Youth Biathlon Program
Biathlon for young athletes
Crosscut’s youth biathlon programs offer a fun, welcoming, and supportive environment where young athletes can build skills, confidence, and friendships. Whether kids are brand new to biathlon or excited to grow as athletes, our programs emphasize positive team environments, safety, and joy in movement. With age-appropriate opportunities for U12, U14, and U16/U18 athletes, Crosscut helps young people explore the sport while being part of a positive team community.
Coach Spotlight: Ann Sorenson
Ann was a member of the U.S. National Summer Biathlon Team for 10 years, traveling the world to compete. She loves introducing people to biathlon and seeing the excitement when that first target falls. With her positive, outgoing personality, she shares the fun, challenge, and opportunities the sport can bring.
Summer Camps
We offer summer camps for kids age 10-18. These dryland biathlon training camps provide a safe, supportive environment for kids to gain an introduction and exposure to the sport of biathlon. The camps are held at Crosscut’s state-of-the-art biathlon stadium in Bridger Canyon.
U12 & U14 Summer Camp 2026 Information:
Schedule: All camps are 9:00am to 1:00pm Monday to Thursday, see below for dates
Ages: U12 Camp is for participants age 10-13 years old; U14 Camp is for participants age 12-18 years old — see the below section “What camp should my child join?” for more details
Location: All camps will take place entirely at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center
Transportation: All camps include transportation from Story Mill Park to Crosscut
Cost: $315 for U12 Camp; $330 for U14 Camp
Discount: A 5% discount is offered for siblings attending camps the same week
Payment Plans: The process to set up a payment plan is integrated into registration process
Scholarships: Please review the scholarship policy here and if qualified, fill out the Scholarship Application Form. Scholarships are reviewed and awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Equipment:
U12 Camp: No specialized equipment needed
U14 Camp: Participants will receive a cuff for shooting from prone to keep at this camp. Participants need skate ski boots and poles, helmet, and high visibility shirt (rollerskis will be provided if needed). Please Note: Boots need to have NNN bindings to be compatible with Crosscut’s rollerskis. Poles for skate rollerskiing and skate skiing should be between the participant’s chin and nose; classic poles are too short.
Bridger Ski Foundation Rollerski Camp Collaboration:
We are excited to share that this summer Crosscut will be coordinating with BSF to offer a crossover camp this summer. Athletes can combine Crosscut’s morning Biathlon Camp with Bridger Ski Foundation’s afternoon Rollerski Camp for a full day of summer Nordic sport training and fun.
Date & Time: July 20-23, 9am-4:30pm
Ages: 10-13 year olds
Location: Crosscut Events Stadium
Transportation: Included to/from Story Mill Park
How to participate: Independently register for both the Crosscut U12 Biathlon Summer Camp and the BSF Roller Ski Camp the week of July 20th-23rd. Please use the same email and participant name for both registrations and Crosscut and BSF will coordinate behind the scenes to share registration information and ensure your athlete is accounted for in both programs.
2026 Camp Schedule
Date & Time |
Age |
Price |
|
June 22-25, 9am - 1pm |
U12 (ages 10-13) |
$315 |
|
July 13-16, 9am - 1pm |
U14 (ages 12-18) |
$330 |
|
July 20-23, 9am - 1pm |
U12 (ages 10-13) |
$315 |
July 27-30, 9am - 1pm |
U12 (ages 10-13) |
$315 |
|
August 10-13, 9am - 1pm |
U14 (ages 12-18) |
$330 |
Key Details:
For participants new to our biathlon program, one session of summer camp is a prerequisite to our Winter Biathlon Program
12-year-olds previously enrolled in winter programs are enrolled in either U12 or U14 at coach’s discretion based on child’s physical size, rifle handling ability, and safety skills
U14 Camps are designed to prepare kids who are interested in joining the Youth Biathlon Team for the subsequent fall and winter programs and will also include rollerskiing
Which camp should my child join?
Contact us at biathlon@crosscutmt.org if your child does not fit in any of these categories or you have questions about placing your child.
Youth Biathlon Teams
Crosscut has three teams — U12 Team (ages 10-12), U14 Team (ages 12-13), and U16/18 Team (ages 14-17). These teams train for biathlon with the goal of competing in local, regional, national, and international biathlon races. *note: team ages differ from summer camp ages because camps are often a first touch point into the sport.
Athletes on the U12, U14, and U16/18 Teams are required to also join a Nordic ski training program (i.e. Bridger Ski Foundation or Montana Endurance Academy) to complement their biathlon training. Crosscut’s training program focuses on shooting coaching.
The Youth Biathlon Program fees (in fall and winter) include coaching in biathlon, Crosscut Mountain Sports Center winter season passes, rifle use (U12 and U14 only), and ammunition for practices and races. U16/18 Team members are required to own their own biathlon rifle by September 1. We have a fun, supportive, safe team environment.
The Soren Joseph Hartnett Legacy Scholarship Fund offers a variety of scholarships to U12-U20 Nordic athletes in our community, including assisting in the purchase of a biathlon rifle. More information and application available here.
U16/18 Summer 2026 Training
Cost: $775 with own personal rifle; $950 without own personal rifle (note that U16/18 athletes are required to purchase their own rifle by September 1)
Schedule: June 14 - August 16, 2026 (no practice July 2nd or 5th)
Sundays 8-10am
Tuesdays 3-5pm
Thursdays 8-10am
Location: All practices are held at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center biathlon stadium; No transportation provided.
Youth Biathlon Interest Form
Complete this form if your child is new to the program or is interested in participating again after a break. Current Youth Biathlon families should contact their coach with questions about the program or placement.
Soren Joseph Hartnett was a member of the BSF Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon. He died July 18, 2020 after suffering a fatal heart arrhythmia due to previously undiagnosed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. He collapsed on July 15 while doing what he loved most, training with his Bridger Ski Foundation Nordic ski teammates. After his death, his liver and both kidneys were donated to 3 young transplant recipients and gave them a new chance at life.
Soren started biathlon at age 8 to be with his buddies. This interest developed into a strong passion for Biathlon and Nordic Skiing. Soren put all of his energy into it and was on a team representing the United States in biathlon in Norway in the winter of 2019-20. A talented and dedicated athlete, Soren kept at it even when competing against 1100 Norwegians.
He also loved backpacking with his crew, mountain biking, running with his team and playing the fiddle. He was central to Bozeman’s Nordic skiing and Biathlon community and his passing left many of us in overwhelming grief.
His family, parents Mary and Douglas and brother Rowland, created the Soren Joseph Hartnett Legacy Scholarship Fund in his memory to support skiers training with BSF Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon. This scholarship fund has been set up to provide financial assistance to young athletes pursuing Nordic skiing and biathlon with Bridger Ski Foundation Nordic and Crosscut Biathlon, and to provide AED funding for youth athletic groups in the Gallatin Valley.