User:Samt53c/Diathlon

The Diathlon is a winter sport, similar to the biathlon, made up of two disciplines. The skiing disipline of the diathlon is almost identical to that of the biathlon. During the shooting aspect, the competitors go to a stage where they get to shoot down upon those who are behind them in the race.

History
The diathlon is believed to have originated in the 1950s in northern Russia. Most sources credit Aleksey Borislav of Murmansk, Russia with the creation of the sport. One afternoon following a round of russian roulette with his friends, Aleksey suggested that there the should be be some skill involved in deciding who survives, and who ends up dead. Using what they had laying around; skis and rifles, the diathlon was born. Although it became quite popular in Russia, the diathlon never caught on elsewhere until, rather then actual rifles, non-lethal weapons were used.

General Concept
The diathlon is a race, much like regular cross-country skiing, in which the goal is to finish the course in the fastest time. Each race is 20 kilometers long and each event consists of 50 competators.

Skiing Portion
The skiing disipline of the diathlon consists of 2 laps around a 10 kilometer course. Half way through each lap, the skiers approach a sharp, almost 180 degree, turn. This turn takes them up along the side of a hill. At the top of this hill is the shooting stage that over looks those who haven't made it to the turn yet.

Shooting Portion
It is the shooting portion of the diathlon that sets it apart from all other winter sports. When the athlete arrives at the shooting stage, they go to a guard rail at the edge of the hill. Here they have a view of those who are still behind them. They then get to fire down two shots upon the other competators with their taser shotgun. The distance between the shooting platform and path the "targets" are sking on is about 50ft.

Skis
Athletes may only use two skis and two ski poles to move along the course.

Rifle
The weapon used by diathletes is actually used a Mossberg 550 shotgun. What makes it less-than lethal is the round used. In the diathlon, the shotguns shoot a Taser Xrep cartridge. This cartridge is not connected to the gun like typical tasers, and it can fly up to 100 feet. When it hits the target it delivers an electric shock essentially incapacitating that competitor.

Reception
The Dialthlon is gaining attention due in part to an impressive showing in 2009 in Sweden A diathlon race was run on a traditional cross country skiing course. Five of the competitors beat the previous record held for 23 years. Supporters claim this proves that the fear associated with the diathlon is beneficial to pushing athletes to their full potential. Opponents of the sport are quick to point out that only 31 out of the 50 competitors actually finished the race.