3.4 NORDIC - COACHING AND SKI INSTRUCTING
BIATHLON AND NORDIC COACHING IN RUHPOLDING AND EUROPE
NORDIC AND BIATHLON INSTRUCTOR SERVICES RUHPOLDING
3.4 Nordic is based in Ruhpolding, a region of Chiemgau in Germany and provides nordic and biathlon coaching and instructing services to teach novices how to skate and classic ski through to services for professional athletes who want to compete on the world cup circuit.
Teaching and instructing ski camps are held for novice cross country skiers and intermediate nordic athletes regardless of their ability level. The aim of these camps is to learn to cross country ski more proficiently.
Advanced race fine tuning instructing camps are offered for serious athletes who either want to ski better or eventually compete in either biathlon or nordic events. During these camps, athlete are given more in depth feedback to improve their skiing ability and become more efficient on skis.
If you are a professional biathlete competing at club level, nationally or internationally and require coaching either on the shooting range and/or on the track then you will get intensive feedback and coaching.
ABOUT 3.4 NORDIC
3.4 Nordic - Chiemgau Biathlon and Nordic Coaching was founded by former British Biathlon national team athlete Marcel Laponder. 3.4 Chiemgau Nordic and Biathlon coaching is based in Ruhpolding, a region of Chiemgau in Bavaria, Germany.
Why the name 3.4? In biathlon, athletes have different size foresights on their rifles. Depending on the light conditions the size of the rifle foresight could be 2.7 up to 4.0 mm. 3.4 mm is the sight size that Marcel Laponder used for most of his biathlon career.
Marcel has extensive international biathlon racing experience gained over a period of 9 years of racing. Marcel has worked with athletes from the British Team and the British Para Team. He is British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) qualified and offers tuition for both private instruction and groups.
ABOUT NORDIC AND BIATHLON
Nordic (cross-country) skiing is known as one of the toughest sports. People say you ski uphill a lot, although this is only partially true since you do go downhill and have the option to ski on the flats as well. Some of the best skiing areas are actually down in the valleys.
The nordic sport originated in Scandinavian countries as a means of transportation and hunting. There are two types of nordic skiing, classic (in Germany known as Langlauf) and skating. The two styles are completely different.
Skating originated out of classic skiing and although skating was at first frowned upon, it eventually developed into its own discipline.
For complete beginners, it is best to learn the classic skiing technique first before applying these principles to skating. There are many similarities and it is important to learn the basics from classic skiing first.
Biathlon is the combination of shooting and skiing. In Russia, Norway and Germany it is the number one winter sport to watch.
ABOUT MARCEL LAPONDER
Am I the fastest African on skinny skis? I grew up in South Africa where the closest thing to snow is the ice in the fridge. I competed in cycling and triathlon, and even worked as a bicycle messenger. I eventually moved to the UK with the intention of eventually getting into the Belgium cycling scene.
As life's planning goes, this never materialized and one of my first jobs in Europe ended up picking up golf balls in winter on a golf range before moving onto more fun jobs like looking for lost kids as a beach life guard on Weymouth beach and getting a sun tan! Later I moved on to fitness instructing. Eventually I found my way into the British Army and was introduced to Nordic Sports and Biathlon.
When I was growing up, the most I knew about biathlon was seeing biathlon in James Bond in "For your eyes only". In 2005, while I was learning to ski for the first time at the age of 27, it brought back some of the memories of watching this in the Bond film. I have 3 passports, so having a gun really fitted the part although being on snow at this stage was still a novelty for me. In 2007 I was selected to represent Great Britain in biathlon. In my first ever international event, in the Swedish summer championships, I crashed on a corner during the first loop, cracked my helmet and lost a lot of skin, I still managed to shoot 0 1 and finished in a decent time (although I went to hospital afterwards for concussion). I competed in my first IBU Cup event in Geilo, Norway in 2007.
Over a period of 9 years I represented Great Britain in around 200 international races on the IBU Cup, World Cup and World Championships. I have also held several British national titles in different biathlon events.
In 2015 I was forced to retire from international competition and in 2016 I had one last goodbye race in the Hochfilzen World championships relay.
After my retirement I started working with athletes in the Great Britain development squad and national team. I have worked as a coach and a member of support staff with the AFPST (Armed Forces Para Snowsport Team, now known as the British Para Nordic Team) and supported the training of adaptive athletes, both Visually Impaired (VI) and physically disabled, in ski technique and training advice to help prepare them for the World Cup.
Since retiring I enjoy having more time to go ski touring and running, and when it rains I enjoy staying at home and watching a replay of a biathlon race.
TALK TO 3POINT4 NORDIC
Planning a training camp in Ruhpolding or another European location and need a ski instructor? Or are you on holiday and you want to give cross country skiing a go? Let us have a talk on your skating and classic skiing needs.
