5th Annual GNA Valentine's Paintball Biathlon Race Report
Gilford, NH – Feb. 12, 2012 – Gunstock Nordic Association – As the wind whipped out of the northwest and temperatures hovered in the single digits, GNA warmed each Tippmann paintball gun while participants layered for the elements. Despite the cold and extreme wind, 70 racers took advantage of near-perfect trail conditions. For many participants, this was their first try at the sport of biathlon. Paintball biathlon combines the sports of Nordic skiing and target shooting, using paintball guns instead of the traditional fire-powered target rifles. The course was a 2.4km loop featuring a shooting station on each lap. Depending upon the age of the skier, they raced 3 laps from 500m to 2.4km and were rewarded with time deductions for each target hit. Cold fingers and cold paintball guns made the target shooting the most challenging part of the race!
The ages of the biathletes ranged from NENSA Bill Koch League Lollipop skiers (youngest at age 4) to seasoned master skiers (oldest at age 63). Following the race Lollipop skiers were all rewarded with original Kellerhaus chocolate Valentine’s Day lollipops. Medals and Kellerhaus chocolate prizes were awarded to the top finishers in all other categories. Winners of each category are as follows:
J5 Male (8–9)
Tyler Dooling, Byfield MA
J5 Female (8–9)
Madeline Kitch, Eastern MA
J4 Male (10–11)
Cal Schrupp, GNA
J4 Female (10–11)
Sarah Bean, Wolfeboro Nordic
J3 Male (12–13)
Mark Young, GNA
J3 Female (12–13)
Jacqueline Bengston
J2 Male (14–15)
Matt Young, GNA
J2 Female (14–15)
Tessa Schrupp, GNA
J1 and older Men
Andrew Clemence, UNH
J1 and older Women
Anne Miller, UNH
Click here to download the complete results »
While many Nordic events across the Northeast have been cancelled due to warm temperatures and lack of snow, GNA pulled the event off without a hitch thanks to Gunstock Nordic Center’s extensive snowmaking and top-notch grooming. Jenna Maddock, longtime GNA skier who now races for Williams College, commented that “it actually looks like winter at Gunstock” and mentioned that the Gunstock Nordic Center has some of the “best conditions anywhere in New England.”
GNA would like to thank all participants who braved the elements and most importantly a big thank you to Kellerhuas (our prize sponsor), Tippmann (our paintball gun supplier) and all the volunteers who helped make the event happen. See you next year!