The Canadian team has seen steady positive growth under head coach Matthias Ahrens who began his tenure with Biathlon Canada back in 2005 starting with the junior team. Last year was a superb season for the team with many personal bests capped off by Nathan Smith’s first World Cup victory in the Men’s 12.5km Pursuit at the final round in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
His stellar win came barely two weeks after he became the first Canadian male to win a medal at the Biathlon World Championships taking home the silver in the Men’s 10km Sprint at Kontiolahti, Finland. It was in 2013 that JP Le Guellec made history as the first Canadian man to win an IBU World Cup in Oestersund, Sweden adding gusto the team’s progress.Recent strong results from Rosanna Crawford and newbies, Macx Davies and Julia Ransom, bode well for the team that’s poised for more solid skiing and shooting at home and at the Presque Isle, Maine for round eight, where US Biathlon will once again play host. We caught up with Ahrens for his take on Canada’s success and how it feels to host a World Cup at home. More photos below.
Interview w/Canadian Head Coach Matthias Ahrens
Biathlon Canada Team – BMW IBU Biathlon Canmore World Cup
Women
– Rosanna Crawford (Canmore, Alta.)
– Megan Tandy (Prince George, B.C.)
– Julia Ransom (Kelowna, B.C.)
– Sarah Beaudry (Prince George, B.C.)
– Zina Kocher (Red Deer, Alta.)
Men
– Macx Davies (Canmore, Alta.)
– Scott Gow (Calgary)
– Christian Gow (Calgary)
– Brendan Green (Hay River, N.W.T.)
– Nathan Smith (Calgary)
IBU Biathlon Canmore World Cup Race Schedule
February 4
11:15 a.m. MST – Men’s 10km Sprint
February 5
11:15 a.m. MST – Women’s 7.5km Sprint
February 6
10 a.m. MST – Men’s 15km Mass Start (Top-30 Athletes)
11:30 a.m. MST – Women’s 12.5km Mass Start (Top-30 Athletes)
February 7
10:10 a.m. MST – Single Mixed Relay (1 Woman, 1 Man)
2:05 p.m. MST – Mixed Relay (2 Women, 2 Men)