Meet Alex Hale: Developing his para biathlon journey at the IBU Camp in Oberhof
Alex Hale recently attended the IBU Para Biathlon Camp in Oberhof, Germany, where he continued developing his skills and experience in para biathlon. From getting onto snow in his new custom-made sitski for the first time to completing his international classification and competing in his first international races, the camp provided a valuable opportunity to learn alongside para athletes and coaches from around the world.
We caught up with Alex to hear more about his experience and what comes next.
How was your experience at the IBU Para Biathlon Camp in Oberhof? What were some of the highlights?
I had a great experience at the IBU Para Biathlon Camp in Oberhof, Germany. This was my second IBU camp and my first international camp on snow, following my first IBU summer camp in Antholz, Italy, in June this year.
It was also my first time using my own custom-made sitski, which I had only collected after it was built the day before we flew out of Australia!
The camp was hosted at the LOTTO Thüringen Skisport-Halle, a fantastic indoor cross-country facility with a small biathlon range and year-round snow for training and competitions. The camp ran for just over a week, with the first part consisting of a mix of off-snow activities, including range practice, mobility exercises and equipment setup. This was followed by on-snow training inside the indoor arena, which was often referred to as the "tunnel".
As it was my first time in the new sitski and my first time back on snow in over a year, I spent a lot of time testing and adjusting my setup and getting the right equipment together. One of the great advantages of being alongside international para athletes and coaches was being able to draw on their experience and knowledge. I could also borrow different poles and skis to work out what I needed before making expensive purchases of my own.
At the camp, I was coached by the wonderful Julia Smusz, who was putting into practice her recent experience completing the inaugural IBU Para Biathlon Basic Level Coaching Course. Together, we worked on my para biathlon skills and technique, with Julia also providing a guiding push up some of the steeper hills and a welcome hand slowing me down on the fast descents!
During the camp, I was also assessed for my para athlete classification based on my physical impairment. This classification allows me to compete in international para biathlon competitions.
It was an interesting process involving an assessment of my submitted medical documentation, physical impairment testing and an on-snow practical assessment in my sitski by FIS classifiers. The classification determines the percentage applied to my finishing time in events, allowing my performance to be compared fairly against other para athletes.
My primary physical impairment is a spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia, meaning I have no sensation and full paralysis from below the bottom of my ribcage. In effect, I have minimal core function and no leg muscle function, which means I rely entirely on my arms and poles to propel myself across the snow in the sitski.
With my new classification confirmed, the second part of the camp focused on preparing for and competing in two cross-country races and a biathlon race. These events were a great introduction to international competition and a fantastic way to finish the camp alongside the other para athletes.
What did you work on during the camp, and was there anything in particular you learned or took away from the experience?
My recent experience had primarily involved summer training on a sitski mounted to a wheeled mountain board, which moves very differently to being on skis.
Having not been able to get onto snow successfully during the recent Australian winter season, I initially focused on getting used to my new sitski and becoming comfortable moving around on snow.
We experimented with adjustments to my posture, position and pole length to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different setups in competition.
The design of my new sitski provided excellent forward and backward stability, particularly when delivering arm strength. However, my limited side-to-side stability meant I needed to work on building confidence through turns and on hill descents. The tunnel had plenty of turns and hills, providing lots of opportunities to develop my sitski skills and technique.
What was it like training and racing alongside para biathletes from other countries?
Having met a number of the para athletes at the previous IBU camp in Italy, it was great to see some familiar faces as well as meet new athletes with a range of experiences to learn from.
Seeing how other para athletes approached things helped immensely. The camaraderie developed over the camps also made the competitions much more enjoyable, particularly the conversations and encouragement shared before and after races.
What's next for you in biathlon, and what are you working towards over the coming season?
I received an invitation to attend another camp midway through the IBU camp in Oberhof, so I am now preparing to head back to Europe in early December to train alongside a couple of other Australian para athletes.
This will be another opportunity to build on my experience and test a few minor modifications to my sitski on snow.
I don't have any future races earmarked just yet, but I'm keeping an eye out for opportunities that emerge over the coming season.
ACT/NSW B1 Coaching Development: Building Inclusive Coaching Practices
Biathlon Australia coach Heather Wiederkehr recently attended the NSW/ACT B1 Coaching Development Weekend (24–25 October 2026), delivered by Blind Sports Australia in partnership with Paralympic Australia, the Australian Sports Commission and Blind Sports & Recreation NSW/ACT.
The two-day programme combined classroom learning, lived experience perspectives and practical coaching activities, providing valuable insights into coaching athletes with vision impairment, particularly B1 athletes.
Topics included understanding vision loss and blindness, communication techniques, Paralympic classification, inclusive coaching behaviours, participant-centred practice and specialised equipment. Coaches also explored international approaches to B1 sport and the importance of creating accessible and supportive sporting environments.
A highlight of the weekend was hearing directly from B1 athletes and taking part in activities designed to build a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities within blind sport.
The practical coaching session with B1 athletes on Sunday was particularly valuable, allowing coaches to put theory into practice and explore how session design, communication and coaching behaviours can influence athlete confidence, development and enjoyment.
Heather also had the opportunity to collaborate with coaches from more than 10 different sports, including goalball, cricket, judo, swimming and rock climbing. Sharing ideas and approaches across different sporting environments provided fresh perspectives on inclusive coaching and athlete-centred development.
The weekend reinforced the importance of ongoing professional development and adapting coaching approaches to meet individual athlete needs.
For Heather, the experience provided practical tools and greater confidence to support athletes with vision impairment, while highlighting the value of learning directly from athletes and fellow coaches.
