A new Miramichi biathlon club hopes to start training soon, says one of the club's organizers.
Herman Koops, a local cross-country skier, is one of the organizers of New Brunswick's newest biathlon club.
Koops said biathlon training usually peaks in the winter, but this year the new club will wait until the the snow melts to start training.
"It's really an all-season sport."
Biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and shooting.
Competitors ski around a track and stop to shoot at target ranges set up around the course.
One of the attractions to biathlon is that the age of athletes can cover a wide range because kids can start as early as eight-years-old, he said.
"You peak late in this sport."
Koops said a demonstration last month drew over 50 people interested in learning more about the sport.
The plan calls for the club to use air rifles first, then to move to .22-calibre rifles later on if there is enough interest, he said.
"It's probably been brewing for almost two seasons."
Koops said cross-country skiers and cadets are the people who are the most interested in a biathlon club.
"I guess looking for the challenge of something different."
The Miramichi club will have help from former biathlete Ray Kokkonen, who lives in the area and who is one of the executives of Biathlon New Brunswick, he said.
"He's an amazing resource."
And Koops said people with shooting experience who are looking to try something different can get involved to help train members of the club.
Kokkonen said there are exceptional skiers and some shooters involved in the local cross-country ski club who can help with training once the biathlon club starts.
"My training aspect will be quite rudimentary."
He said he will help the club with basic training and some of the technical aspects of the sport, but emphasized he is not a coach.
"I just wanted to set up the package and watch it go."
Kokkonen said Biathlon New Brunswick will loan the club five air rifles.
"This is a good way to develop."
The club will hold an information session April 19 from 9-12a.m. at the Atlantic Superstore community room in the Miramichi Mall.
Participants have to pre-register and can do so by contacting Herman Koops at 622-6863. The deadline for registration is April 5.
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