Sixteen-year-old Erin Oliver-Beebe shows Sharon Lazeo how to hold a .22-caliber biathlon rifle.

It's trickier than it looks.

But once Lazeo gets a feel for the rifle she only has to keep a steady hand, to keep the targets from moving, she says.

Oliver-Beebe was just one of the young biathletes on hand over the weekend to instruct newcomers to the sport on how best to shoot, during Biathlon Yukon's open house and demonstration day, Sunday afternoon at the club's shooting range.

Lazeo was there with her 12-year-old son, Izaak Lazeo-Fairman, who, farther down the line, was shooting five for five.

Josh Austin was also there with his father Chuck and older sister Maya.

This was Josh's first time at the biathlon shooting range, but he's no stranger to shooting.

"I usually shoot pellet guns, but this time it was kind of lighter than a pellet gun,” he said, adding that he shot five of five targets.

Chuck takes Josh to the firing range farther up Grey Mountain Road.

"We shoot, but it's the first time we've ever actually shot on a biathlon range,” Chuck said.

"He wanted to come check it out,” he added, pointing to his son.

Tristan Sparks will be entering his second year in biathlon.

For Sparks, who is also a cross-country skier, the sport offers the perfect mix.

"I like skiing and shooting,” Sparks said, adding that he missed out on biathlon tryouts for last year's Arctic Winter Games and instead competed in cross-country skiing.

Biathlon Yukon head coach Judy Hartling said the enthusiasm during the open house and demonstration day is fairly standard.

"Those that have tried shooting have been very pleased,” Hartling said. "One of the big draws obviously is to actually have the opportunity to shoot. When they have a feel for it, they say, ‘You know what, that's kind of fun!'”

Club president Keith Clarke noted that those who were unable to attend the open house can still sign up throughout the season by calling him at 668-6631 or stopping by the shooting range on Sunday afternoons from 1 – 3 p.m.

"There's always a little bit of trepidation – they're firearms, they're rifles,” Clarke said. "But once they are encouraged by some of the older athletes or the coaches to come to the matt to try the rifles, they tend to say, ‘This isn't too bad.'”

Practices for the senior team, ages 15 and up or as determined by the coach, will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:45 - 7:15 p.m., and Sundays from 1 - 3 p.m., with a senior camp tentatively set for Nov. 11 - 13.

The Grizzly Bears, approximately 12-14-years old, will begin training on Nov. 7 on Sundays from 1:30 - 3 p.m. with a mandatory startup camp from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Oct. 24.

The Black Bears, ages 9-12, will begin on Dec. 5 and run on Sundays from 1:30 - 3 p.m.