The idea guy behind the Fort Whyte Alive Biathalon, Barret Miller, noted “Russell might have Jon Montgomery but Virden has Lane Coulter.” There were 14 racers in the inaugural event which involved a 2.4 km snowshoe race and the atlatl spear-throwing. Each successful hit on the target with the short spear gave the racers a 90 second credit. Miller notes, the youngest participant, Lane Coulter from Virden, “ran a very solid snowshoe race (and he was) the most successful marksman. His time in the race, with the adjusted atlatl target success gave him a time of 9 minutes 21 seconds, nearly a minute better than the next contestant with a time of 10 minutes 9 seconds.

The biathlon event enables people to experience the culture of history with the thrill of a sporting event.

Barret says atlatl is an Aztec word. This simple foot-long stick with a cup shaped end is about three centimetres wide. Very simple technology, it pre-dates the use of the bow and arrow and was used throughout the world by virtually every culture to propel a short spear.

Snowshoes were thought to have been developed in North America from a device strapped to the feet which became cross-country skiis in Europe.

Fort Whyte, Barret Miller says, was reclaimed industrial land within the Winnipeg city limits. Gravel excavations left lake areas and a great habitat for wild life. After the 1950 flood it went back to nature and in 1984 it began to be developed into what it is today - a nature enclave with interpretive programs and lots of activities for people amongst the resident wildlife. It is an island of green and wild beauty linked by a green corridor to the Assiniboine Forest within the limits of the City of Winnipeg. A lot goes on at Fort Whyte during the 'white' months.