Who am I?

My name is Rosanna Crawford, I was born and raised in Canmore, AB and started cross country skiing by the time I could walk! At the age of 10 I started biathlon and fell in love! Something about the challenge of skiing and shooting really stuck with me and being able to hang out with your friends wasn't too bad either! At 14 I got to compete in my first National Champs and got a taste of what it was like to race on a bigger scale! By 16 I was on the National team and trying to make international teams. In 2008 I competed in my first World Youth and Junior Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany. That was when I got hooked!
I train full time out of Canmore and spend my winters racing all over Canada and Europe. Follow along as I compete and train all around the World!
It is here that I hope to keep you up to date on my training and racing. I would not be able to do what I love without the support of my family and sponsors, so a big shout out to you guys!
Now what is biathlon you might ask. Biathlon combines the physical exertion of cross country skiing and the challenge of rifle marksmanship. Skiing is always skate technique and shooting is either laying down on your stomach (prone) or standing up (standing).

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Sunshine and long races!

Well my individual competitions are all over. Thursday was the 15km individual and things went well. I didn’t shoot as well as I was hoping but skiing felt much better. It was a cooking hot day! Race start was 10:20am but with bib number 85 I didn’t start till just after 11am. By then the sun was shinning and the snow was slushy but I was feeling good. I came into the range for my first prone and hit 4 targets (in an individual each missed target adds one minute to your ski time.) Back out on course for another 3km loop into the range for standing and I missed 2 targets, darn 3min added so far. 3km loop then second prone shooting, 5 hits, excellent. Because I was one of the last starters it was pretty lonely out there on course by then end of my race. As I entered the range for my last standing shooting I was going to be the sole athlete on the range and knew people would be a cheering! But I keep my mind quiet and set up and hit the first target, miss, hit, hit, hit. So 16/20, not my best shooting but not horrible. I ended up 76th, nothing special but I am really happy that my skiing felt better. I am still working on my endurance and 15km is really long for me, the race took around 45min. 
Now onto the most exciting event, the 4X6km relay!! This is our only team event at the Olympics. Each of us will ski 6km and shoot two times and each time we shoot we get 3 extra bullets to hit the targets, so you have 8 bullets to hit 5 targets! Leading into the relay we have been taking it pretty relax, doing some intensity but also spending some time with family and friends and getting to enjoy some of the Olympic spirit around Whistler. Today Megan Imrie and I went up the peak to peak gondola and got to enjoy some glorious mountain sunshine on what felt like the top of the world!

Chandra and I in the Olympic village

As most of you know my sister Chandra is also here competing at the Olympics in cross country skiing. She had her classic sprint race the other day where she qualified 18th. I am so pumped and proud of her! She has come a long way from being injured and missing a whole season of racing. Her next event will be the 4X5km relay on thursday. The XC team is not staying in the village but she came around the other day and it was great to get to spend some time with her. 
Loving my Olympic experience and can’t wait for the relay on tuesday!
GO CANADA GO!!
Rosanna

"I aspire to be the person my dog thinks I am."

Dave Neighbor at the mens 30km pursuit

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