New Biathlon Range Opens in St. Cloud

By Piotr Bednarski
October 6, 2003

A new 20 position biathlon range was just completed this past weekend at the Greystone Nordic Trails on the grounds of the St Cloud Correctional Facility. The biathlon range built was by Minnesota Biathlon CODP in cooperation with the St Cloud Nordic Ski Club and the St Cloud Correctional facility staff. The project required clearing, grading, and seeding a range 50 meters wide by 70 meters long, as well as creating protective berms downrange and along the sides of the shooting range. A 100 foot long protective wall was also added along an exposed section of ski trail.

The range is situated in the current stadium area of the Greystone Trails, and sits in a sheltered depression that provides natural berms for the shooting range as well as protection from the wind. Work on the range has been proceeding all summer, with some of the initial work being done by the City of St Cloud Parks Department as well as STS crews from Sherburne and Stearns County. Joe Teff, a St Cloud Nordic Club member and an employee at the Correctional facility, coordinated the project and was critical to completion of the project.

Ion Senchea is the St Cloud area biathlon coach. He is also coaching St Cloud Appolo and St Cloud Tech high schools this winter, and will be running a biathlon program at the new biathlon facility. Ion is a former Romanian World Cup biathlon team athlete, and brings considerable experience and enthusiasm to his coaching. The new range in St Cloud will be used primarily for training, but is big enough to host regional events. Use of the new biathlon range is open to Minnesota Biathlon members during scheduled practices with Ion Senchea (pronounced yan). If you are interested in biathlon training in the St Cloud area, call Ion at 320-224-3691. Minnesota Biathlon provides instruction and equipment for beginners -- training is oriented to athletes ages 12-18, but adults are welcome to participate as well. More information is available at www.minnesotabiathlon.com.

Related links

• Minnesota Biathlon
• Graystone Trails