Optimizing rifle carry configuration

Abstract

Biathlon is a demanding winter sport that combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, requiring athletes to carry a rifle of at least 3.5 kg on their backs throughout the race. This added load creates unique physiological and biomechanical challenges, affecting energy use and movement patterns in ways distinct from traditional skiing. Despite its importance, there is limited research on how different ways of carrying the rifle, such as its position or harness tightness, impact performance. Our study aims to fill this gap by exploring how subtle changes in rifle carriage affect the physical and biomechanical demands of biathlon skiing, offering insights that could enhance training and competition strategies.

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