Primitive biathlon coming to Saratoga

By DENNIS APRILL, Outdoors Columnist

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On March 10, the New York State Muzzle-Loaders Association is holding its first Primitive Biathlon at the Saratoga Biathlon Club. This is a neat idea I have suggested for years as a perfect outlet for those with skills in snowshoeing and blackpowder rifles to be recognized.

Here’s the setup. Unlike modern biathlon events seen in the Olympics, Primitive biathletes wear traditional wooden frame snowshoes and fire muzzleloaders at targets.

The course is about 3 kilometers where there are five shooting stations. At each station, the biathletes get two chances at the target. Times will be adjusted based on shooting accuracy.

Primitive biathlons, to me, reflect much of the skills that our early hunters needed to survive, and it is out of these traditional hunting methods that our modern biathlons, with the high-tech skis and super-precise rifles, evolved. Anyone can enter.

Trophies will be awarded to the top three overall finishers and there are a number of categories as well. For more information, contact Ken Schultz at 845-8812.