Biathlete takes on national challenge at Otway
It’s a long way from the shores of the Atlantic in Charlo, N.B., to Prince George, site of the 2022 Canadian Biathlon Championships, but Claudette Maltais wouldn’t miss it for the world.
At 71, in her sixth season of biathlon, there’s always room for improvement in her rifle shooting, but as she proved in her opening race at Otway Nordic Centre on March 13, she’s got the skiing part nailed down.
Maltais, the oldest of 202 biathletes entered in the five-day event and the only one from New Brunswick, picked up where she left off earlier this month as a multi-medalist at the World Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships in Canmore, and blasted her way to a fourthplace finish in the masters women 50-andolder six-kilometre sprint.
“The course is lovely, I was very happy with my race,” said Matais who won two silver and one bronze in her freestyle cross-country races last week.
“I’m just here to have fun. I’ve been practicing biathlon for six years now, a new challenge.
“This course is easier than Charlo. There’s a downhill in Charlo that’s very dangerous and there’s an uphill called ‘Oh My God.’ This is a very nice course, nice setting. Lots of volunteers and nice people
working for you.”
Maltais hit four of five targets while prone but missed all five in her standing bout, which meant five 150-metre penalty loops.
“I’m always the oldest (biathlete) wherever I go, but it’s fun,” said Maltais.
“It’s fun to meet people and I’m traveling a lot these days. I have nothing to prove, I just challenge myself. It’s not easy, the rifle
is heavy, although this one I didn’t carry the rifle. I had no stress at all, I knew I just wanted to finish the race.”
Jacqueline Hutchinson of Canmore won the class and will start Monday’s pursuit 14 seconds ahead of Deborah Hall of Foothills Nordic (Calgary), while Lise Le Guellec of Lapoursuite (Levis, Que.) was third (+3:24.7).
Representing the Fast and Fossil
biathlon club of Canmore celebrated her win in the masters 50 class in her first-ever race in Prince George.
“I’m super-stoked to be here,” said Hutchinson.
“Of course, Canmore seems to think it’s the centre of biathlon, at least in Western Canada, but I’ve not been here before and… fantastic trails, such nice grooming and fantastic volunteers. I love it here.”