Biathlon New Zealand
The Olympic sport of cross-country skiing and shooting
Purpose of the Trip
The purpose of this trip was to support my development as a New Zealand junior biathlete through participation in the Junior IOC/IBU Youth Development Camp and the IBU Junior Cup races held in Goms, Switzerland, in December 2025. This opportunity, made possible through funding and sponsorship support, aimed to improve my technical skills, racing experience, and exposure to international competition standards.
Trip Summary
The trip involved international travel from New Zealand to Europe, transiting through Germany before arriving in Goms, Switzerland. While in Goms, I attended the IOC/IBU Youth Development Camp and then remained at the venue to compete in the Junior IBU World Cup races alongside my New Zealand teammates. We were a team of two female and two male athletes plus a coach, all members of Team Snowfarm.
Both the training and competition components provided access to high-level coaching andracing opportunities not available in New Zealand.
IOC/IBU Youth Development Camp (Goms, Switzerland) 1-7 December 2025
The IOC/IBU Youth Development Camp based at the Nordic Centre in Goms brought together 60 athletes aged 15-20 from a wide range of countries and was delivered by IBU-appointed coaches. The camp focused on developing ski technique, shooting accuracy, race tactics, and overall performance consistency.
The NZ team stayed in a traditional Swiss hotel located 3 km upvalley from the Nordic Centre. Intrue kiwi style, we skied daily to training and back, before walking to dinner and catching a ridehome after the evening lectures.
In addition to on-snow training, the camp emphasised athlete professionalism, including recovery, equipment preparation, and understanding the demands of international competition.Training in this environment allowed me to benchmark my performance against international peers and identify areas for continued improvement.
IBU Junior Cup Competition (Goms, Switzerland) 8-14 December 2025
Following the training camp, the team and I stayed on in Goms, renting an airbnb in Fiesch, sowe could compete in the IBU Junior Cup races. Competing at the same venue allowed for continuity in preparation and provided an opportunity to apply the skills and feedback gained during the training camp directly into race situations. We attended daily training sessions in the lead up to the IBU Sprint events, and shared a wax room with Serbia and Uzbekistan.Racing against top junior biathletes from around the world reinforced the importance of execution under pressure, mental resilience, and consistency across both skiing and shooting.We were registered as IBU athletes and our performances were broadcast and recorded on theIBU App. In my first race I came 87th out of a field of 103; my second race saw an improvement to 78th with just one missed shot in the 7.5km sprint event. It was my best biathlon performance to date; I could really feel the improvement in my ski, transition, and shooting techniques.
Outcomes and Benefits
As a result of this trip, the following outcomes were achieved:
Improved ski technique, shooting consistency, and race awareness
Increased experience in training and competing at an international level
Greater understanding of elite competition demands and athlete professionalism
Enhanced confidence and motivation to progress within the sport
Connections with athletes and coaches from around the world
Value of Funding Support
The funding and sponsorship received were essential in enabling participation in this international training and competition opportunity. The knowledge, skills, and experience gained represent strong value for money, with long-term benefits for my athletic development and futurere presentation of New Zealand in biathlon.
Conclusion
The IOC/BU Youth Development Camp and Junior World Cup races in Goms, Switzerland werehighly valuable for my development as a New Zealand junior biathlete. This trip provided accessto elite coaching, international competition experience, and learning opportunities that will havea lasting impact on my performance. I am very grateful for the funding and sponsorship supportthat made this experience possible.
