BURN IN THE COLD

Pairing cross-country skiing with precision shooting, biathlon is a vivid test of fitness and accuracy. Fancy your chances? You’re going to need a whole new kit bag

MARTIN FOURCADE

Don’t let your progress ice over this season. Winter Olympian Fourcade has a kit list to keep you sharp in sub-zero climes

01 Quickfire Round “Your rifle is your most vital piece of gear and this 22-calibre Anschütz is the best of its kind. The time taken for the bullet to leave the barrel after firing is an impressively short 3.5 milliseconds.” – Dixon Anschütz 1827F Biathlon Rifle £ 3350

02 Chalet Yarns “The pure merino wool of this Rossignol pullover is warm yet breathable, while the design makes it a cool choice for après outings. It’s the perfect blend of style and substance.” – Fourcade Rossignol Classique Merino Jumper £ 273

03 Pole To Pole “These poles were developed in Finland and are the lightest and most rigid ever. During races, it’s vital that forces are transmitted to your movements with great efficiency.” – Fourcade Oneway Diamond Carbon and Titanium Poles £ 349

04 Performance Data “Wearing a Polar heart-rate monitor for both training and racing will offer you better control over your performance. The data collected is really helpful when you’re working on your technique.” – Lesser Polar M600 Sport Smartwatch £ 259

05 Snow Legs “Each set of skis is designed to respond to varying snow conditions – these are ‘cold-base’ skis, which perform best on fine powder in temperatures ranging from -1°C to -10°C.” – Dixon Madshus Redline Carbon Skate Skis £ 372

06 Crack Shot “You can end up firing over 20,000 of these bullets a year during training, to ensure you hit those all-important targets when the pressure is on. As with any discipline, practice is key.” – Dixon Eley Tenex Biathlon Bullets from £ 11.75

07 Glare Proof “These specially engineered, highperformance glasses deliver exactly what you need in snowy surrounds – crystal clear vision with minimal disturbance from refracted light.” – Fourcade Julbo Aero Martin Fourcade Glasses £ 162

08 Frost- Free Digits “Cold fingers are really detrimental to your trigger action with the rifle. These Roeckl gloves are made from insulating Gore Windstopper fabric and provide excellent grip.” – Lesser Roeckl Lote Gloves £44

09 Firm Footing “These Salomon racing boots have a monocoque carbon frame, so they’re lightweight, strong and warm. You need a boot which has an efficient power transmission to the ski.” – Lesser Salomon S/lab Carbon Skate Boots £ 775