The territory’s biathletes strapped on their skis, or snowshoes, and loaded their rifles for the 2020 Yukon Championships - a two-day event held at the biathlon range this weekend.

On Saturday, the biathletes raced sprints and the next day, it was a mass start, which coach Nick Marnik said is a lesser-used format.

The races came at an opportune time, as the Arctic Winter Games are a week-and-a-half away. The Arctics team were all on hand to compete. Marnik said the Yukon

Championships were a good opportunity for the athletes to do competitive races.

“For a couple of the athletes, the Arctic trials were the only organized biathlon race they’ve done this season,” said Marnik.

During practice, Marnik said they try to replicate the atmosphere of a race but it still doesn’t compare.

“We try and crack the tunes during practice,” said Marnik. “But an actual race changes the environment and atmosphere. There is the volunteer aspect, a more formalized start and finish, media taking photos.

“It’s advantageous for the ones with little racing experience. It will make them more confident.”

Competing on both days were the Bears, biathletes in the 8-12 age-range. Marnik said he was happy with how many came out to compete.

“I was surprised by the number of younger kids,” said Marnik. “There can be quite the difference in speeds but everyone did really well. No one didn’t have their own successes.”

Marnik said in the Bears program they have 15 registered and 12 of them participated in the weekend’s events. He said it is also helpful for the young athletes to see the older biathletes race.

“It is great to see the older athletes and it’s always important for the younger ones to see them compete,” said Marnik.

On Sunday, the sun was shining and the temperatures were comfortable, however, the wind was blowing heavily through the range. Despite this, Marnik said he was impressed with everyone’s shooting.

“I was impressed by the youth and senior categories shooting,” said Marnik. “There was not a huge number of penalty loops. Because of the wind, it turns it into much more of a shooting match.”

Almost every format in biathlon, Marnik said, has the athletes shoot at five targets when they arrive in the range. To be at the top of the results, Marnik said if you shoot 80 per cent or higher a biathlete is doing well.

Because it is an Arctic Winter Games year, the Yukon Championships had a snowshoe division.

“Typically, there is no snowshoe on other years,” said Marnik. “Some are newer to the sport and some it’s their first year with us at all.

“They were doing great. They were hitting targets and whipped down the course. There were a couple of clean shooters, it was impressive.”

Marnik said the Yukon Championships were less about overall results and more about continuing to learn the processes involved to become stronger biathletes.

“It’s all about gearing toward the race process so everyone walks away with a win,” said Marnik.

What Marnik is proud of about the Yukon biathletes is the camaraderie that they show toward each other.

“They do great on their own but our crew really acts like a team,” said Marnik. “They are great teammates, they don’t talk to each other about their own results, instead they help each other out.”