Editor's note: This story is part of series to bring the Olympics home to our readers.

By PATRICK MATSINKOpmatsinko@tnonline.comWhat started out as a form of hunting for inhabitants of Northern Europe who skied carrying a rifle, the biathlon has become a staple of the Winter Olympics.The sport made its first appearance at the Chamonix Games in 1924, and began to grow in popularity during the 1960s after being added to winter sports calendars in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.Locally, the Pennsylvania Biathlon Club, which was founded in 1995, offers a variety of races, in both the summer and winter disciplines of the sport.While there are certainly differences between the two, many of the skills cross over and allow athletes to compete throughout the year."We have always tried to get people more involved in the winter events by having them start in the summer," said president Frank Gaval. "It's usually easier to have people start with the running in the summer, than transition to cross country skiing in the winter."But a lot of people think the running is harder than the skiing and find the winter discipline more appealing."For a sport as multifaceted as the biathlon, Gaval and those involved with the club try to provide for those interested in getting started in a variety of ways."We offer clinics and provide equipment for people that are new to the sport," he said. "We try to make it as accessible as possible."It can be difficult to get kids into if they don't have any prior knowledge or experience with skiing or shooting. And some parents are skeptical to let them use guns. But we offer safety courses to make sure they are trained before they go out there."The sport is incredibly flexible, with any kind of ski technique permitted. But only skis and ski poles may be used.For the skis, a minimum length should be four centimeters less than the height of the athlete. To increase glide, various special waxes can be applied to the skis.A 5.6mm caliber sports rifle is carried by the athletes on their back using special straps with the barrel facing up.Aside from his duties as president of the club, Gaval will also be directing the Pennsylvania State Snowshoe Championships at Nescopeck State Park today. The event is a qualifier for U.S. National Snowshoe Championships, with will be held at Prospect Mountain Ski Center in Woodford, Vt., from Feb. 28 to March 2.Gaval also directed a snowshoe biathlon two years ago. With no skiing, Gaval said the event was less technical and went over well with those that were involved.With this year's Olympic biathlon competition highlighted by the largest squad for the United States in 22 years, it's clear that people like Gaval and others across the country are doing the right things to keep the sport growing and moving in the right direction.