The next generation of Biathlon Canada athletes doesn’t have anything to prove – they just want to compete.
The 2016 BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon races get underway, Thursday (Feb. 4) at the snowy Canmore Nordic Centre, nestled in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Over 200 athletes from 29 countries have found their way to Canmore and with them has come an international eye.
On the national level, established Canadian standouts such as Rosanna Crawford, Nathan Smith, Brendan Green and Zina Kocher will be a major focal point, but not far off the trailblazers’ path are younger biathletes with a world stage set in front of them.
Out on their own wilderness turf, Biathlon Canada is showcasing five biathletes aged 25 and under at the world cup – Scott Gow, 25, Christian Gow, 22, Julia Ransom, 23, Sarah Beaudry, 21 and Macx Davies, 23.
“A lot of it is thanks to our older guys showing as Canadians we can be there and that we can compete with the best,” said Davies. “I think we’re going up from here.”
At the front of the youth movement are the one-two punch of the Gow brothers, Scott and Christian.
They are aiming for a memorable performance and to place well within the field.
“I think we’re both pretty thrilled that we get to do it here at home with the whole family here,” said Christian.
As brothers do, sparring and internal competition is essential while growing up under one roof, but out there on the track, the competition isn’t against each other; it’s aimed at the other 100 biathletes.
“Until we’re number one and two, then we can compete with each other,” said Scott.
“We knew this race was going to be held here two years ago and the goal was we’d both like to be able to race … Competition at this level hasn’t come to Canmore in years and the one time it does has finally come and we don’t know when it’ll come again. It’s huge.”
With sights firmly on the opposition, having an edge in knowing the course is unprecedented. Christian said experience and knowing the flow, the dips, the sharp corners and hills of the course and even how the wind typically is in the range, is key this week.
“At the end of the day, the age difference ends up being a pretty big factor in a lot of your races. Every year you get to improve over someone that’s older though, so you can kind of get that chasing aspect of it,” said Christian. “But the reality is at a younger age, endurance-wise, it’s a bit of a disadvantage. But you go out and look for it every single year and that’s kind of what I aim for.
Thursday, the men’s sprint gets underway at 11:15 a.m.; Friday the women’s sprint at 11:15 a.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m., the men’s mass start begins, and at 11:30 a.m. the women’s mass start takes place; Sunday, the last day of races begins at 10:10 a.m. for the single mixed relay and at 2 p.m. for the mixed relay.
