FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard Biathlon Team wrapped up a string of international competitions this weekend and is now in Vermont for the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Championships.
It has already been a busy month for the Guard biathletes, as four team members just finished Campeonatos Naceonalis Militares de Esqui in Spain.
It was a national military ski championship event and “an amazing opportunity for our skiers,” said Army Spc. Jordan Becker, who serves as the team’s coach.
During the event, U.S. servicemembers from North Dakota, Vermont, Colorado, Utah and Montana competed against some of Spain’s best biathletes, in addition to representatives from Germany and Argentina.
“The camaraderie was inspirational and the memories will last a lifetime,” said Lt. Col. David Skalicky, who was among North Dakota’s competitors.
The team took part in three races, starting with a 15-kilometer mass start cross-country ski race.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Kent Pulst and his son Army Spc. Brandon Pulst finished in the middle of the pack, placing 34th and 42nd respectively.
A 10-kilometer biathlon sprint race with two shooting bouts followed, and the North Dakota team again held its own against the international competitors, placing in the middle of the field. Kent Pulst placed 29th, Brandon Pulst placed 39th and Skalicky placed 42nd.
“The fresh snow we got every day made the first two races two of the most grueling races I’ve skied in my life,” said Kent Pulst. “It was a good experience for the team to ski against such great competition.”
Besides new snow, the biathletes battled elevation changes.
“Candanchu, Asia, Spain is a breathtaking valley in the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Spain. The barracks for the Spanish Mountain Warfare School sit abreast a world-class ski resort. The biathlon course actually crossed the border into France, so we skied in two different countries in one race,” Skalicky said.
“The fun part was to hear the crowd cheer for each country and to encourage each skier as they struggled up the hills – which there were plenty of them.”
In the final race in Spain, the three North Dakota biathletes partnered with Capt. Annaliese Baumer from Vermont in a four-person military-patrol style pack that covered 25 kilometers with one shooting bout. The team finished in just over two hours, pushing them to a third-place finish.
“I’m really proud of the work Team North Dakota has put in to get this opportunity to represent the United States Armed Forces in this competition,” Coach Becker said, “and I’m even more proud of the job they did while we were there.”
Now, the team will defend its national title at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Vermont.
The Guardmembers qualified for this week’s national championships by winning the regional competition in Camp Ripley, Minn., in January.
Last year, the team turned in record-setting performances at the national competition, winning four events. They’re hoping for a repeat performance this year. With strong depth in the team and a fresh win at regionals, coupled with opportunities to compete against international biathletes this winter, the team is well poised to do so.
Along with the four who took part in the Spain championships, the team has been joined by 2nd Lt. Blake Hillerson, Sgt. Adam Walsvik, Capt. Eric Nordgren, Maj. Jon Wutzke and Spc. Alex Droske. Nordgren and Wutzke serve in the North Dakota Air National Guard and the others serve in the North Dakota Army National Guard.
They will compete in the 10-kilometer sprint race, 12.5-kilometer pursuit race, 15-kilometer patrol race and 4-by-7.5-kilometer relay.
“Weather in Vermont has pushed the start of events back a day, but the four races should all still take place,” Becker reported last night. “There will be some really tough competition, especially with traditional powerhouses Vermont and Minnesota, but Team North Dakota will be in the running to defend the title from last year.”
Biathlon team veteran Skalicky agrees.
“We have at least 18 inches of new snow here in Vermont, so the skiing will be slower, but that gives a good shooting team like ours a distinct advantage,” he said.