BRILLION, Wis. — A Brillion-based company gave the public an early glimpse at its brand new biathlon training facility.
Dozens of people came out Saturday to shoot with Olympic athletes at the Ariens Nordic Center.
12-year-old Conrad Pakala enjoyed the event.
“I’m able to shoot without getting yelled at,” said Pakala.
He got the opportunity of a lifetime, as he was coached on how to shoot by Green Bay-area Olympic biathlete Deedre Irwin.
Irwin said having a facility like the new Nordic Center will open doors for young athletes.
“So many kids were asking me how they can get into skiing and how they can get into biathlon, and it’s awesome now to be able to tell them that just under an hour away is going to be this amazing facility,” she said. “I think definitely in the next 10 to 15 years, you’re going to see an Olympian come from this training facility.”
Ariens Nordic Center rests on 200 acres of land. It has rolling hills, miles of ski trails and a biathlon range.
Sean Johnson and his father visited the center Saturday. They said they’d typically have to visit Minnesota to find a center like this. Now, they just have to drive down to Brillion from Green Bay.
“I think it’s pretty great to be able to drive 40 minutes and not like over a few hours,” said Johnson.
The center is expected to officially open to the public as early as this December.