The Yukon biathlon season is now going full bore.

Two biathlon competitiors left Monday for the national championships in Val Cartier, Quebec, where they will be joined by two Yukon athletes training at Augustana College in Camrose, Alberta Land Pearson and Cassandra McCollum.

Ryan Knight is in his fourth year with biathlon Yukon and previously competed in biathlon with the Cadets for a year, while Jennifer Sdellbrink is a new-comer to the sport. Both are avid cross-country skiers.

'I like mixing the two sports,' said Knight in an interview at the biathlon range Sunday. 'In Biathlon you go hard the whole time but you have to keep your breathing rate down because you're taking breaks to shoot.'

'It's a challenge,' added Sdellbrink, who has been to the national championships for cross-country skiing in the past.

Knight, who has been to Val Cartier for the Cadet biathlon finals, said the final results don't always reflect how well you ski because the shooting counts for a lot as well. And in the same fashion, if you're best at shooting but you're skiing's not too good you won't do very well.

That's why both of them take part in a fair amount of training.

'I go to the gym every morning,' said Knight. 'I have biathlon training three times a week plus I do strength training. And I have speed skating twice a week.

'My life pretty much revolves around sports.'

Sdellbrink's father Carl, who is the skiing coach for biathlon, estimates she trains about 500 hours a year.

In edition to the physical training, Carl said he has been working with the athletes on technique and taking part in video analysis.

'Jennifer and Ryan are very good (at skiing),' said Carl. 'That's pretty much the only reason Jennifer gets to go, because of her skiing background.'

Peter McCollum, who will also be traveling to Quebec as a coach, stressed the fact breathing is a key element of a successful biathlete.

'You need to be aerobically fit, so when you come in for a shot you can get yourself settled down,' he said. 'You also need strength training because you have to have the ability to steady the rifle. So we do a lot of one shot drills. You're teaching the body how to go through the motions.'

The national championships are the first Outside competition for the Yukon squad this season, though Pearson and Cassandra McCollum have taken part in college competititions.

'I think they will do fairly well,' said Peter catiously. 'There is fairly stiff competition, since it's being hosted in Quebec. Quebec and Ontario are the biggest contingents.

'We'll see how they make out. It will be a good benchmark for them.'

Carl said it's his philosophy not to force athletes in competition.

'I provide them with the equipment they need to get there and the rest is up to them,' he said.

Knight hopes to take what he's learned and reach the top ten at nationals, a goal which he called realistic.

'If I do better, I'll be happy,' he said.

'I really have no idea,' said Jennifer when asked about her goals. 'Because I've only skied against Ryan.

'I want to see how nationals go because I really don't know how good I am.'

Nationals will also be the trials for the World University Games which Jennifer has an outside shot at making. Both Pearson and McCollum will be trying out for the University games as well.

While Knight won't be competing for a spot there, he does hope to make a different team.

'I'm hoping if I do well here, I wil lbe asked to train on the Olympic Development team,' he smiled. Making the development team would mean more outside competitions and some training in Canmore, AB.

While Knight, Sdellbrink, Pearson and McCollum take on Canadian athletes in Quebec, ten more Yukon athletes will be preparing to take on a different bunch of competitiors at the Arctic Winter Games next week.

Five ski biathlon members three male and two female and five snowshoe biathletes three male and two female will represent the territory.

James Yeulett, Eric Lindsey and Chris Ladret are all in their first year competing on snowshoes.

'I didn't fell like skiing anymore so I decided to do snowshoeing,' said Yeulett. '(With snowshoe biathlon) you get rest every now and then because of the shooting.'

Yeulett said his goal this year is to win an ulu. His best finish when he attended AWG for skiing was fourth.

Ladret said he would just like to finish his race while Lindsey, who moved to Whitehorse from Fort Nelson last year, wants 'to win.'

'But I don't expect to really because it's my first year competing,' he added.

All three Yukoners feel the N.W.T. will field a tough team in snowshoe biathlon at the AWG. They finished first and second last year.

The 2004 Arctic Winter Games get underway Feb. 28 in Fort McMurray, AB.