The old adage “biathletes are made in the summer” holds true: the many, many hours of physical training and repetition on the shooting range build strength, muscle memory, and confidence that translates into winter success.

Although it is early, judging from a few national championships, Blink, and Dresden, some athletes summer training seemingly has them trending positive as summer transitions into autumn and winter. They include “usual suspects”: Franziska Preuss, Eric Perrot, Sturla Holm Laegreid, Lou Jeanmonnot, Tommy Giacomel, Suvi Minkkinen, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Sebastian Samuelsson, and Lisa Vittozzi, For good measure, throw in Justus Strelow, Hannah Auchentaller, Martin Uldal, Janina Hettich-Walz, Venessa Voigt, and Karoline Knotten.

The question becomes: what building blocks created their successful summer?

Three Phases: Volume - Intervals - Transition

The early season is volume-oriented, with long cycling tours of up to six hours, hiking, running, roller skiing, and several weekly gym sessions to build strength and mobility. Shooting returns to the basics with slow-fire sessions, focusing on process and accuracy at a lower heart rate. Rifle stock changes and position adjustments are also introduced during this phase.

Phase two continues volume training with three-hour sessions not uncommon, with long rollerski intervals and shooting at a higher heart rate. Norwegian Coach Siegfried Mazet emphasised the simplicity of early-season intervals.

“For sure hitting the targets now is most important. It makes no matter if it takes a minute or more to shoot.”

Shorter, faster interval sessions, simulating race conditions slip in by mid-summer.

As fall and the new season approaches, training volume remains high, continuing to build a large aerobic base that will carry through the winter racing season. Interval sessions get faster and shooting times head down, simulating race conditions. At the same time, there are early touches on snow in the ski tunnels or atop a glacier like Dachstein. By late October, training is basically complete. Much of the last 3-4 weeks before the season-opener are spent on snow, testing and regaining the feel of the snow, and putting final touch-ups on race preparation.

Overcoming Illness

Illness and injury go hand-in-hand with high-level sport. A healthy, injury-free summer will not guarantee winter success, but is a huge asset. There is a very fine line between the highest level of fitness and “falling off the cliff” into illness. Injuries, many from falls or crashes roller-skiing or cycling are a fact of life.

Significant time off due to injury or illness does not necessarily derail an athlete’s season. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold admitted she was in “very good shape” when last season began, was then sidelined with heart issues and surgery, but later rebounded to win the Nove Mesto Sprint in March.

Preuss’ Health Focus

Every coach admits there is no cookie-cutter approach to training programs. Each team has an umbrella plan with individual adaptations dependent on age, experience or health considerations. World Cup Total Score winner Franziska Preuss and Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi and Lukas Hofer are cases in point where their program veers slightly from the bigger group. After a very successful 2024/25, Preuss remains focused on staying healthy, and from October on, will semi-isolate herself from family, friends and the public. As part of her personal plan, she had an extended altitude camp in Lenzerheide while the rest of the team was in Bessans.

Vittozzi’s Personal Program

Vittozzi missed 2024/25 and spent much of the summer training solo outside of the team, gradually rebuilding. As fall approaches, she returned to the team but will surely be following a program based on individual needs. Hofer likewise, spent part of the summer with the Italian men, but added some extra altitude weeks outside of the group as part of his preparation.

Focus on Altitude

Thin-air training is now a cornerstone of summer prep, especially with the Olympic Winter Games in Antholz approaching. Gone are the days of just a week at 1,600 meters. This summer, Norway spent three weeks in June at Livigno/Passo Lavaźe, another three recently at Seiser Alm/Passo Lavaźe, and will return for a final 1,800-meter stint in October. Teams like Sweden, Finland, France, and Germany followed similar multi-week altitude plans to sharpen their Olympic readiness.

Pizza, Tacos and Ice Cream

A successful season takes more than just good summer training. Biathlon is as much mental as physical. Positive reinforcement from coaches and mental health advisors takes much of the stress out of training and competition; a positive, goal-oriented attitude and mindset go a long way to ensure success. Team camaraderie plays a big part, considering that many teams spend up to 200 days together each year. It’s things like pizza on the roadside with teammates after a long hard bike ride, eating ice cream and soaking up the Italian sunshine after lunch, an indulgent taco night, watching a film together or swimming in Lago Anterselva to end the day. Sharing these moments and diversions are great mental health therapies.

Summer and Winter: “focused every day”

Perrot, in his quest for the Yellow Bib this coming season, sees the summer/winter transition as, “being on a really high training level every day. Summer is much like the winter season. Every day is training; you have to be focused every day. The season is the same with races every two days; you have to be prepared for this and maintain the level high. I do this all summer: a high level of focus every day in every task I do. Doing this in the summer will bring me the same in the winter.”

Photos: IBU/Nordic Focus