2026 Interservice Biathlon Carnival, 3-13 August 2026

The annual Interservice carnival including teams from the Australian Navy, Army, and Air Force was held at the Mt Hotham Biathlon Arena and surrounds over two challenging weeks from 3-13 August. Code-named Exercise COOLSHOT, 82 competitors and officials assembled from across Australia to train and compete for historic trophies going back almost 50 years to the foundation of the sport in the ADF in 1978. Interservice coincided with the inaugural Biathlon Australia Oceania Cup, as well as the Kangaroo Hoppet, and Australian Defence Force members competed in both.

Interservice started with the ADF women’s development camp at Whiskey Flat, and 12 beginners were introduced to the sport in a friendly and supportive environment over four days by Darcie Morton OLY in her new role in the Army Reserve, and BA coach Heather Wiederkehr from Team Navy. A coaching course was also held with Australian Professional Snowsport Instructors Nordic Technical Director Zac Zaharias, graduating five new Nordic coaches under ADF sponsorship.

Despite deteriorating snow conditions, the Mt Hotham grooming wizards kept the tracks going helped by truckloads of snow and lots of shovelling. Approximately 70% of Interservice participants were beginners and coaching is in high demand, with Heather coaching Team Navy, BA coach Toscha Stopar coaching Air Force, and Team Army coached by international biathlete Mark Raymond. Paralympian David Miln also joined Team Navy, and along with Olympian Darcie Morton and international biathlete Jack Hirst (Army) were inspirational for the beginners.

A number of ADF members entered the Oceania Cup, and Heather won gold in her age group, and veteran biathletes Garry Lewis and Steve Meehan podiumed as well. ADF President and Chief of Competition Paul Garai filled duties as Oceania Cup Chief Range Officer. After the excitement of the Oceania Cup the main ADF competition followed over the next five days, disrupted by a wild storm front that brought flooding rain and heavy snow, challenging the groomers to maintain the courses. The program was adjusted to include the always fun Nordic team relay at the edge of Hotham Village, an exciting super sprint, then a biathlon sprint in challenging conditions, and the final distance classic race that was moved to the edge of Hotham village. Army won the team championships, and the individual champions were Jack Hirst and Sascha Kroopin (Air Force).

The Kangaroo Hoppet was the final event in the ADF calendar and 25 entrants from across the Forces, including a number of plucky beginners, competed in bluebird conditions in the Hoppet and Birkebeiner, with Air Force winning the ADF Kinetix Cup.

The Interservice carnival is a major logistics and organisational exercise and couldn’t happen without the strong support and partnership of ADF Sports Branch, Biathlon Australia, Alpine Resorts Victoria, Australian Professional Snowsport Instructors and Dinner Plain accommodation. We’ll be back next year!

Paul Garai, President ADF Biathlon