Polish biathlon center- Jamrozowa Polana

Few days ago I visited with my friends a biathlon center in Duszniki- Zdrój. You may know this location as a place of the IBU Cup and upcoming Biathlon European Championships. There are skiing and roller skiing trails. It seams to be perfect for training for pros and amateurs as well. Summer is a good time to explore places like this. There are less athletes than in winter. As we arrived I realized how wrong I was...

Shooting range in Jamrozowa Polana (Duszniki- Zdrój)

Weather was good for training, especially compared to last rainy days. That's why we saw a bunch of biathletes on the shooting range. As we had heard, before our arrival was so many athletes that all 30 places were used for shooting training. I think it's amazing. They left before we started our trip. Probably they had a break between morning and afternoon sessions. It was great for us. We had the entire object at our disposal. However before we took our roller skis, I visited PR-SPORT. This shop sells (as the only one in Poland) One Way Sport products. I couldn't restrain myself and bought a thermo drinking belt by OW.

Then we started our training on roller skis. The course isn't easy. There are two loops to choose from. Both begin on the stadium and follow through the bridge. We were a little surprised as we saw the downhill from the bridge. It's really steep. Probably you can't see it in the picture below.

Then the track goes in the forest. We must pass a small uphill up to the intersection. We could choose one of the loops, 2,5 km length or 1,4 km. There are more skiing trails without tarmac, which are groomed in winter. 

  

We took left turn and chose the 2,5 km loop. This one contains a lot of steep uphills and downhills. Less experienced skiers may have there some problems.

After short descent we go up immediately...

... and then even more up. This uphill reminds me a part of the most difficult cycling climbs, like Monte Zoncolan.

This is the most difficult downhill of the loop. You gain a lot of speed at the beginning and then you have to turn right.

After this steep descent you'll manage to lose all the speed going up this hill.

This hill was the last one on the big loop. As we passed it, we could relax a little bit during an easy descent to the stadium.

Here is a look at the small loop. Both meet again next to the stadium.

The stadium was empty. We was taking a look at the shooting range every time as we passed them. Everyone noticed an inscription: "Centrum polskiego biathlonu", which means "The center of Polish biathlon". Then also quick look at the grand stands and we could feel like Martin Fourcade during World Cup race. Sometimes we was doing one or two penalty loops, and afterwards taking another lap. We liked the small 1,4 km course. It was very dynamic and demanding. I think I made a huge effort during this 1,5 hour roller skiing session. After our training biathletes returned for afternoon training session. In team were youth and children. It's great to see that Polish biathlon still have a future ahead. Thanks to this place young athletes have opportunity to achieve results like recent gold medal of Krystyna Guzik (Pałka) at IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships in Tyumen. Of course not only a place for training counts, but it's a significant part of success. Now I know, why this place has been called "The center of Polish biathlon". And even today I'm sure, that I'll come back to Jamrozowa Polana in upcoming winter season.