Ovando's Madeline Swanberg cleans her target. She won the 9K youth biathlon for the females.
Gary Aitken of Ovando taking a lap around the penalty loop before heading out for his final 7K loop in the 21K race. He avoided the penalty loop the first time in the range hitting five of five in the prone position.
Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Team Klayton Kovatch starting the 9K youth biathlon. Racers were spaced 30 seconds a part to avoid congestion in the range. He placed third with a time of 33:11.
Fourth grader Sam Welch's face says it all after hitting the target during the youth 3K biathlon. The Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Team practiced shooting at the range on Friday shooting 600 rounds.
SEELEY LAKE – Nearly 65 racers combined the aerobic rigors of cross-country skiing with the steady hands and sharp eyes of marksmanship at the Seeley Lake Biathlon Feb. 2 at the Seeley Lake Nordic Trails. Race organizer Dave Batchelder was pleased with the event and looks forward to making it an attraction for Seeley Lake next year.
The Seeley Lake Challenge Biathlon started in Seeley Lake in 2008. The Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event with support from the Montana National Guard.
Due to lack of snow and other organizational challenges, the Seeley Lake Biathlon took a hiatus for the past three years. The Seeley Lake Nordic Club and the Wilderness Sportman's Club purchased the targets from past organizers Steve and Cheri Thompson and revived the citizen's ski and shoot.
Just like in the past, no previous biathlon experience was required to compete. This year they used Competitive Timing to keep track of the times and added two more targets for a seven-lane range.
Racers chose between three distances 21K, 9K or 3K in the elite, adult or youth divisions. They skied one loop, then shot five targets at 50 yards in the prone position. They went around for a second time returning to the range to shoot another five targets standing. They finished the race with a final loop. For every missed target, the skier was required to ski a lap in the 150 meter penalty loop before proceeding.
"It went well and it was nice to bring the two groups together – individuals who are into marksmanship and combining it with Nordic skiing," said Batchelder. "We purposefully kept it low key this year to iron out the kinks but I think next year it will be substantially bigger and it will be a thing in Seeley Lake."
Ranger Manager Chris Lorentz who had managed the biathlon range in the past, thought this year's event was, "very smooth and very safe."
"There were lots and lots of smiling people, kids, adults, grandparents," said Lorentz. "It's just a good, fun event."
Lorentz said it was a learning year for the two organizations. They are still working on the schedule and organization. If the US Forest Service would grant permission to expand the range and they can purchase more targets, they hope to expand the range in the future. This year spacing the racers out by 30 seconds at the start helped avoid a line at the range.
Seeley Lake's Angus Batchelder finished third in the men's elite 21K behind Darren Zellman of Seeley Lake in second and winner Lukas Horejsi of Missoula finishing in 1:09:57.
"It was very well organized and a great thing for the community," said Angus. He appreciated how spectator friendly the event was with the three-loop course and shooting area that allowed the community to come out and support the participants.
Lorentz thanked the 27 Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens and Wilderness Sportsmen Club members for "volunteering a Saturday in the rain," to ensure the safety on the range. There were at least 10 more volunteers operating the race, timing and serving food for the race.
Any proceeds from the event will support the Seeley Lake Nordic Club and Wilderness Sportman's Club activities.
"It is a great spectator sport. There is something going on all the time – whether it is the shooting range, penalty loop or at the start and finish," said Batchelder. "It was so exciting to see the young kids out skiing and shooting."
Local Finishers (full results at http://competitivetiming.com/results/195588O):
21K Female Elite: Kim Grover, Seeley Lake, 1st, 1:24:13
21K Male Elite: Darren Zellman, Seeley Lake, 2nd, 1:13:12; Angus Batchelder, Seeley Lake, 3rd, 1:17:28
21K Male Adult: Gary Aitken, Ovando, 6th, 2:59:03
9K Male Adult: Craig Blandford, Clinton, 5th, 56:36
9K Female Youth: Madeline Swanberg, Ovando, 1st, 36:21; Zia Kloetzel, Ovando, 4th, 41:59; Ella Batchedler, Seeley Lake, 5th, 43:56
9K Male Youth: Owen Hoag, Seeley Lake, 2nd, 32:32; Klayton Kovatch, Seeley Lake, 3rd, 33:11; Eric Lorentz, Seeley Lake, 5th, 37:47
3K Female Youth (all from Seeley Lake): Cora Stone, 1st, 14:55; Hattie Batchelder, 2nd, 18:21; Kilty Hanson, 3rd, 19:41; Isis Snow, 4th, 30:10; Grace Neher, 5th, 38:59; Kieu Snow, 6th, 42:41
3K Male Youth (all from Seeley Lake unless noted): Noah Stone, 1st, 16:45; Kimber Hanson 5th, 26:38; Sam Welch, 6th, 30:09; Trey Good, 7th, 33:01; Harrison Burton, 8th, 33:27; Mark Blandford, Clinton, 9th, 35:49; Jesse Wink, 10th, 39:16; Ethan Shields, 11th, 41:22; Walter Shields, 12th, 45:33.
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