Finding a winning solution

Some know him as Coach Big, Huggy Bear. Others know him, more formally, as Captain Jim Lochschmidt.

Sure, Capt. Lochschmidt might well be a real softie beneath a rough and tough exterior, but he has one heck of a legacy in the world of cadet biathlon.

Born in Germany, Lochschmidt moved to Canada at the age of eight and has more or less called Naughton home for the bulk of his lifetime, including his lengthy career with Inco.

It was the involvement of his two daughters within the cadet corps that prompted his interest in the military, a passion that he maintained for more than 20 years later.

Since 1989, Lochschmidt and his wife have been involved with the Naughton Irish Regiment 2964, typically home to 30 to 40 young cadets. With the unit looking for a little help back in the day, Lochschmidt found a natural transition.

"I used to help out with the shooting, because I had always loved target shooting," he explained. "But when it came to biathlon, I couldn't understand why (our cadets) weren't winning. At 25 metres, they could knock off thumbtacks."

Finally taking the plunge and attending a competition in Petawawa, Lochschmidt made a surprising discovery.

"I was under the impression that they were doing classic (skiing) in competition, so we had the old three-pin binding skis," he said.

In fact, the biathlon involved the "skating style" of Nordic skiing, a pretty big adjustment for the young athletes.

"The other guy who was attending the races never said a word," Lochschmidt added.

True to his nature, the gentle giant began putting into place the framework for a biathlon program that would become the envy of the nation. With the help of the Crean Hill Gun Club and substantial support through the military chain of command, Lochschmidt and company built a biathlon trail and restocked the necessary equipment, allowing the small northern Ontario crew to be more than competitive.

"Quebec had ruled the roost in biathlon," Lochschmidt said. "My aim was to knock the living daylights out of Quebec. For eight years (from roughly 1993 through to 2000), we won all the gold medals.

"I never did any Nordic skiing as a kid," he added. "But I picked it up. I watched and learned. I learned a lot from the Quebec team, believe it or not. Even taking snow temperature — it was something I saw a Quebec coach doing in Petawawa."

But if Lochschmidt was going to throw himself, heart and soul, into the sport, he demanded an equal buy-in from his athletes.

"There is a commitment on their part," he said. "When I see that commitment, then I'll commit.
"I've been out there when it's minus 30 with wind chill. But when they say they're going to practice, they will be there."

With his 65th birthday approaching this summer, Lochschmidt has decided it's time to move on.

Thankfully, he will enjoy the opportunity to leave on a high. The most recent national championships produced yet another podium finish for the local crew, with Jennifer Hull capturing three bronze medals — two individual and one as part of the Ontario team.

"What I like about Jennifer, no matter how bad it got, she kept that smile," Lochschmidt said with a laugh. "She was always there to encourage her teammates."

Joining the cadet corps some three years ago and armed with an introduction to the sport via the "Biathlon Bears" through the Walden Cross-Country Club, Hull progressed quickly up the ranks, capturing gold at the Ontario Winter Games in 2010.

"It's an individual sport, so I could push myself, make myself get better by going out to practices," Hull said. "And you could learn to ski and shoot, which is pretty cool."

The effort paid off last month, as the Grade 12 Lockerby Composite student medalled on all three days.

"I worked so hard all year and to cross that finish line and look up at my parents and know I finished third, I cried."

The results provided a near ideal send-off for Lochschmidt, the Commanding Officer at the 2964 regiment.

"I would do anything for these kids," he said. "But my wife has a year and a half left (until age 65). We want to wind down and somebody has to take over."

Wanted: A big, huggy bear of a coach with an incredible attention to detail to mold the young athletes of tomorrow. It won't be easy to replace Captain Jim Lochschmidt.

Posted by Laurel Myers