Biathlon athletes competed in the first-ever Ariens Nordic Center Pro-Am Relay in Brillion on Sept. 22, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
BRILLION, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Members of the U.S. Biathlon team descended upon Brillion on Friday for the first-ever Ariens Nordic Center Pro-Am Relay.
Deedra Irwin, a Pulaski native and 2022 Beijing Olympian, was among the athletes who competed in the relay race, which places moderately-experienced biathlon athletes on a team captained by one U.S. Biathlon member.
Typically a winter sport combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, this biathlon race used the Ariens Nordic Center’s paved roller-ski trails and 20-point biathlon target range.
“It’s rare for these athletes to be able to come out here and get this kind of intimate time with a national team athlete,” said Sean Becker, general manager of Ariens Nordic Center. “I would liken this to a football fan that wants to be able to go and throw the ball around with Jordan Love.”
Ariens Nordic Center was designated as an official U.S. Biathlon National Training Center earlier this month.
The facility, which is open to the public, offers a trail network that can be used year-round for recreation, as well as training and competition for cross-country skiing, biathlon, roller-skiing, running and hiking.
It boasts a robust snowmaking system and a 10 million gallon pond for snowmaking purposes.
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