Successfull staff continues working for US Biathlon
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 - By Viktoria Franke
After the Olympic season it is a common development that many of the biathlon teams change their coaches and support staff in order to prepare better for the next four years. For the US there was no question of adjusting the current situation. Why modify a team that scored the best season of all times during the Olympic winter?
Given last year’s successful performance it is not a big surprise, that the coach staff of the US World Cup team signed a four year contract that will keep them with the team until Sochi 2014. Swedish head coach Per Nilsson and shooting coach Armin Auchentaller from Italy had a major impact on the top results of the last season and hopefully will continue to do so in the further developement.
Small Change in Technicians Team
Because chief technician Andreas Emslander’s left the team after eight years to work with his home country Germany for the next winter, the US team welcomed the Italian wax technician Nicola Cantoni to the team. He will support Petr Garabik (CZE) and Christian Sieler (GER) in their successful work of the last seasons.
The rest of the “team behind the team” will carry on its work with the US Biathlon Team. Remigius Bauer continues his successful work as ski grinder, physiotherapists Martin Biermaier and Alois Grabmair, Dr. Ed Merrens and sports psychologist Ross Flowers will keep on working in the medical area.
High Performance Director Bernd Eisenbichler feels that his team has now reached an almost perfect level with various experiences and expertise from all over the world: „I think that continuity in the support team is an important key for success and since our coaches, technicians and physios made an amazing job over the last years it is of course great to pledge them for some more years! The new man Nicola also brings in some valuable experience from his past work with the Italian team and is quite motivated for his upcoming tasks. I am really satisfied that he decided to work with us!”
Four Athletes Pre-Nominated for World Cup
It is only July but nevertheless four athletes have already been nominated for the next World Cup season based on their last year’s performance: Tim Burke, Jeremy Teela and Leif Nordgren on the men’s side as well as Sara Studebaker as the only woman. The other athletes will have to qualify through national races which will take part in November in Canmore, Canada.
Team selection for 2010:
A 1: Tim Burke, Jeremy Teela, Leif Nordgren
A 2: Lowell Bailey, Jay Hakkinen
B 1: Wynn Roberts
B 2 : Russell Currier, Zach Hall
A 3: Sara Studebaker
B 1: Haley Johnson, Laura Spector, Lanny Barnes
B 2: Susann Dunklee