Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 31

OUTDOORS Thursday May 11, 1989 Albuquerque Journal Page 3, Section Biathlon Demands Are Never Met River Race Scheduled For Pilar Conditioning Is Continuous Job For U.S. Team Member Coats By Martin Frentzel FROM STAFF REPORTS JOURNAL STAFF WRITER V. if i mmmmmm. limn ALEXANDRIA KING JOURNAL U.S. Biathlon Team member Beth Coats, an Eldorado between riflery and physical conditioning.

Here, she's High School graduate, divides her training time framed by the harness of her Anshutz rifle. Beth Coats is a determined young woman. She's chosen to compete in a demanding international sport which is just now gaining recognition in this country. Biathlon is an Olympic sport combining cross-country skiing and shooting, two activities at opposite ends of the spectrum of physical activity. "It's really two different sports," said the 22-year-old Coats, a graduate of Eldorado High School and a member of the U.S.

women's biathlon team. Women's biathlon will be an Olympic sport for the first time in 1992. Coats qualified for the team by placing third at the U.S. Biathlon Championships in March. Before that, she was the top American in the women's biathlon at the World University Games in Bulgaria.

She finished 11th in one event. To be competitive in the sport at the international level, an athlete must submit to a year-round program of punishing physical training. There are mountains to climb while "psycho hiking" bush-wacking uphill over logs and boulders. There are long hours of practicing ski technique, both on snow and on roller skis. And when the biathlete isn't involved in physical conditioning, the fine art of riflery must be absorbed.

"It's hard to train for this," Coats said. "Skiing is one sport and you want to train 100 percent for that, and shooting is another sport to train 100 percent for. It's really time consuming." April was a "detraining month" for Coats, who spent just 34 hours conditioning last month. That included bicycling, weightlifting, running and roller skiing. It does not include time spent firing at the Shooting Range State Park on the West Mesa or the time spent dry-firing in the family living room in the northeast heights.

During May and June, the biathlete shoots one round at a time, Coats said, stopping to check the accuracy of each shot. She's building the confidence needed to fire five shots exactly during The advantages of returning to a small town to train are numerous, Coats said. "In Albuquerque, I have to drive 26 miles to go shoot," she said. "Or, I have to drive to the other side of the mountain to go running. And there's really no good roller skiing." In Gunnison, however, everything is relatively nearby.

"And when you're in a big city where you grew up, all your friends come by and they want to go play," she said. But training comes first. "For me to meet my goals, I have to stick with it," Coats said. As a member of the U.S. women's team, Coats has already qualified for September's Pan American Games in Argentina.

The next goal is making the U.S. World Championship Team. The U.S. trials will be in January in Lake Placid, N.Y., and the actual championships will be three weeks later in the Soviet Union. Coats qualified for the Polar Games in Finland in April, but did not have the money needed to make the trip.

Anyone willing to help her can contribute to the Beth Coats Biathlon Fund at the First National Bank. College, and athletes training under him are tested periodically to chart their progress. The athletes wear heart monitors while ski-pole walking on treadmills, Coats said, and the incline is increased every two minutes. Underwood also does blood tests on the athletes, quickly pricking their fingers to obtain samples. Red blood cells are counted and lactic acid levels are measured.

"I'm really confident in John and this training program," Coats said. "Everybody else who has done his program has had great results." If there's a discouraging aspect to Coats' life as a biathlete, it's money. She receives a scant $200 a month from the U.S. Olympic Committee, not even enough to pay rent and utilities on the Gunnison, apartment she'll be living in while training this year. "I'll be moving back to Gunnison May 18," she said.

Coats skied for Western State College in Gunnison before becoming a biathlete and training for a year in Oregon. Josh Thompson also skied for Western State before meeting coach Underwood. 30 or 40 seconds. Later in the summer, she'll switch to the metal targets used in competition. "You want to practice so much that it's all natural, subconscious," she said.

"You want to be really, really relaxed and know that you're going to hit them all." The physical training schedule similarly increases during the summer and will not slow down significantly until Coats competes next winter. In November, the biathlete's first month on snow, she'll have a heavy load of 74 hours, exclusively dedicated to physical conditioning. "In November, we ski all day long," Coats said, "slowly, practicing our technique." The workouts are planned by Coats' coach, John Underwood of Bend, Ore. Underwood, a former coach of the U.S. Biathlon Team, coaches Josh Thompson, the only American to win a medal in the sport in international competition.

Underwood designs the training schedule to build basic endurance, speed endurance and threshold endurance. He's the labratory director at the Central Oregon Human Physiology Testing Center at the Central Oregon Community PILAR The annual Mothers' Day white water race on the Rio Grande, sponsored by the Adobe White Water Club, will be Saturday and Sunday. The canoe and kayak marathon will be at 10 a.m. Saturday beginning at the Taos County line, said Gayle Smart, race organizer. Sunday the canoe and kayak slalom will be at 10 a.m.

on the race course section of the river. At 1 p.m. the 32nd annual raft race will be held, beginning at the Rio Verde Pavilion in the Rio Grande Gorge State Park. Smart said this is the first American Canoe Association-sanctioned race of the season in which boaters may collect points for the national rankings. The river is running at about 750 cubic feet a second, she said.

"This water level is comparable to last year at this time," Gayle said. "This is low." An early runoff and absence of rainfall contibuted to the low flows, she said. BACKPACKING: Dick Spray, retired Forest Service recreation specialist, will discuss backpacking in the state at tonight's meeting of the Albuquerque Wildlife Federation. The meeting begins at 7:30 at the Bear Canyon Senior Center, 4645 Pitt NE. Elk Foundation Seeks Improved Habitat in State FROM STAFF REPORTS The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is conducting several seminars Saturday in conjunction with its annual fund-raising banquet at the Hilton Hotel.

Bill Zeedyk, wildlife supervisor for the Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service, will present a program at 2 p.m. Saturday explaining how the service and the foundation work for improved elk habitat on the forests. "I'm going to tell them why it's important that we have the support of the foundation in its fund-raising efforts to get the work done," Zeedyk said. An elk foundation advisory committee has identified 11 projects in the state to be accomplished this year.

Zeedyk said three of the projects, prescribed fires on two national forests and one on the state-owned Marquez Wildlife Area, have been completed. Zeedyk said the fires cause resprouting on slow-growing plants like aspen and Gambel oak, providing succulent, more nutritious vegetation for elk to eat. "The secret is to make these areas large enough so the elk don't destroy the plant vegetation," Zeedyk said. Other seminars offered include a demon; stration by Pope Young and Boone Crockett, game-hunting record keepers, on how to measure trophy elk. Game and Fish Department personnel will present a video tape and be available to answer questions.

The fund-raising banquet will begin at 7 p.m. A few tickets are still available. Call Phil Sonier, 821-6472, or Steve Clark, 294-8978. Tickets are $40, including a membership in the foundation. Couples will be charged $60.

Wildlife prints and sculptures, rifles and other items will be auctioned after the dinner. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was started in 1984 in Montana. By last year it had raised $976,507 for 123 projects benefitting elk and other wildlife species in the United States and Canada. Olympian Looking To Bring Biathlon Event to New Mexico By Martin Frentzel JOURNAL STAFF WRITER 5' I W- 3 ISt. A ml 1 to do it at zero," Nelson said.

This summer's series includes events at San Diego; St. Louis; Austin, Texas; Memphis; Indianapolis; New York; Atlanta; Colorado Springs, and Minneapolis. The prize money will be distributed between the top 10 overall series winners, both men and women, who compete in at least three races. "I'd love to have one in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe area," Nelson said. He said this part of New Mexico is one of five areas he'll be visiting this year to investigate for potential expansion of the series.

"I'm also very interested in finding a local running club or shooting club that would like to organize a race," he said. The National Shooting Sports Foundation provided a grant for the program, which is administered by the U.S. Biathlon Association. Write to Nelson at: Program Coordinator, Summer Biathlon, 6 Weed Road, Essex Junction, 05452. Four-time Olympian Lyle Nelson wants to bring the summer biathlon to the Albuquerque-Santa Fe area.

Nelson, 39, was the designated flag-bearer for the U.S. during the winter Olympics in Calgary. He's now the program coordinator for the Summer Biathlon National Series, an event with a $10,000 purse and 10 stops throughout the U.S. this year. "There are 16 million runners in the country," Nelson said, "and there are 16 million people who shoot.

And there are a lot of them who want to combine both sports." In summer biathlon, competitors run a mile and then try to shoot five targets while standing. After another one-mile loop, the participants shoot five shots from the prone position. Running a third mile completes the race. "It's a lot more fun to go in your running shorts and shoot your rifle than I' -v. 2L ALEXANDRIA KING JOURNAL Roller skiing is an important part of Beth Coats' training program.

She hopes to qualify for the World Championships in January. Bill dyroffs fishing report Hopewell Maloya Navajcy, Jicarilla Vado Eagle Nest Springer all over in 2 to 5 feet of water; best with plastic worms. Crappie have been reported taken on small minnows and crappie jigs at Ash, Hospital and McRae Canyons in brush in 10 to 15 feet of water. Good for catfish on trotlines at the north end of the Upper LdKo with cut shdd Bob Brewster, Butte Fishing Guide Services at Elephant Butte. Santa Cruz Cochiti Bluewater Conchas s.

Ute Santa Rosa Ramah The inaugural Caballo Lake Family Fishing Derby will be held Saturday and Sunday. Fish taken from the bank or boats are eligible. Classes include the largest fish, most fish, most pounds and youngest and oldest fisherman. Entry fee is $5 for each family or boat with a limit of five to a boat or family). Applications are due by noon Saturday at Caballo Lake Marina.

For additional information, contact Jack or Diane Ball at the marina, 743-3995. NAVAJO: Fair to good for trout and 14- to 18-inch kokanee in the main body, best near the mouth of the Pine River trolling at about 20 to 30 feet with Cherry Bobbers, Z-Rays and Kokanee Killers, all baited with corn. Good for crappie at the top of Frances and La Jara canyons and at Pine River Marina. Some catfish were taken Tuesday on trotlines with black licorice. Larry Federici, angler and park ranger.

HERON and EL VADO: Trolling at Heron is picking up for 14-inch kokanee. Good from the bank for rainbows, but spotty. Saturday, George Gee of Tierra Amarilla and two partners took eight lake trout from 3 to 10 pounds. Lake trout and kokanee are running anywhere from 15 to 40 feet deep. Fair to good at El Vado from the bank for rainbows and a few kokanee.

especially near the dam and at Hargrove Point and Shale Point. Wayne Beverly, park manager. Bonito midges, and during the day on Compara Dun flies, 16, and Black Nymphs, 16 and 18. Jack Woolley at Los Rios Anglers Fly Shop and Guide Service, Taos. SPRINGER AREA: Two or three northern pike have come out of Springer each day, the largest last week at 38 inches and others from 32 to 36 inches.

Best from the bank with 6- to 7-inch suckers. Good at Charette for smaller trout. Maxwell No. 13 has slowed, but 15- to 20-inch trout are still being caught from the bank and trolling orange Panther Martins. Jim Angel at Sky Chief in Springer.

UTE LAKE: Fair to good for crappie and improving for walleye in the warm water of the upper Canadian River. White bass have schooled off points In about 25 feet of water; fair to good jigging with spoons or trol'ing with deep running lures. Good for black bass on topwater lures. Slow for catfish. Bob Lockhart at Logan Park Marina.

CONCHAS: Good for walleye trolling spinner-worm combinations near Green Island on the Conchas arm and near Big Island on the Canadian arm. Good for catfish on trotlines. Slowed a little for bass. Roger Haigh, park superintendent. CABALLO: Very good for white bass and walleye from Animas Creek north to Palomas Creek in shallow water, but in the main channel.

Excellent for black bass pretty much all over In 2 to 6 feet with surface lures and plastic worms. Marty Otero, angler and park manager. ELEPHANT BUTTE: Continues great for black bass Elephant Butte Caballo Bill Evans DROP LINES: The flow rate of the San Juan continues at 600 cubic feet a second. Low and clear. Good in the quality section with Pheasant Tail and Light Hendrickson nymphs, 16 and 18, and there is some dry fly action with size 20 midges.

Fair in the regular water with the same flies; the best bait would probably be night crawlers. Sunday, Shawn Perez, 15, of Bloomfield, caught a nice 18-inch rainbow at Cottonwood Campground on a Puff Ball. (Camela Hooley at Abe's Store and Motel). Very little pressure and fishing continues pretty slow at the Jicarilla Lakes. About 3,000 rainbow trout, 1 1 to 13 inches and some 3-pound brook trout will be planted at Mundo, Dulce, La Jara and Enbom Friday.

(Tom Watts, biologist, Jicarilla Department of Natural Resources). The Chama River below El Vado was clear and flowing at 491 CFS Tuesday. Lots of 10-inch rainbows and some 14-inch browns were taken over the weekend on salmon eggs, worms and Panther Martin spinners. (Carl Cooper at El Vado Guest Ranch). Slow at Fenton over the weekend, though some 14-inch rainbows were caught.

Best on salmon eggs, power bait and worms on the bottom. (Orlando Herrera, park manager). At Cochlti, Sunday, Steve Langham of Albuquerque landed a 12-pound, 1 1 -ounce, 36V4-inch northern pike on a Big Slim muskie lure, from the bank near the dam. Tuesday, James B. Craig of Veguita caught a 9-pound, 5-ounce channel catfish.

(Murray Lewis at Mainstream Bait Shop, Pena Blanca). Trolling at Santa Cruz has been best with flies fished shallow when there is a ripple on the water; switch to Christmas trees or heavier lures with calm water. Stocked Tuesday with 2,917 rainbows. (Ches Smother-mon at the concession). Continues good at Eagle Nest for 12- Bataan to 14-inch rainbows and some kokanee.

For bigger fish, best to troll with Panther Martins, Z-Rays and Super Dupers. (Don Jones, Department of Game and Fish, Cimarron). Fair for walleye throughout Sumner Lake with any fluorescent, shallow-running Bomber-type lure. (Dan Fisher, angler and park manager). Fair for trout at Bluewater, both trolling and from the bank.

Good for catfish. (Jim Sanchez, angler and park manager). NORTHERN STREAMS: Fly fishing is improving daily in the Rio Grande near Pilar. Good with worms. Good in the Special Trout Water near Taos Junction bridge with Gray Caddis, 1 6, and Caddis Larva, 1 6.

Saturday about 7 a.m., In the Special Trout Water, Rick Nunn of Taos caught a 34-inch, 1 1 -pound northern pike on a fly. The Rio Pueblo near Tres Ritos was clear Tuesday, and good with Ginger Quill, 16, and worms. Good, evenings, in the Cimarron River with size 18 "5".