BRILLION, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Future Olympic biathletes will train in Calumet County. The Ariens Nordic Center will groom athletes interested in cross-country skiing and target shooting, known as biathlon. The U.S. Biathlon Team helped open the 200 acre site southeast of Brillion on Friday.
Olympian, Appleton native and Kimberly High School graduate Paul Schommer was on the line.
“It’s so cool to be able to be back here and to see the facility that they’ve built in just over a year,” said Schommer.
Deedra Irwin is a Pulaski native and one of the most accomplished US Biathletes.
“Seeing this facility in my backyard, just 40 minutes from my house in Pulaski, is just a dream come true,” said Irwin.
The 200-acre site southeast of Brillion is designed to be a world-class facility.
Ariens Chairman & CEO Dan Ariens says the Nordic Center will be open year-round.
“We can be training on roller skis, around on the asphalt. We can be training on running, as well as skating, but once we start making snow, it’s all skiing,” said Ariens.
Ariens says a five-kilometer course will challenge the skiers, and the 20-lane target shooting range is Olympic caliber.
And as team USA dials in, Irwin say she’s making plans to practice.
“I’m already excited to come train here next week while I’m home. So I think it’s an amazing experience and opportunity to have for all the local athletes in the community that maybe are aspiring to become professional skiers, or professional biathletes,” she said.
Paul Schommer says he’s optimistic.
“I hope we can answer that question in this question in the future, and see a lot of great skiers coming out of Northeast Wisconsin. Because they now have a place where they can one, get introduced to the sport and then also train at a high level and, hopefully, do great things on the national and international level,” he said.
The Ariens Nordic Center is expected to be completed in December.
Park officials say visitors will need a pass, but the center will be open to the public.
