Matthias Ahrens, Head Coach
Born in Germany, Matthias Ahrens competed internationally as a cross-country skier and biathlete between 1978 and 1984. After his active career as an athlete, he became a cross-country ski and biathlon coach. He is a chartered professional coach certified at NCCP level 5. In 2004 he became a member of Biathlon Canada’s coaching staff at the National Training Centre in Canmore, Alberta. In 2005 Ahrens was named as Biathlon Canada Coach of the Year. In 2012 he was appointed as head coach of the Canadian national biathlon team. In this role he coached two athletes to World Cup race wins: Jean-Philippe Leguellec in 2012 and Nathan Smith in 2015. Since then, the Canadian team achieved its first-ever male World Championship medal, won by Nathan Smith in 2015, followed by winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Biathlon World Championships in Oslo in the 4×7.5 km men’s relay. In 2015 and 2016 Ahrens won the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award. After 15 years with the Canadian national team, in April 2019 he left his role as head coach, subsequently being appointed as head coach at the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre.
Matthias is excited to come back full circle where he started 15 years ago with junior athletes.
Contact Matthias: Matthias@biathlon.ca