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Classic – the traditional technique used until the advent of skating in the late 1970s. No lateral pushing of the legs is used or allowed.
Clean – when an athlete hits all five targets in a stage, or all of the possible targets in a competition. All five targets will be covered with white discs.
Clicks – the term for a change in an athlete’s rear sight. Each click will adjust the rifle to shoot about 7.5 millimeters horizontally or vertically on the target. A prone target is approximately six clicks wide. Clicks are used to adjust for changes in pressure, sunlight, and wind. In addition, athletes take clicks during zero to move adjust their rifles to aim at the center of the target.
Correction – during a competition with four shooting stages, coaches in the shooting range will watch the athlete shoot prone. If the athlete’s misses tend to be in one location, then the coach will radio the correction to another coach on the trail who will inform the athlete. When the athlete enters the range for the next stage, he will consider using the correction and adjust his sights accordingly using clicks.
Declare – the process of unloading the extra three bullets to be used for targets not hit with the five bullets in the magazine in the relay competition. The bullets must be placed on the shooting mat or in the provided relay rounds cup prior to manual insertion into the chamber.
Dirty – when an athlete misses all five targets, leaving all targets black and untouched.
Double pole – poling with both arms. This ski technique is required for the starts of the relay and mass start competitions in biathlon for the first 50 meters.
European Cup – a series of races in Europe that has become a B-level World Cup in biathlon. Also called the Europa Cup.
Group – for experienced shooters, a group of shots produced with a given amount of ammunition, usually five bullets. By adjusting his sights with clicks or by shading, an athlete can move the group his rifle will shoot on the target.
Junior – an athlete who is not yet 21 years old, but will turn 19 years old in a year.
Lactate – a substance produced in the liver from lactic acid, which is produced by muscles during anaerobic exercise. Lactate enters the blood and continues to build as long as an athlete performs anaerobically. High concentrations cause the blood and muscle tissue to become acidic. The lactate can actually interfere with muscle contractions until the athlete finally becomes too fatigued to continue.
Peak – to create and follow a training plan that will equal peak performance at a specific period in the racing season. When an athlete is at his peak, he will be able to perform to his physical and mental limits.
Prone – the lying position in biathlon.
Senior – athletes must compete at the senior-level at competitions when they will turn 21 years old in a year. Seniors race longer distances than the younger classes.
Shading – some athletes prefer to adjust for changing wind conditions in a race by simply aiming slightly to the left or right instead of adjusting their sights with clicks.
Shooting point – the lane from which an athlete shoots at the targets. Each shooting point is numbered corresponding to the target which is located directly down range from it. A plastic shooting mat is placed at each point.
Skate – a ski technique in which the athlete’s skis push from side to side, like speed skating.
Stage – one bout of shooting, in either the prone or standing stage. Every biathlon race has two or four shooting stages.
Standing – the standing position in biathlon, also called off-hand.
Striding – utilizing the friction created by the contact of grip wax or klister on the ski surface and the snow, an athlete propels himself forward.
Trials – qualification races used to choose competitive teams to represent nations in international events.
V1 – a skating technique used for climbing. Called paddling in Norwegian, the V1 features poling on only one side.
V2 – a skating technique used for sprinting and slight climbs. The athlete poles on both sides, timing his poling with the pushing of his legs. Termed double dance in Norwegian.
V2 alternate – a skating technique, often called open-field technique, used for efficient skiing on flat terrain. Unlike the V2, the athlete poles on only one side. The timing of the V2 alternate differs from that of the V1.
Vo2-max – the maximum amount of oxygen that a person can breathe, transport, and utilize.
Youth – an athlete who will not turn 19 years old in a year.
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