After three days of intense competition on the Frozen Thunder course at the Canmore Nordic Centre, Biathlon Canada has named eight athletes to represent the country in the first tour of the IBU World Cup, with an additional eight set for the IBU Cup circuit.
IBU World Cup Team
- Emma Lunder – Vernon, B.C. (pre-selected)
- Nadia Moser – Whitehorse, Yukon
- Pascale Paradis – Calgary, Alta.
- Shilo Rousseau – Thessalon, Ont.
- Adam Runnalls – Calgary, Alta. (pre-selected)
- Logan Pletz – Regina, Sask.
- Haldan Borglum – Calgary, Alta.
- Daniel Gilfillan – Comox Valley, B.C.
IBU Cup Team
- Pascale Paradis – Calgary, Alta.
- Shilo Rousseau – Thessalon, Ont.
- Benita Peiffer – Whistler, B.C.
- Emily Dickson – Burns Lake, B.C.
- Jasper Fleming – Squamish, B.C.
- Haldan Borglum – Calgary, Alta.
- Daniel Gilfillan – Comox Valley, B.C.
- Lucas Smith – Winnipeg, Man.
More than 100 athletes from across Canada competed for spots on the IBU World Cup and IBU Cup teams. With just six positions available on the World Cup team and eight on the IBU Cup team, athletes faced immense pressure to perform at their best.
“The competition was tough this year, so I’m thrilled to have qualified for the World Cup team for the first tour,” said Nadia Moser of Yukon. “I think the training season went well, and I’m excited to see how that translates to race results.”
Moser shone at the trials, winning two of the events and securing second place in the third. Saskatchewan’s Logan Pletz was another standout, mirroring Moser’s results with two wins and one runner-up finish.
“I’m pretty happy with my racing at trials but still looking to make some improvements before the World Cup starts,” said Pletz. “This is the first year I will start the season on the World Cup, so I’m pretty stoked about that. My fitness has improved a lot this year, and I’m aiming to be a more consistent performer each weekend.”
After finishing a disappointing sixth and seventh in the first two events, Benita Peiffer knew a standout performance would be needed to earn a spot.
“Leading into these races, I was feeling the nerves,” Peiffer recalled. “I had a hard time finding my rhythm on the range, which made some races tough.” Peiffer rose to the occasion in the final sprint, hitting eight out of 10 shots to narrowly edge out Moser by seven seconds. “I’m happy to end on a high note and put some things together. Turning things around mentally is always difficult, but anything can happen in biathlon.”
The IBU World Cup season begins on Nov. 30 in Kontiolahti, Finland. The IBU Cup team will start their season on Nov. 28 in Idre Fjäll, Sweden.
“We’re excited to kick off the World Cup season with an experienced group of athletes,” said Justin Wadsworth, head coach at Biathlon Canada. “We had a great summer of training, and every athlete made significant improvements in both shooting and skiing. I’m confident this team has the potential for outstanding performances against the world’s best.”
Based on last season’s performance on the World Cup, Emma Lunder and Adam Runnalls were pre-selected for the World Cup team.
Veteran Lunder will play a pivotal role in leading Canada’s World Cup team this season. “The national team has done great work throughout the summer months of training, and I’m excited to see what we can do as a team this year,” Lunder said. “As the oldest on the team, I pay attention to what the others are doing, and I’ve noticed some significant improvements, especially on the women’s team. I’m anticipating some big things from us!”
Following a strong season last year, Adam Runnalls will return to the World Cup circuit with a focus on process over results.
“Throughout the summer, my main focus was on increasing my ski speed and consistency on the range,” Runnalls said. “I plan to concentrate on what I need to do during the race, rather than fixating on my position at the finish line. I’m hoping this approach will help me achieve a top-30 overall finish this season.”
- Biathlon Canada Trials Results: zone4.ca
- IBU World Cup Calendar: biathlonworld.com
- IBU Cup Calendar: biathlonworld.com
Media contact:
Kerry Dankers
CEO
kdankers@biathloncanada.ca
403-589-8960