First Level Course continues in Östersund, SWE

From the 2nd to the 7th of October the IBU again gathered eight female and ten male coaches from 15 different countries for the second week of the IBU Academy’s First Level Coach Education held in Östersund, SWE.

Thanks to the amazing support from Ulrika Öberg (Swedish Biathlon Federation) and Marko Laaksonen (Mid Sweden University) the IBU and their coaches found a perfectly prepared venue at the Östersund Skidstadion. High-standard facilities, food, and accommodation left nothing to be desired and helped all involved people to focus on the most important part - EDUCATION.

The week was packed with great lessons, ranging from theoretical inputs about long-term athlete development, biomechanics in shooting, communication, and leadership to practical implementations of range procedures, endurance training methods, skating technique, and many more.

Led by our IBU Educators Wolfgang Pichler, Jonas Johansson, Johan Hagström, and Ola Ravald who were in charge of conducting all practical lessons about shooting and skiing, the program also included high-level experts in the fields of conditioning, physiology, and biomechanics:

Nicole Rodriguez – Conditioning in Biathlon

Oyvind Sandbakk – Physiological Aspects in Biathlon

Marko Laaksonen – Endurance Training in Biathlon

Mathias Ahrens – Long Term Athlete Development and Communication

Gerold Sattlecker – Biomechanics in Shooting

In March 2023, the third and final week of the First Level Course will be held in Jakuszyce, POL at their brand-new biathlon venue. Finally getting on snow for the practical lessons and switching the ski rollers for cross-country skis, the program will add further important aspects of biathlon such as performance diagnostics, nutrition, psychology, and many more.

Stay tuned for the final wrap-up of the First Level Course of the IBU Coach Education.