February 03, 2016 (Canmore, Alta.) – Team USA is fired up following Sean Doherty’s triple medal haul at the 2016 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships that concluded on Feb. 2 in Cheile Gradistei, Romania. Veterans like Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey are keen to make their mark in Canmore, or at the next stop on home turf at Presque Isle, Maine. Meanwhile, Susan Dunklee, has been knocking on the podium door as well and could surprise if the stars align.

It wasn’t that long ago that Burke stunned the biathlon community with two World Cup podiums, becoming the first American to don the overall leader’s bib in 2009. Bailey and Dunklee have tasted podium success as well with breakthrough performances in 2014 and Doherty’s recent prowess in Roumania adds fuel to the fire. Junior Madeline Phaneuf also delivered strong top-10 results for the team in Romania for good measure.

Sweden’s Per Nilsson, has been guiding the squad since 2005 as head coach, and he’s seen the ups and downs, and the successes as well. Now more of a consultant to the team, the coaching duties fall primarily on Jonne Kahkonen for the women, and Jonas Johansson for the men.

We caught up with Nilsson for his take on Doherty, the team, the North American stops, and the upcoming World Championships. More photos below.

Interview with Team USA’s Per Nilsson

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US Biathlon – BMW IBU Biathlon Canmore World Cup

Women
– Annelies Cook (Saranac Lake, N.Y.)
– Susan Dunklee (Barton, Vt.)
– Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine)
– Hannah Dreissigacker (Morrisville, Vt.)
– Joanne Reid (Boulder, Colo.)
Although Egan is named to the team, she has opted to forego World Cup 7 in favor of more intense preparation for World Championships.

Men
– Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
– Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, N.Y.)
– Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H.)
– Max Durtschi (Sun Valley, Idaho)
– Leif Nordgren (Marine, Minn.)
Although Doherty was named to the team, he will not compete in Canmore, instead representing the United States at the Junior World Championships in Romania starting on January 27.