How Do Para Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing Work?

"Para Nordic skiing" is the umbrella term covering two distinct sports that share a common classification system: para biathlon (cross-country skiing + rifle shooting) and para cross-country skiing (racing only). Both have been part of the Paralympic program since the first Winter Paralympics in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.

At Milano-Cortina 2026, para Nordic skiing accounts for an enormous share of the program: 18 biathlon events and 20 cross-country events, totaling 38 medal events. All events take place at the Nordic Centre in Tesero, Val di Fiemme — the same venue complex used for Olympic Nordic events.

Para Nordic skiing uses the same LW (Locomotor Winter) framework as alpine skiing for standing and sitting categories, but with different factored time coefficients because the biomechanics of cross-country skiing differ from downhill racing.

A crucial difference: Nordic skiing uses B1–B3 classifications for visually impaired athletes, while alpine skiing has switched to the new AS1–AS4 system for 2026.

The concept is identical to alpine skiing: Scoring Time = Raw Time × Factor. However, there are important differences:

1. Different factors than alpine: Because cross-country skiing uses different muscle groups and techniques than downhill skiing, the impact of each classification is different. An LW2 skier may have factor 0.88 in alpine but a different factor in cross-country.
2. Classic vs Free technique have separate factors: The two skiing techniques (classic/diagonal stride and free/skating) produce different performance patterns, so each technique has its own set of classification factors.
3. Distance matters: Sprint events and long-distance events may use slightly different factor adjustments because impairment impacts vary with race duration.

Here's a worked example from a hypothetical Women's Cross-Country 10km Free race:

Athlete	Class	Factor	Actual Time	Factored Time
Athlete A	LW2	0.85	54:09.1	54:09.1 × 0.85 = 46:01.7
Athlete B	LW10	0.78	58:45.3	58:45.3 × 0.78 = 45:49.3
Athlete C	B2	0.91	51:22.0	51:22.0 × 0.91 = 46:44.0

Result: The sitting skier (Athlete B) wins with the lowest factored time, despite having the slowest raw time.

This is the single most fascinating element of Paralympic winter sports and one of the most ingenious technological adaptations in all of sport.

In para biathlon, visually impaired athletes (B1–B3) use an electronic rifle equipped with an auditory targeting system. Here's how it works:

1. The rifle is connected to an electronic scope that detects proximity to the target center.
2. Audio feedback: The athlete wears headphones. As the rifle barrel moves closer to the center of the target, the tone rises in pitch. The highest pitch means the barrel is aimed at the bullseye.
3. The athlete listens for the highest tone, steadies the rifle, and fires when they judge the aim to be optimal.
4. All athletes shoot prone (lying down), regardless of their standing/sitting race classification.
5. Five shots, two bouts: Each biathlon race includes 2 shooting bouts of 5 shots each (10 total).
6. Penalty for misses: Each missed target results in a 150-meter penalty loop (not a time penalty — the athlete must physically ski the extra distance).

The skill required is extraordinary. Athletes must control their breathing after intense skiing, tune out ambient noise from the crowd and wind, and make split-second firing decisions based solely on a pitch gradient. Elite para biathletes regularly hit 8–10 of 10 targets — even in the B1 class (near-total blindness).

Para cross-country skiing at 2026 features 20 medal events across multiple formats:

Sprint — Short, fast races (typically 800m–1.5km depending on category). Qualification heats → semifinals → final. The most explosive events.

Middle Distance — 7.5km–15km races depending on category and gender. Single mass-start or interval-start format.

Long Distance — 15km–20km races. The endurance test of para Nordic skiing. Factored time becomes especially important as small factor differences compound over longer distances.

Relay — Mixed relay events where teams combine athletes from different categories. Each team member skis a designated leg, with factored time applied to each leg individually.

Sitting athletes use a sit-ski frame — a seat mounted on cross-country skis, propelled by short poles. Standing athletes may use prosthetics or ski without them, depending on their classification. Visually impaired athletes (B1–B3) ski with a guide tethered by a short cord, with the guide providing verbal directions.

Para biathlon at 2026 features 18 medal events combining skiing and shooting:

Individual — Longest biathlon event. Distance varies by category (7.5km–15km). Two shooting bouts, 5 shots each. Each miss adds a 150m penalty loop. Tests endurance plus shooting accuracy.

Sprint — Shorter distances (5km–10km) with 2 shooting bouts. The most popular biathlon format because it combines speed with precision under pressure.

Middle Distance — Mid-range distances with shooting bouts. Often determines overall biathlon standings.

All biathlon events feature the same shooting format: athletes approach the shooting range, settle into prone position, don their headphones (for VI athletes), and fire 5 shots. The transition from skiing to shooting requires athletes to rapidly control their heart rate and breathing — going from maximum aerobic effort to fine motor precision in seconds.

Sit-Ski Frame — For cross-country, the sit-ski is different from the alpine monoski. It's a lightweight frame with a bucket seat mounted on two cross-country skis (not one). The athlete propels themselves using shortened poles, pushing in a double-poling technique. The sit-ski allows for surprisingly fast speeds — elite sitting cross-country skiers can average over 15 km/h on flat terrain.

Adapted Rifle with Auditory Scope — The electronic targeting system used by visually impaired biathletes is calibrated before each competition. The headphones are noise-isolating to minimize wind and crowd interference. The targets are placed at 10 meters (compared to 50 meters in Olympic biathlon), reflecting the adapted nature of the shooting.

Guide Tethering — Visually impaired cross-country skiers are connected to their guide by a short cord or tether. The guide skis ahead within arm's reach, providing a constant stream of verbal information about the trail: upcoming turns, elevation changes, other skiers, and pacing guidance. In sprint events, the guide must be athletic enough to maintain the athlete's race pace.