Biathlon on NBC right now (1pm EST)

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GTSteve03

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Just in case anyone wanted to watch the only Olympic sport that I can think of that involves rifles, NBC is showing the 15km Biathlon right now from 1-6pm EST.

Pretty nice rifles these guys have, the first shooting stage is about to come up so I'll see how well they use them.

Better than me, that's for sure! :neener:
 
I saw it. Very cool to actually make airtime. Wish they would show actual closeups of the targets as they are being hit rather than just the graphic representation. Can't have everything.
 
Sometimes they do. I've seen a reverse angle shot with a split screen. One side is a view of the shooter from downrange, the other is a closeup of the targets. It's pretty cool if you can catch it.

Mac
 
Damn I missed it! Maybe they will have the repaly tonight. Nope they dont but more Biathalon comes on tonight at 7pm & 12am cst.
 
You know, before stepping up to the line at a competition, I usually take time to sit down, shut my eyes, and calm myself down.

I can't imagine the level of mental conditioning it takes to be able to ski several kilometers, and then lay down and within a few seconds shoot a target that's less than two inches in diameter.
 
This afternoon was the last men's event; the one tonight is the last women's biathlon event.

It's a great sport because it requires the athletes to ski as hard as they can but know when to throttle back and settle their pulse and respiration down to shoot. It's fun to watch because you can see the hits and know what that means in terms of lost time. Plus the women's event is fun to watch because what could be better than a bunch of very fit Scandanavian women with rifles!
 
I can't imagine the level of mental conditioning it takes to be able to ski several kilometers, and then lay down and within a few seconds shoot a target that's less than two inches in diameter.
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They said the targetwas about the size of a silver dollar, which if that isn't hard enough, it's also 60 yards away and you have to use iron sights! :what:

They said that even other Olympic athletes think biathletes are the most talented people out there. I would have to agree, where else are you going to need such a combination of physical strength and stamina combined with mental toughness and clarity.
 
It was amazing how fast they could steady their rifles and start shooting. I wish they would show more of the actual targets rather than the graphics of the hit and misses. Actually seeing the near misses made it more dramatic than just having a black or white spot flash on the screen. BTW, I didn't see what specific biathlon rifles they were using (no doubt highly customized)?
 
Can you say, "Swedish Bikini Team?"
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Oh, yeah !

010701_sbt_Vendela_shooting.jpg
 
Anschutz - maker of Olympic target rifles

Take a look at www.championshooters.com to see some of the rifles used in Biathlon and other Olympic rifle events (click on "Online Store" and then "Anschutz target rifles") - very specialized rifles that can literally shoot one hole groups. The 1903 smallbore match rifle would be great for pest sniping!

As for me, I couldn't even see a 2" target at 60 yards, let alone hit it!!
 
Can you say, "Swedish Bikini Team?"
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One piece of hot brass in the cleavage will change her mind about proper range attire.

Anyone who has ever done cross-country skiing can tell you it smokes your behind but good. To be able to do that, then stop and be able to control your breathing enough to hit targets, sometimes while standing, is just incredible. These guys are STUDS.
 
I just finished watching the women's biathalon, via Tivo. A Swede won the gold. Unknown if she had a bikini under all that ski apparel, which kept her warm and kept her safe from flying hot brass.

If I remember right, she had one miss out of 20 total shots, had to ski one lap of the penalty ring.

Regards.
 
I was able to catch the women's mass start from beginning to end. They are phenomenal! As has been said before, I can't imagine skiing that much and then being able shoot as well as they do no matter how good the firearm is.

They showed the reactive target system. Pretty neat setup. The shooter has instant verification of a hit.
 
I wonder if it annoys many statists to see athletes shooting firearms on international television.

Or is it rendered less offensive by being part of a "legitimate" sport?

I was watching part of the women's biathlon at a bar last night (Hole in the Wall, Austin), and heard a few comments in the crowd about what an unusual combination of sports it was, but no negative comments.

Got in a chat with a few folks nearby, and explained how cool biathlon is in terms of going from herculean muscular effort, to suddenly completely stilling the body functions in order to do incredibly precise shooting.

Summer Biathlon (running then shooting rifle) isn't an Olympic event, is it?

-MV
 
I sit in my comfortable chair in awe. They locomote to the shooting position using every large muscle group in the body. Chest, shoulders, hips, buttocks, legs, lungs etc all get a chance to scream for relief. And in an instant breathing has to be under instant control. Vision must now be clear. All the large muscle group pain has to be shut off. Fine motor control is all that is important now. The head has to be under control because if the head can't make fine motor control work out right and causes a miss, the large muscle groups and lungs will pay the price of a penalty lap.

These people are amazing.
 
Summer Biathlon (running then shooting rifle) isn't an Olympic event, is it?

-MV
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Nope, and it doesn't seem to exist at all here in Texas. Maybe we should start it. You could definitely do the cross-country running part out at the ARC. You run at all?

Mac
 
My running could get back up to semi-par, but I can't imagine what it would take to be able to completely still my breathing and pulse in the time it takes to go prone and load up.

I do believe that there was a local summer biathlon group in Seattle when I was living there, advertised themselves as being off-season cross training. But I found the idea a bit intimidating so didn't give it a whirl.

Mac, dang your presence reminds me that I still haven't gone to check out the range on the UT campus. It is just handgun, or just smallbore? I can't put my Dissipator in a guitar case and bring it to the range, can I?

-MV
 
Mac, dang your presence reminds me that I still haven't gone to check out the range on the UT campus. Now that I think of it, also reminds me of the box of .22WMR I've been meaning to pass along. Is the campus range just handgun, or just smallbore? I can't put my Dissipator in a guitar case and bring it to the range, can I?

-MV
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Just smallbore. I haven't been there in a few weeks myself...I need to get back.

Mac
 
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