Biathlon - A Tale of Love and Loss

It's been awhile since I've inked out my thoughts but now it's time to confess. I quit.

Frustrated by the spiralling expenses of life (and the sport), I made the utterly painful decision to sell my Biathlon rifle. In the summer of 2015, I sent my beloved Anschütz on a plane up to Prince George, never to see it again. It was a crushing experience but little did I know at the time that far worse lay in store for me.

I hadn't realized how much apart of my life Biathlon had become. Suddenly every little reminder of this sport caused me pain, because I was no longer apart of it. Hearing about my friends' exploits at races drove me crazy with envy. The coming of winter no longer brought the same joy. Yes I still skied, but skiing past the Biathlon range without partaking in the sport gave me a stomach ache. I felt like a ghost confined to wander the edges of a life that was once mine.

The list of painful reminders goes on and on - finding empty casings in my flat, struggling to watch races, and no longer being as involved in the Vancouver Island Biathlon Club. What had I done?

I became resentful of a life that forced me to be separated from my love, and many things ceased to hold the same joy. Two years later in 2017, there was a turning point.

My finances became settled and it was time to right the wrong I had done two years earlier. I didn't hesitate in dropping over $5000 to get exactly the rifle I wanted - an Anschütz with black and white Bear stock imported from Slovakia. Game on. It was like I had lived with an aching emptiness for the past two years and now there would be justice.

How fitting that on 14 February, 2017, I received a notice from Canada Post that I had a parcel. First a trip to the post office, and then off to procure a bottle of wine. This was going to be the best Valentine's Day ever!!!!

I knew I loved Biathlon, but perhaps it took this separation to realize what an important role the sport plays in my life. Unboxing my rifle and taking in a mouthful of red wine, I was overcome by an overwhelming sense of relief.

That was two years ago and a lot has happened in two years. Stay tuned for some excited posts!

Rifle up!

Firstly, what is a Biathlon rifle?  That is, what makes a Biathlon rifle different from other rifles? A Biathlon rifle is a bolt action rifle that shoots a small round measured as .22 calibre.  When purchasing ammunition, it should be classified as .22 calibre, long rifle (LR), standard velocity.  This is critical - DO NOT put any other ammunition in your rifle except for the ammunition that is made for it!  For a Biathlon rifle, ONLY USE .22 calibre, LR, standard velocity.

Other unique features of a Biathlon-specific rifle:

• Must weigh a minimum of 2,5 kg
• Trigger weight must be at least 500 g
• No optics (scopes); rifles use iron sights
• Snow covers on the front and rear sight prevent snow from clogging sights
• Ammunition must be carried with the athlete, and so there must be places on the rifle to affix magazines, which hold a maximum of 5 rounds

While some athlete categories in Biathlon competitions do not allow athletes to carry the rifle with him or her, it is more common in most circumstances (especially for adults) to carry the rifle on the back during a race. For this purpose, the Biathlon rifle also has a carrying harness.  The last feature of a Biathlon rifle is used solely for the prone shoot - this is the sling.  The sling is usually a piece of leather with a hook on it.  One end of the sling attaches to the rifle permanently, and the other end can be affixed to an arm band, worn by the athlete. The sling is affixed to the arm band by the hook just before the athlete assumes the prone position, and is removed after the athlete finishes shooting.

The uncomfortable reality of Biathlon is that it's expensive to get started, and can also be a bit of a hassle to find proper places to train.  By this I mean places with snow or shooting ranges.  To get started the equipment is expensive - skis, wax, and yes - a rifle.  However, if you are serious about gaining proficiency in this sport, it is essential to purchase your own Biathlon rifle.  For the lucky few, you might be able to rent a rifle long term from a local Biathlon club.  However, there are many benefits to owning your own rifle:

• You have the opportunity to learn about maintenance and safety of a firearm;

• The rifle can be fit specifically for you;

• Most importantly, you can dry fire regularly!

This last point really is important.  For those that may not have the time to get out to a range several times a week, dry firing offers an inexpensive and invaluable way to practise marksmanship skills.  Even ten minutes a day will greatly improve your results, and having your own rifle will allow you to do this in the comfort of your own home. 

Navigating the tricky waters of obtaining a firearm is different depending on where you live.  For many people in America it is very easy.  You can contact the good folks at Altius and go from there.  Up here in Canada, things are a little bit different.

There are different classes of firearms licences in Canada, but I will focus on the PAL - Possession and Acquisition Licence.  To apply for this licence, you need to be a Canadian resident 18 years or older. 

Firstly, you need to take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)  .  Speaking with the people at a local sporting goods store that sells firearms would be a great start, as would be a general search on the Internet.  The CFSC is a short, basic course that will familiarize you with different types of non-restricted firearms, ammunition, and safety practices.  Since there is no such thing as common sense, this is a pretty important course to take.  Just last weekend I was staying at a place and was surprised to discover that the owner of the house kept a loaded rifle in his closet - very bad!  So yes, the CFSC is time well spent and could very well help you and/or others avoid a bad newspaper story.

After you complete the CFSC, you can apply through the RCMP for your PAL licence.  Information on this process can be found here.  The application costs about $60 and takes roughly 6-8 weeks for it to be mailed to you.  Some people complain about having to wait for their licence, and maybe I was mildly impatient too.  But you know what, if this process keeps firearms out of the hands of lunatics, than I'm alright with that!  Anyway, the name of the application is called the CAFC 921E.  For more information on the licensing process, you can call the Canadian Firearms Program at 1 800 731-4000. You can also send the RCMP an email at cfp-pcaf@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. 

Finally, your licence has arrived!  Now what?  Okay, you need a Biathlon rifle.  There are basically two types of Biathlon rifles: one made by Anschütz, and one made by Izhmash.  Anschütz is the only company that makes a true left-handed Biathlon rifle, and so if you are lucky enough to be left-handed as I am, your choice should be pretty simple.  Alas, these rifles are about $3500 plus tax.  The Izhmash is about $1920 plus tax.

If you would like to purchase an Izhmash, you can contact the folks at Interammo Sports in Edmonton here.  If you would like to purchase an Anschütz rifle, you can contact the folks at Nordic Marksman in Nova Scotia here.  I have purchased a lot of equipment from Nordic Marksman, and the folks there really are super nice and very helpful people.

Some rifles require assembly, and all will require a proper fit.  I would say it's critical to seek out experienced Biathletes or a Biathlon club to help you do this.  A list of Biathlon Clubs in Canada can be found here.  

Receiving my Anschütz. Now what????

Aside from the rifle, you will need other accessories, such as a harness (how you carry the rifle on your back), an arm band (what you attach the sling to), and a sling (attaches rifle to arm for stability in prone position).  As well, you will require a soft case for carrying the rifle from, let's say, your car to the shooting range or competition venue.  For information on storing and transporting firearms, visit this link.  If you plan on travelling with your firearm by means other than your personal vehicle, you would be well advised to consult the travel carrier (West Jet, BC Ferries, etc).  This is important, as I just found out that walk on passengers cannot bring with them a firearm on BC Ferries!  Anyway, when you purchase your rifle from Interammo or Nordic Marksman or wherever, explain that you also require the basic accessories needed to train and shoot, and they will help you find what you need.  Alas, there is not a lot of choice when it comes to things like slings and rifle cases, and so the process will be shorter than you think.

Anyway, this is a basic run down of what it takes to get a rifle.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at waldverloren@gmail.com.