It takes so little to miss a target on the biathlon range and it's even more difficult when there are thousands of spectators watching your every move.
Just ask Megan Tandy what that's like. She had the pressure of wearing Canada's flag in the lead leg of the World Cup women's 4 X 6 kilometre relay Sunday in Anholz-Anterselva, Italy.
For the 28-year-old product of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club in Prince George, the targets weren't falling like they usually do and she needed to reload four spare rounds into her rifle to get all 20 to fall before her relay leg was complete.
Tandy's extra time at the range dropped Canada out of the medal running early and the team of Julia Ransom of Kelowna, Emma Lunder of Vernon and Rosanna Crawford of Canmore finished a disappointing 18th out of 23. They required eight spare rounds to get through the range.
Canada ended up 4:21 behind the gold medalists from Germany (Vanessa Hinz, Maren Hammershcmidt, Franziska Hildebrand, Laura Dahlmeier) who finished in one hour nine minutes 12 seconds, 24.2 seconds ahead of France and 33.4 before the bronze medalists, Italy.
"This crazy sport always has something to teach me; today it was to take nothing for granted, ever," said Tandy, in a Facebook post.
"I began our relay apprehensive about my skiing (since ski speed has been my greatest struggle this season) but excited and confident about shooting. And what happened? My best ski feeling of the season – a nice surprise – but shaking and struggling to take control on the range! Go figure.
"It definitely wasn't our best relay but there were some positives in every leg and it is always a pleasure to race in the sun in front of the amazing Antholz fans! Now it's time to rest up before starting preparations for World Champs."
The world's top biathletes resume racing at the world championships in Hochfilzen, Austria, Feb. 9-19.
In other Canadian results Sunday, Scott Gow of Calgary was 30th in the men's 15-kilometre mass start race. Joahnnes Thingnes Boe of Norway won in 37:04, 4:09 ahead of Gow.
