Italian Air Rifle Biathlon Championships

Entracque: The capital of youth biathlon

For one weekend, the small town of Entracque, set in the Valle Gesso within the Maritime Alps Natural Park in the province of Cuneo (Piedmont), transforms into the Italian capital of youth biathlon. The Italian Air Rifle Biathlon Championships draw around 300 young male and female athletes from the Ragazzi (U13) and Allievi (U15) categories to the Entracque Cross-Country Ski Centre, representing nine regional committees from all over Italy.

A discipline between skiing and the shooting range

Air rifle biathlon is the youth version of the Olympic discipline: the youngest athletes alternate cross-country skiing segments with shooting sessions using air rifles, learning to manage fatigue, rhythm, and concentration. It is the gateway to competitive biathlon and a showcase for the talents who might one day wear the Italian national team jersey. The races award the title of Italian Champion in the two classic disciplines of the first part of the season: the sprint and the pursuit.

The weekend programme

• Friday — Official training on the tracks and technical meeting for team leaders to finalise organisational details.
• Saturday — Sprint races for the Allievi and Ragazzi categories; in the afternoon, the evocative parade of regional committees and awards ceremonies in the historic centre of Entracque.
• Sunday — Pursuit races to determine the national champions, with the closing ceremony held directly on the competition field.

An event for the local area

The event is organised by the Sci Club Alpi Marittime Entracque-Valdieri, affiliated with FISI, in collaboration with local institutions. The Entracque track, meticulously maintained by the ski club, offers a technical loop immersed in an alpine landscape of rare beauty. Beyond the sporting dimension, the Championships represent an important opportunity for tourism promotion for the Municipality of Entracque and the entire Valle Gesso, which welcomes athletes, coaches, and families during the peak days of the winter season.

A travelling championship

This is a national travelling championship: every year, the first stage featuring sprint and pursuit is hosted by a different Italian alpine location, while the individual and relay events are held elsewhere in the following weeks. Being awarded the event has brought a national showcase of the winter youth movement to Piedmont and the Cuneo area.