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The Battlefords area is a hidden hotbed for cross-country skiing in Saskatchewan. Whether it is the trails at Blue Mountain, the practice terrain at Holy Family School or the Finlayson Island trails there is no shortage of cross-country opportunities.

With those many opportunities, five locals have combined cross-country skiing and rifle shooting and earned spots on Saskatchewan's biathlon team for the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

Matthew Hudec, Patrick Hudec and Devon Sylvester of North Battleford make of 3/4 of the male roster. Livelong athletes Brynn Hartley and Kayla Hartley make up half of the female roster.

The other athletes include: Evan Bonk and Rebecca Bend of Regina and Natasha Boyes of La Ronge.

The athletes have been focused on training for this team for two years after eight selection races, and coach Doug Sylvester, Devon's dad, says all these athletes have been involved in the sports since a young age.

The training leading up to the event in Halifax Feb. 11 to 18 has put the athletes working nearly 10 times per week. Training includes dry land and weight training, cross-country skiing and obviously target shooting.

Sylvester admits the Saskatchewan athletes will be in tough, as he expects Alberta to have some elite level competitors, who could be world champions some day. As for the team goals of the younger Saskatchewan team, he said his team has an outside chance at finishing in the top 10, but it is the experience that is most important.

Some members of the team have some national experience through cadets and this trip to Halifax will only enhance that and expose them to even better competition.

The athletes will begin training in Halifax Feb. 11 for the individual, sprint, pursuit and relay events.

As to why the Northwest is such a strong representative in Saskatchewan in biathlon, Sylvester points directly to the groomed facilities and trails in the area as a key reason for the success of the local athletes.

Sylvester rarely competes anymore in biathlon and cross-country events himself, but has passed his knowledge down to the up coming generation of biathlon athletes in the Northwest and hopes to be able to help the athletes reach their potential in this sport and represent Saskatchewan well in Halifax.