A Note from Race Director Mike Karch:

Thanks to all of you for contributing to our non-profit organization,  Eastern Sierra Nordic Ski Association (ESNSA 501c3)  and specifically, the success of the 2010 Mammoth Winter Biathlon.

The race was a huge success and in three short years we have become the largest winter biathlon race in North America.  This, combined with the success of our sister race, the 1st Annual Northstar Biathlon, has driven  enthusiasm for American Biathlon to an all time high.   We are planning for well over 250 racers in Mammoth  next year. 

For me, this all started out as a very simple idea: We, as Americans, can do better in Nordic Ski Racing and Biathlon.  The way to do this is community and family supported  Junior Development.

My  goals are simple:

1.  Build a family oriented,  grass roots junior development biathlon and xc ski race program from the BOTTOM UP  that  introduces the  sports of Biathlon and XC ski racing to a large percentage of the  American public.  In other words, mainstream our sport as the Europeans have such that we have a larger  drawing pool of Nordic athletes in the US.  

2. Mimic what has happened with the Mammoth Track Club and the success of local  running and triathlon legends Meb Keflezighi, Deena Kastor, Ryan and Sarah Hall, Jen Rhines, Anna Willard,  Chris Lieto and others  and build the Biathlon and XC ski  program from the TOP DOWN  by attracting elite XC skiers and biathletes to Mammoth to capitalize on our high to low altitude training differential of 9000 to 4000 feet , deep snow pack, sunshine, and long ski season.

3.   Synergize the effects of goals #1 and #2 in order to one day  feed our Team USA World Cup and Olympic Nordic teams with a large pool of XC ski racers, Nordic  Combined athletes, and Biathletes.

With the success of our event  comes the need for additional targets and biathlon rifles in order to accommodate the large number of racers.    Almost 40 percent of our Biathlon racers are children between 8 and 17 and we  need smaller, kid specific rifles as the standard adult biathlon rifles are simply too heavy.

Thanks to prior fundraising, we now have 16  targets and 8 adult rifles and are now well on our way of obtaining 20 targets and 20 rifles  which will be  our fundraising objective for the Winter 2011 race.

Among other things,  my vision for the 2011 race is to have enough targets and rifles to allow  multiple mass start heats of 20 biathletes.   Mass starts are spectator friendly and act to build more excitement and energy into the biathlon event for both racers and viewers.

Due to increased numbers, in 2011  we will most likely add an additional day of racing plus clinics in both  shooting and XC ski technique.  In addition,  we are working on adding a  National Guard category  between the Guard units of California, Nevada, Utah, and  Montana.

We had two disabled biathletes compete in the 2010 race and I would like to expand on this category for 2011 by adding a  disabled (para-olympic) biathlon race  in conjunction with the Wounded Warrior program and Disabled Sports of the Eastern Sierra (DSES). Cathy Copeland, founder of DSES, another grassroots Mammoth non-profit organization, just announced a $15,000 grant awarded to DSES to develop a Wounded Warrior/ Disabled Nordic Ski program. We will be working closely together with our  sister organization on the 2011 disabled aspect of Biathlon.

Expect to be inspired. 

In conjunction with Robert, Kirk, Stacey, and Heather Schaubmayer of Petras Restaurant, and the gracious effort of Darla Howle and Terri "Gooch" Ross  we will be hosting a Mammoth Winter Biathlon Pigroast Fundraiser at the Mammoth Rocks Festival held in Mammoth Village August 27, 2010.  Rob will roast a 120 lbs pig Cuban style and I will roast a 120 lbs pig spit style.  Net proceeds will be split 50/50 between ESNSA/ Biathlon and Petras.  The Mammoth Rocks Festival last year had the largest attendance of any Village sponsored event. The pigroast  is a trial run utilizing the known  large tourist  attendance at the Village Festival.   If this is successful, plans are being made to hold the 2nd Annual Pigroast Biathlon Fundraiser  summer 2011 (in correlation  with Mammoth Motocross dates) as its own event  at Petras and open the pigroast up to a multi-style competition ( spit style, Cuban, Hawaiian, etc) with multiple pigs roasted in each category and proceeds again split between ESNSA/Biathlon and Petras.

Again, the idea is to create another grass roots, unique annual event in Mammoth. 

Each target costs $750 plus shipping (we need 4 more),  each rifle approximately $1500 plus shipping ( we need 12 more).  Signage, operational costs, and miscellaneous expenses are costly.  Our range is currently temporary,  meaning it is constructed and then taken down and stored after each event.... We need a permanent 50 meter range for access to daily athlete training during the entire season.  This will require USFS  permit fees and earthmoving fees.

Every dollar counts.   

If this email  motivates you then I have accomplished the first of many goals.

Strongly consider donating to Eastern  Sierra Nordic Ski Association  with checks earmarked for either general Biathlon, XC  ski junior development program, targets, or rifles. If you know of anyone who may be interested in our biathlon movement, please forward this information to them.

Checks addressed to:
Eastern Sierra Nordic Ski Association non-profit 501c3 organization 
c/o Sue King Treasurer
79 Jeffery Pine Rd
Mammoth Lakes, CA. USA 93546

Most Americans get excited about the Winter Olympics only once every four years... We plan on changing this....one shot at a time.


Ski fast, shoot straight.



Mike Karch, MD
Race Director, Mammoth Winter Biathlon
Team Physician: USA Nordic Combined
Team Physician: Mammoth Track Club