U.S. Biathlon head coach Armin Auchentaller learned to cross-country ski on the trails that weave through the thick forests lining the Antholz valley in Northern Italy. Before he was even born, his father helped plan and build the region’s first biathlon range, which would go on to become one of the most legendary arenas in the world.
“I basically grew up at the venue,” Auchentaller said of the Südtirol Arena Alto Adige, site of biathlon competitions during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. “I raced and trained on this venue from childhood, and I still ski those slopes today with the same fun and excitement I had back then.”
