Germany welcomes Minnesotan biathletes

After more than a decade-long hiatus, Jon Gould of Duluth, Minnesota, has once again created a cultural training opportunity for Midwestern biathletes in Germany. Three aspiring Minnesota high school biathletes, which combines Nordic skiing with target shooting - Erik Rupert, a Hermantown High School senior, Tyler Hadrits, a sophomore at Brainerd High School, and Nick Proell a second-year student at St. Cloud Tech High School - were the recent recipients of an enriching three-week overseas experience this past June.

Gould, a retired German teacher, twice translated for East German Nordic combined skiers at the World Cup events held at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minnesota, in the 1980s. From 1995 to 1998, he trained with former East Germans. He took up biathlon again in 2008 and now is committed to providing opportunities for young biathletes through his association with Sven Boerner, a youth coach in Altenberg, Germany.

Gould said it is important for biathletes aspiring to compete internationally to travel to Europe and experience different training methods, languages, food and life in general. He said young biathletes who interact with their competitors build life-long relationships. Beyond this, American athletes benefit from state-of-the-art biathlon training in Germany, a leader in this sport.

In preparation for their journey, Gould taught the three teenagers some important German words, such as gewehr (rifle), fintakter (V2) and zweitakter (V1). Proell left knowing a bit more than that having taken a year of high school German. The group also learned a lot about transporting rifles across national borders.

The German biathlon families who graciously hosted the Americans covered their food and lodging expenses while there. The group trained in Altenberg, which is near Dresden in the province of Sachsen (Saxony). Altenberg was established in the 1950s as the first biathlon-training site in former East Germany.

The Minnesotans took part in several local competitions. Proell and his German partner took first place in 5K and 10K orienteering races.

"I won a good sized glass cube with (the image of a) biathlete in the middle creating a 3D effect, and glass ribbons just for a small training race," Proell said.

In a mountain bike and shooting competition, experienced biathletes were paired with less experienced biathletes. Rupert shone during the mountain bike biathlon, finishing sixth among some of the top German juniors and winning a beer stein and decorated metal plate.

The event was quite large for a local race, with plenty of spectatos and media attention. Proell, who took part in the event as well, said, "It was the first time I've ever seen more than 20 spectators. There were about 70 or 80 people watching our race on a Sunday afternoon, just like they would watch a football game in America."

For winning his age group in a 5K run, Hadrits said he was pleasantly surprised to be given high quality iPod headphones. Rupert crossed the finish line first in a 10K running race, a time trial for senior, junior and youth athletes. Although he was unable to bring the trophy home due to its size, he promised to come back next June to defend his title.

The boys also traveled to the Czech Republic to compete in a 10K uphill time trial on classic roller skis.

The Americans said they found their German peers more focused on biathlon. While they still played soccer, basketball, volleyball and even did some gymnastics and trampoline work, it was all within the framework of a yearly biathlon-specific training plan.

Differences in diet were also noted. Gould said that Germans tend to make very healthy salads and pasta dishes. He said some favorite dishes are potato soup with a boiled bratwurst and gulasch. After a race, it is common to be offered mineral water or lemonade. Although German athletes drink sport drinks as in the U.S., Gould said spectators are always treated to a beer tent, where both pilsner and dark beers are sold. That could explain why turnout is better at German biathlons.

The terrain was significantly hillier over there, too, the boys said. Proell said everywhere he looked there was a mountain or a valley. Hadrits said the area reminded him of Appalachia.

In fact, the Erzgebirge, which means "ore mountain range", is on that scale. Oberwiesenthal, the site of another biathlon and Nordic training center the group visited, reaches 1,250 meters above sea level. Despite experiencing leg cramps, Hadrits said he enjoyed the tough training there.

"Germany was cool because you see a lot more people running, roller skiing, walking, and biking than in the U.S.," Rupert said.

Proell said he was impressed with the German shooting ranges and smooth rollerskiing only trails.

Through Facebook the three boys said they have kept in touch in with the German athletes they met. They plan to go back again next year.

Gould said he intends to keep the American-German biathlete exchange program going. He said it will be and open to interested athletes in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He hopes to bring the first group of German biathletes here next July.

For more information about the program, call John Gould at 218/269-2854 or e-mail him at jgould1952@yahoo.com.