSUIT RACE

Zero @ 12pm

Race @ 1pm

U17/Youth Men & Women & Open – 7.5km pursuit (1.5km orange loop) PPSS

U13/15 – 5km pursuit (1km purple loop) PPPP

CLICK HERE FOR RACE REGISTRATION AND RESULTS

Scholarship Rifles

Each spring and as applications are received, the NSAA Biathlon Committee awards several club rifles, including Menaker and Poss memorial rifles, to promising Alaskan biathletes for use in their training over the following racing season. Scholarship rifles are returned to the club each spring for inspection. Athletes may reapply for their rifles after the annual inspection and maintenance.

Award criteria:

  • Applications are accepted from athletes ages 12 and above.
  • Frequent participation (a minimum of 30 openings/events) in biathlon over the previous 12 months. The range log is used to determine participation.
  • Rifles are awarded only to athletes that have shown they are responsible and dedicated to the sport.
  • Only right-handed rifles are available for scholarship due to the limited number of left-handed rifles in inventory.
  • Awardees are responsible for rifle maintenance and any loss or damage to rifle while in their possession.
  • Awards may be limited by rifle availability.

Application instructions:

  • Fill out the online application: NSAA Online Rifle Scholarship Application
  • In your response, describe your commitment to frequent biathlon training sessions, competing in most local biathlon races, and participating in clinics and other sport-specific activities.
  • In your response, describe your cross-country skiing and biathlon training in the past 12 months and your race experience in these two sports.
  • In your response, describe why you think you should be chosen to receive a rifle.
  • If you are re-applying, indicate specifically how much use you have made of the rifle in the past year.

Applications Due: May 10th

Late applications submitted will be processed if rifles are still available for scholarship.

Biathlon Community Contacts

Chair
Will Earnhart
president@anchoragenordicski.com

Secretary
Marcia Bandy
nsaabiathlon.secretary@gmail.com

Schedule & Maintenance
NSAA Program Manager
program@anchoragenordicski.com

Armorer
Michael Milhollin

Biathlon Related Links

Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage

9170 JEWEL LAKE RD
ANCHORAGE, AK 99502
(907) 276-7609

© Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage