Inhale, exhale, shoot. The last black target turns white – a direct hit. Five shots, five hits. Franco shifts his weight onto his knees, shoulders the rifle, picks up his sticks and stands up. He pushes off powerfully and leaves the shooting range. Now it’s time to complete the 400-metre lap of the Roland Arena as quickly as possible. This is followed by shooting while in a standing position. With practised hand movements, Franco is ready in no time at all. He is breathing heavily but is highly focused. One shot misses. Franco turns to the camera and grins: “Now I would have to do a penalty lap.” 

Franco has been working as Head of Sport at the Roland Arena since May 2017. His work includes organising the biathlon courses and preparing the shooting range for athletes. He has plenty to do in summer too: the courses take place all year round and, instead of clearing snow, in the warmer months we mow the lawn. 

In the shooting range, if you just miss, paint flakes off the target. At the end of the season and before major events, they are sanded down and completely repainted. “Even during the season, I am always picking up a bucket of paint and a brush,” says Franco. With 30 shooting lanes, there’s plenty of work to be done. 

With his work at Roland Arena, Franco was able to turn two of his hobbies into a profession. Even as a young boy, he enjoyed hunting with his father and was a member of the Jungschützenverein (young shooters’ association). And cross-country skiing served as an alternative form of training during his skiing career in his youth. “Turning your passion into a profession is just the best thing,” says Franco proudly. And this passion of his for biathlon is definitely palpable. 

There is one thing Franco can be sure of: “Biathlon is one of the most exciting sports there is.” The word “biathlon” comes from Greek and essentially means duel. Today, it is a combination sport that is made up of cross-country skiing and shooting. According to lore, the origins of biathlon lie in the survival skills of the indigenous people of Scandinavia. In the snow-covered forests of the north, people hunted on skis with rifles hanging over their shoulders. Biathlon has come a long way. Today, athletes compete in a wide variety of disciplines in stadiums all over the world. The sport is also popular among the general public. 

If you want to be successful in biathlon, you have to master both cross-country skiing and shooting. Endurance and good cross-country skiing technique alone are not enough. The shooting is what really matters when it comes to victory or defeat. If you miss, depending on the race, you either get a penalty minute or have to complete a penalty lap. A lap is 150 metres long. This means that the ranking can change from one round to the next. For the spectators, thrills are guaranteed. Biathlon is fascinating. Biathlon knows how to move. And biathlon creates emotions like no other sport. 

Individual, sprint, pursuit, mass start, relay, mixed relax and single-mixed relay – these are the seven current disciplines. The disciplines differ in terms of the distance of the cross-country course as well as the number of shooting rounds. The race always starts with a lap on the cross-country ski trail. This is followed by shooting from a prone position, before another round is completed. This is then followed by shooting from a standing position. Depending on the discipline, either two or four shots are fired. 

The Biathlon Academy at the Roland Arena has various courses available. If you want to experience the fascination of biathlon for yourself, the taster course will be just the thing for you. Under expert guidance, participants get their first insight into the sport of biathlon. Franco welcomes his group to the shooting range. After a brief introduction to the sport, the small-calibre rifle is examined more closely, which includes the first shooting exercises. 

The participants have become familiar with the equipment and know how biathlon works. Now Franco wants to test out their ambition and skills. A small competition is organised. Ski a lap of the arena, return to the shooting range, fire five shots and complete any penalty rounds if necessary. The group goes full throttle, and Franco is delighted that today he has been able to successfully pass on the fascination of biathlon. 

“We have around 3,000 guests in winter and around 2,000 in summer.” Yes, there are also biathlon courses in summer. “The summer courses are very popular. Spending a few hours outside is more pleasant in warm temperatures,” Franco says with a grin. In summer, there are also no prerequisites to attending the taster course. Instead of cross-country skiing, you can go for a run or a bike ride. 

Anyone who has really caught the biathlon bug can go on to complete the three-stage training programme. In the basic course, participants are introduced to the magic square of biathlon. This sport requires all four sides of the square: focus, precision, strength and endurance. Additional theoretical and practical input is provided in the Advanced and Pro courses. This gives the participants the skills they need to train for the sport of biathlon on their own. After having successfully passed the test, the newly qualified biathletes are now authorised to rent a rifle and train independently. Unique to Switzerland. 

Around five kilometres from the centre of Lenzerheide village, you will find a sporting paradise. The Roland Arena is the first permanent biathlon facility in Switzerland. The training and competition centre is popular with national and international teams. The modern biathlon infrastructure offers the ideal training ground in both winter and summer. The Roland Arena has become a meeting place for elite and junior athletes, as well as recreational athletes and clubs. Refreshments are provided by Bistro Bualino, and relaxation is guaranteed in the modern multi-bed rooms of the Nordic Hostel.

The highlight for all biathlon enthusiasts is coming in February 2025: from 11 to 23 February 2025, the biathlon world will meet at the Roland Arena in Lantsch/Lenz for the Biathlon World Championships. These will be held in Switzerland for the first time. Visitors can look forward to an unrivalled biathlon event. Thrilling competitions, a rousing atmosphere and unforgettable moments are guaranteed when top athletes are competing for the coveted title.