A biathlete who learned to ski and shoot at Highlands in Duntroon has earned a spot on Team Canada for an upcoming world cup event.
Malcolm McCulloch, a long-time member of Highlands Trailblazers Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Club, trained at Highlands in Duntroon from the age of seven untild last spring when he moved to Alberta to train at the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre in Canmore.
McCulloch raced at the Canadian national qualifiers in Prince George, BC earlier this month and won a spot in the 2025 IBU Youth World Cup, which will be in Ostersund, Sweden from Feb. 26 to March 5 this year. He finished third.
“The pursuit race was my best race of the three,” said McCulloch in a news release from his old club. “I was leading until the fourth round of shooting and then I missed four of the five targets.”
A biathlon race requires athletes to skate ski around a course with stops along the way to shoot in a range and knock down a row of five targets with a .22 calibre rifle.
"I’m thrilled to have earned this incredible opportunity thanks to my coaches, family, and teammates," McCulloch said. "I’m excited to see how I rank compared to the best of the best. My goal is to get a couple of top 30s, maybe a top 20. Some of these guys have been competing on the international circuit for years now, and this is my first.”
Highlands' head biathlon coach, Chris Skelton, said it's been inspiring to watch McCulloch progress in the sport.
"He has worked hard over the years and his selection for the IBU Youth Junior World Championships is a testament to his talent and commitment," said Skelton in the news release. "We are incredibly proud of him and excited to see what he will accomplish at the event."
McCulloch ’s broader goal is to compete in the 2030 Olympics in France.
“I’m 18 now and biathletes hit the top of their game at 24 and older, so the Olympics in France are right in line with that for me," he said.
The Highlands Trailblazers Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Club (HTB), is a not-for-profit organization based out of Highlands Nordic Resort just south of Collingwood, Ontario The organization runs learn-to-ski programs starting at age four, up to competitive nordic and biathlon programs.
For more information about the Highlands Trailblazers visit the website www.highlandstrailblazers.ca
