The Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast

2024-2025 European Championship Review - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 126

Initially recorded shortly after the European Championship concluded, but released late due to our schedules, it is still important to chat about! In this episode we covered the hot topics coming from Val Martel including:
- Baiba Bendika's glorious Championships!
- Out impressions of the Val Martel venue
- The Norwegian men and the French women
- Anna-Karin Heijdenberg earns her World Championship spot
- The Canadian and American performances
- Italians perform well at home!
And More!

Antholz 2024-2025 - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 125

Sadly another trimester of World Cup biathlon has come to an end, but there was just so much to talk about this week both on and off the course! 
- We led off with the Norwegian European Cup roster announcement
- This was connected to the surprising yet not surprising Tarjei Boe retirement announcement
- We discussed the incredible Women's Overall Race and who can win!
- The French men win their 4th straight men's relay!
- Sturla Holm Laegreid grabs the Yellow bib...can JT Boe rebound?
- And a TON more

Ruhpolding 2024-2025 - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 124

It's been another amazing week of biathlon as we hit the midpoint of the season. From off the course news to some truly amazing racing, Ruhpolding certainly kept us on our toes. This week we discuss:
- JT Boe's surprise retirement announcement
- The top women all racing like champions
- Thoughts on the Swedes: Hanna Oeberg, Martin Ponsiluoma, and Samuelsson...trending up?
- Switzerland on the upswing including Niklas Hartweg looking very very good
- The "under the radar" athletes and nations keep performing!
- Giacomel's incredible Mass Start win
- Doro heading to a peak at Worlds?
And as usual a ton more!

Oberhof 2024-2025 - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 123

What a week it was! Oberhof was an absolutely jam packed weekend that showed us all of the emotions. Get ready because this is a LONG episode because we have a lot of thoughts about:
- Weather and it's effects this week
- Suvi Minkkinen and Julia Simon...the highs and the lows of biathlon in 2 days
- Finland's glorious week
- Elvira Oeberg's determination
- Lou Jeanmonnot looking like Lou Jeanmonnot
- Can Laegreid challenge JT Boe for the Overall?
And an so so so much more!

2024-2025 Winter Break - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 122

Let's get ready for the 2nd trimester! We just had a few things to catch up on before the racing starts again including:
- Quick Schalke biathlon review
- Update on RJ's analysis of the new start positions and its effect on racing
- Roster updates including Chloe Chevalier's retirement, Paula Botet, Sophie Chauveau, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen
- Checking in on state of the Overall Globe race

Annecy-le Grand Bornand 2024 - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 121

After a week of amazing racing in le Grand Bornand there is just one thing left to do...talk about it. A lot! This is looong episode but there is a lot to discuss including:
- Leading off with Tandrevold's health update
- Golden Girl Franziska Preuss
- Grotian and Voigt round out the German weekend
- Martin Uldal and Tarjei Boe "surprise" wins
- JT Boe takes control of the Men's Overall
- More underdogs competing
- What happened to Jeanmonnot?
And more!

Hochfilzen 2024 - Penalty Loop Biathlon Podcast Episode 120

A little later than normal, and a little under the weather, we discussed all of the action from the winter wonderland of Hochfilzen including:
- Franziska Preuss vs. Lou Jeanmonnot all season? Who says no?
- Underdog nations continue being competitive 
- JT Boe is back on top
- The Jacquelin Pursuit fall
- Laegreid lurking
And more!

Kontiolahti Recap - Penalty Loop Podcast Episode 119

The first competitions of the biathlon season are in the books! It's time to get together and chat about all of the amazing action from Kontiolahti and a little news/speculation as welli! This includes:
- A week of underdogs, fan favorites, and fun stories!
- A trip to the doctor's office to discuss the Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold heart situation
- The great weeks by the Swedish and French women, and the French men!
- Elvira's rocket legs
- Franziska Preuss reclaiming her place near the top of the sport?
- Suvi Minkkinen!
- More!

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!