INTRODUCT1ON: Consulting literature triggering and shooting position are considered as two important variables in biathlon shooting (Nitzsche 1998). However, Sattlecker et al. (2006) showed that stance stability and triggering have no relevant influence on the shooting result. The authors interpreted this with the high level and the stabile shooting pattern of the tested elite athletes. The aim of this study is to show differences between elite and youth biathletes in order to demonstrate the relevance of stance stability and triggering. METHOD: In summer 2006 and 2007 7 elite (27 + 4 yr) and 7 youth biathletes (16 + 2 yr) were tested without physical load on an indoor measure Station which consisted of. A force plate ("Fitro Sway Check", SVK) to measure the stance stability factors, a strain gauge force transducer mounted at the trigger (Spezialmesstechnik Ilmenau, GER) and a Computer controlled display for the shooting results ("SA 921", Sius Ascor, GER). The data were processed by iSportmanager-Biathlon (Ike-Software, ALJT). All 14 athletes had to shoot 7 series of 5 shots in their individual rhythm. The following variables were measured within one second before firing: 1) mean pre-shot trigger force (TF) [% of max. force], 2) path length of deviation on the force plate (PL) [mm], 3) deviation in x-(cross shooting)direction (x-dev) [mm], 4) deviation in y-(in shooting) direction (y-dev) [mm] and 5) shooting results (SR) [1-10]. To show differences between the two groups a Mann Whitney U-Test (SPSS 15) was used. RESULTS: The results showed high significant differences between elite and youth athletes for all Parameters. The differences regarding the variables also led to varying results concerning shooting results. DISCUSSION: The results demonstrated significant differences between elite and youth biathletes concerning stance stability and triggering. That leads to the assumption that these parameters have influence on the shooting results, which also showed high significant differences. Especially the deviation in y-direction (a difference of 64 percent) seems to be a factor that distinguishes world class from youth athletes. CONCLUSION: The results shown above can be an important message for beginners, because they demonstrate the importance of triggering and stance stability. Considering the study from Sattlecker et al. (2006) it can be concluded that biathletes have to achieve certain levels regarding balance and triggering factors to stabilize their shooting.
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