United States Biathlon Association

West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation

Invite you to attend the

U.S. Biathlon Western Championships

23-27 January 2019

West Yellowstone, MT

Individual • Sprint • Pursuit

IBU Categories: Men, Women, Junior Men/Women, Youth Men/Women, U17Men/Women, U15 Men/Women, Masters Men/Women Novice Categories (Sprint on 26 January ONLY): Men/Women, U13 Men/Women

2018 IBU rules and the 2018 – 19 NorAm hosting policy

Hosted by: West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation Sponsored By: Altius Handcrafted Firearms • www.altiusguns.com

28 December 2018

The West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation and Altius Handcrafted Firearms welcome you to the Rendezvous Ski Trails for the US Biathlon Western Championships 23-27 January 2019. The organizing committee is looking forward to hosting an excellent competition and athletes from across North America are encouraged to attend this event.

This is a 5-day event including two (2) Official Training Days and three (3) Competition days.Competitions will include Individual, Sprint, and Pursuit. All IBU categories and USBA U17 and U15 categories are encouraged to race all 3 days. Novice categories will also be available for the Sprint on 26 January.

Competition fees for the event do not include trail fees, which may be purchased online with your registration or on site when you arrive.

Organizing Committee

• Chief of Competition: Marc Sheppard
• Race Secretary: Moira Dow
• Chief of Range: Michael Keator
• Chief of Course: TBD
• Chief of Timing: Mac Reed, SportStats US
• Chief of Scoring: Peggy Lynn
• Chief of Stadium: Jack Hart & Drew Barney
• Volunteer Coordinator: Brenda Holland

Questions should be directed to Marc Sheppard altiusguns@gmail.com 406-646-9222  

Eligibility to Compete: Competitors from all IBU member NFs will be eligible to participate in this event. Competitors from USA must be ‘Red Book’ certified to race in the IBU classes. Novice competitors must have completed a previous safety clinic or the safety clinic offered on Saturday, 26 January prior to the Sprint event.

Non-Resident Firearms Declaration Process: Teams and individual competitors from outside of the USA must have proper documentation for their rifles prior to entry into the USA. Find forms and instructions here

Ammunition: Altius Handcrafted Firearms in West Yellowstone carries ammunition from SK, Fiocchi, RWS, and Lapua

REGISTRATION: Registration is ONLINE ONLY. On-line registration closes on Wednesday January 23, 2018 at 16:00 MST. No Registration will be taken on site. All Competitors MUST have a 2018/2019 membership for USBA or their IBU member federation. Proof of membership is required to compete. Enter the membership number in the membership field (Biathlon Canada or other International competitors use ‘INTL’).

Competition Fees for this event: 3 Races $135 includes 5-day ski pass and 1 banquet ticket $50 Per Race includes 1-day ski pass

Extra Banquet Ticket: $20

Note that due to USFS requirements, all skiers must be in possession of a day or season trail pass when skiing on the Rendezvous Ski Trails.

Option to buy ski passes is included in online registration ($8 per day or $40 for a season pass)

Cancellation Policy in Effect: If the event is cancelled due to severe cold weather, three days before the event then a 50% refund of registration fees will be refunded by WYSEF. If the event is cancelled on the competition weekend due to severe cold weather or force majeure, no refund of registration fees will be made. If an athlete withdraws before the registration deadline then a $10 processing fee will apply before a refund is sent.

COMPETITIONS:

• Thursday: Individual (IBU rules) Saturday: Sprint (IBU rules) Sunday: Pursuit* (NorAm Hosting Policy)

  * Competition will be conducted with a fixed 5-sec interval between competitors, with the start order based on the designated qualifying competition from the same event. The cumulative 5-sec gaps between competitors in a given class are the handicaps that must be overcome in order to win the competition. Athletes who have not taken part in, or who did not successfully complete, the qualifying competition may compete in the Pursuit Competition as unqualified entries. Unqualified entries will start after all qualified entries and will be grouped together with a random draw for start lane assignments.

EVENT SCHEDULE FOR US Biathlon Western Championships 23-27 January 2019 AWARDS: Flower ceremonies will follow the competitions daily in the Stadium area immediately after final results are posted. Awards will be presented at the Banquet Saturday night and at the Stadium following the Pursuit event on Sunday. Clean shooting awards will be presented daily at the Stadium. We have created unique awards specific to this event for the top 3 finishers in each category!

Bozeman International Airport is 90 miles (145km) from the Rendezvous Ski Trails.

ACCOMMODATIONS: West Yellowstone offers a wide variety of hotels, condos, suites, vacation rentals and B&Bs. https://www.destinationyellowstone.com/sleep/