The Sprint Competition
The Sprint was first introduced in the World Championship in 1974 and the Winter Olympic Games in 1980. In this competition the skiing speed is more important than the shooting. Women ski 7,5 km and men ski 10 km, with two shooting – first prone position, then standing position. Women shoot after 2,5 km and then 5 km. Men shoot after 3 km and then 7 km. The biathletes have five rounds to disposal. When a biathlete misses a target, he/she needs to ski a 150 m penalty loop, which is similar to 22-28 seconds.
The Pursuit Competition
The Pursuit has been on the competition program since the World Championship in 1997 and Winter Olympic Games in 2002. Women ski 10 km and men ski 12,5 km. In WHC and WOG pursuit is based on the sprint results, but in the World Cup the individual competition can also be used as a qualifier. The best 60 biathletes from the qualifying competition can start in the pursuit competition. The winner from the qualifying competition starts first, and then remainder follow in the order and time that they finished behind the winner. There are four shootings, first two prone and then two standing. Every biathlete has five rounds to disposal and need to do penalty loops of 150m for every miss, which is similar to 22-28 seconds. First biathlete to cross the finish line wins.
Mass Start Competition
The mass start was first on the World Championship competition program in 1999 and was first introduced in the Olympic Games in 2006. The competition is very exciting and spectator friendly since every biathlete starts at the same time.
The 30 best in the World Cup rankings start in the same heat. Women ski 12,5 km and men ski 15 km. They shoot in the following order; prone, prone, standing and standing. Every biathlete has five rounds to disposal and need to do penalty loops of 150m for every miss, which is similar to 22-28 seconds. At the first shooting, the competitors shoot at the shooting range according to their start number. Starting from the second shooting, the competitors shoot according to their actual order of arrival at the shooting range, starting on the free shooting lanes from the right. This competition form makes it easy for the spectators to know who is in the lead.