The Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast

2024-2025 Kontiolahti Part 1 - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 118

We just couldn't wait for a full week of competition to end before we had to start talking biathlon again! We got together, initially on Sunday, but then again on Monday to discuss all of the relay action and the Men's Short Individual including:
- Julia Simon's injury and what we know as of recording time
- The Soerum Mixed Relay sprint and the Fabien Claude/Sturla Holm Laegreid relay battle giving us relay drama
- Initial impressions of the women including rocket ship Elvira, very strong Tandrevold, and surprisingly solid Wierer
- Ella Halvarsson and Jesper Nelin surprising us early
- Short Individual immediate impressions 
- IBU Cup brief check in
- And much more!

Penalty Loop Podcast Episode 117 - 2024-2025 Season Preview!

Just barely before the season starts we reconvened to discuss the recent racing in Sjusojoen and Idre Fjaell and discuss the upcoming season! A few of the highlights:
- Over view of the selection races
- Discussing the Norwegian depth
- Overview of the rosters and any surprises that we saw
- Discussing the current state of Canadian biathlon
- A few predictions!

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 116 Campbell Wright Interview

While battling illness at the final training camp in Finland, American/New Zealand biathlete Campbell Wright joined us for our final preseason interview! Campbell is a hilarious interview and we had an immensely good time. Of course we discussed his unique journey into biathlon from New Zealand, his transfer to the American team, his successes along the way, and where the journey is headed this season!

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 115 Jakub Stvrtecky Interview

This week on the pod Czechia biathlete Jakub Stvrtecky joins us! He was so gracious to share his time from training camp in Finland to share his story! This week we discussed:
- His story coming up alongside his teammates in Czechia biathlon
- His summer of training and how he feels coming into the 2024-2025 season
- Shooting prone vs. standing
- How already having over 100 World Cup races at his young age impacts his biathlon
- Czechia team nickname lesson and uniform designs

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 113 - Hanna Kebinger Returns!

In our latest interview in the leadup to the 2024-2025 biathlon season, Hanna Kebinger returns! Always a fun interview this episode involves more laughing than we have done in a bit! It includes:
- Discussion on her unfortunate 23-24 season
- Dealing with health struggles, both physical and mental
- Her road to recovery this summer including finding joy again
- Year 2 under Sverre Røiseland's leadership 
- The importance of dogs and belly rubs
- Travels in Venice

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast 114 (whoops!) Jacques Jefferies Interview!

Jacques Jefferies graciously and bravely battled through a sinus infection and a bloody nose to join us for an interview! Jacques is a really valuable mind for the biathlon community as he has a very good grasp of the big issues biathlon will be grappling with in the coming years. As Jacques battled through we discussed:
- His young biathlon career and his plans for the 2024-2025 season including an update on his summer training
- The experience of establishing a position on the national team in such a crowded and competitive biathlon federation
- His thoughts on the future of summer biathlon and what the biathlon calendar may look like in the future
- Professional athlete mental health awareness and his program MindsMelt
- And so much more!
Please check out his personal website https://jacquesjeff.substack.com/

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 112 Tobias Torgersen

As the 2024-2025 season rapidly approaches Polish Women's Head Coach Tobias Torgersen joined us from team training camp in Lenzerheide! In this interview we discuss:
- Thoughts on Lenzerheide and particularly the potential trickiness on the range
- Coaching anxiety as the season approaches
- What led to the Polish women having a surge in the 2023-2024 season
- How he coaches his team
- Summer progress and looking ahead towards 2024-2025!

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 111 Justus Strelow Interview

Justus Strelow, coming off of a very exciting City Biathlon race in Dresden, joined us from the German training camp in the French Alps for a wonderful interview. He as an amazing guest and gave us tremendous insight into:
- His intro into biathlon and his journey to the top level of the sport
- His lifelong affinity for shooting and how fast and how accurate can biathletes get?
- The one missed shot that sticks with him from last season
- The current status of his training and goals for the upcoming season
- How he met his the love of his life and the secret to the best mattress for a couple. 

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 110 Regina Ermits

The first of our preseason interviews is here and it's Regina Ermits! This was a joy! With Regina we discussed:
- Regina vs. Kalev in the battle of the Ermits
- How is she so good at standing shooting?
- A new training regimen and "finding her voice" leading to 7 of the 9 best finishes of her career in 2023-2024
- Her amazing 2024 Nove Mesto Worlds
- And more!

Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 109 - IBU Rule Changes, Fourcade Nordice Festival, and National Championships

The IBU has floated changes to how start bibs are allocated for Sprint and Individual races and it's generating some great conversation. We do our best to lay out what the changes would be as well as the perspectives of various athletes, coaches, and media members. We also share our own thoughts. Then we talk about the phenomenal Czechia summer national championships event and the different directions roller biathlon could go. Thank you go Jacques Jefferies for the social media conversation. We hit a few other news pieces before getting into the Italian, German, Czech, and Finnish national championships.