THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL BIATHLON ...

IBU EVENTS IBU VERANSTALTUNGENotepää est28.02. – 07.03.2010Editor AutorJerry KOKESH – USAMember IBU Information CommitteeMitglied IBU InformationskomiteeOriginal language EnglishOriginalfassung EnglischIBU Open EuropeanChampionshipsU26IBU Cup Athletes andOlympians Meet in OtepääAufeinandertreffen von IBU-CupAthleten und Olympioniken in OtepääThe IBU Open European Championships U26 in Otepää,Estonia came on the heels of the Olympic Winter Gamesin Vancouver.Yet with the Vancouver Games closing on Sunday andthe first competitions in Estonia on Tuesday, almost 40athletes made the long trip from Canada. Their presencehad the effect of a double-edged sword. It raised the levelof the competitions, bringing in more top competitors andat the same time, gave some of the IBU Cup regulars theopportunity to see how they stacked up against those athletes.Although, it is important to note that the Olympianswere at a disadvantage due to the very long trip to get tothese competitions. In some cases, it took over two days tomake the trek.The results were mixed, with some of the Olympians goinghome with medals, but in most cases, the top IBU Cupathletes maintained their top positions among their Under26 peers.Known as Estonia’s winter sports capital, Otepää regularlyhosts international competitions, including Cross-Country World Cup, ski marathons, and Ski JumpingContinental Cups. However, it is not an area of abundantsnowfall, until 2010. This winter all of Estonia recordedmore snowfall than has been seen in over 100 years.Thus, from a competitive standpoint, the record frozenprecipitation alleviated one of IBU Assistant Race DirectorVentzeslav Iliev’s biggest concerns while he praised theirwork. “The organizers prepared very well, starting backover six months ago. The biggest issue we discussed thenwas the potential snow conditions; this was very important.We were lucky and now happy to have such good snow conditions.They have prepared all of the facilities, includingthe tracks and shooting range, at a very high level, a WorldCup level.”In a year of record snowfall, it of course affected thecompetitions, with heavy snow and strong winds during theIndividual competitions and during the Pursuits. However,as Iliev stated, “Biathlon is an outdoor sport and thosethings happen.”The German men were at the top of the Overall IBU Cupstandings all season, so for them, these Championshipswas just more of the same. Christoph Knie kicked thingsoff with a win in the Men’s 20K Individual. Knie was especiallypleased to win the 20K as it was his first individualEuropean title, commenting, “It is special to win an individualtitle.” He felt the continuous heavy snowfall was nota big hindrance, adding. “It was hard in the first loops forme. But as the competition went on, it got faster.”48 biathlonworld The official Magazine of the IBU 20 I 2010