GRP Biathletes Kick off IBU Cup Season in Arber
Written by GRP Biathlete Raleigh Goessling
GRP Biathletes Hallie Grossman and Raleigh Goessling began their 2020/2021 European racing campaign in Arber, Germany with IBU Cup Sprint competitions. Head GRP biathlon coach Michael Gibson is the Head Coach and Team Leader for the US IBU Cup team.
In addition to now standard COIVD-19 safety measures including PCR testing, mask wearing, the elimination of shared spaces at venues and a ban on spectators, this season the IBU Cup has a different look.
In a normal year, the IBU Cup would have begun in early December and visited a new venue each week. Instead, this season will only feature 4 host venues and run from early January till March. Team USA will not send athletes to the final IBU Cup competition of year, so GRP IBU Cup athletes will be returning home in late February. Due to the cancellation of the IBU Junior Cup and the pre-Christmas competition calendar, the IBU increased the number of athletes each nation can bring to the competitions.
This meant that Team USA fielded a record number of athletes. Hallie and Raleigh both celebrated the fact that US Biathlon nominated the maximum number of athletes possible to the trip. Hallie noted that, “It’s awesome to have six girls on the IBU Cup!” Raleigh added that, “I am genuinely shocked and authentically pleased that US Biathlon did the right thing here.”
Team USA wasn’t the only nation to max out their start quota, so a staggering 129 women and 147 men competed in the Sprint competitions on January 14th.
Hallie Grossman placed 55th in the opening salvo of IBU Cup competition. Grossman missed two targets in her prone stage, and one in standing. 55th was enough for second among the US women. Hallie produced the best skiing on the US team and the 32nd best ski time in the competition. Grossman was, “Excited to do what we’ve been training for” and is looking forward to upcoming competitions.
Raleigh Goessling placed 72nd in the Men’s sprint competition, and 3rd on the 5 man US team. Raleigh tied his career best shooting score with no prone misses and a single mistake in standing. Unfortunately, Raleigh struggled on the ski tracks and was only able to muster the 91st ski time. Goessling mentioned that he was, “Very happy with my shooting, and hoping that my ski speed will improve as the trip goes on.”
Hallie and Raleigh will contest another Sprint competition in Arber on January 16th, and a Relay on the 17th.
For event recaps, photos and detailed results from the IBU Cup, visit www.biathlonworld.com