SKOOT is a Biathlon board game that you make yourself with a printer and some glue or tape, a few dice, and some playing tokens (lego works great). It is based on rolling dice and making strategic decisions, in which competitors ski three loops and shoot twice. For the skiing part, the effort is based on tactics and players use dice to determine the number of tiles they go along the course. The shooting success is determined by a tactical decision and rolling a die for each of the five targets. The game is easy to learn and can be played by young and old, and anywhere in between. It comes in a basic version suitable for younger kids (eight and younger) or you can use an add-on to make the tactics more involved.
Required to play the game
- The board with the ski track, a recovery area, a shooting area, a penalty loop, and a finish section – to be printed
- At minimum five dice, but ideally eight dice (two for skiing, one for recovery, and five for shooting)
- A token for every racer (Lego one-size blocks work quite well)
- A token of the same color for the Heart Rate Meter when playing the Heart Rate Meter Add-on
- A piece of paper to write down the tactics per player per lap (lap one and two only), recovery, and missed shots. Only for the game played without the Heart Rate Meter Add-on
This game is made out of a passion for biathlon and with a desire to make it fun and accessible to kids of all ages. Therefore the game is completely free to download and use.
Files to be printed
In early 2022 the manual was updated with a second add-on that better reflects true shooting percentages. As some people may be in the middle of playing out a season I have kept the original manual up as well. But for new players, I recommend downloading and printing the 2022 version. Note that nothing in the original manual has been replaced.
For the tracks, you can either download the jpg image and print it on a large paper size (larger than 11×17 or larger than A3). Alternatively, you can download the pdf which is the image split over four pages that can be printed on letter size paper (~A4) and glued, taped or stapled together.
If you think you can convert this game into an iPad version, or if you have any suggestions for improvements or additions, please contact me at rj@biathlonanalytics.com or connect with me on Twitter @biathlonanalyt1 or leave a comment!