My Story
Chasing big dreams on the snow and at the range
How It All Started
01 Who am I ?
Hello. My name is Kuzey Yildirim and I am from Norway. In the winter I am mostly on my skis and in the summer I am on roller skis. But I am not just a skier, because I also do biathlon. When I am not torturing myself by running in extreme heat or trying to set a new record on Geometry Dash, I am playing piano or hanging out with friends. I also go to school, which I actually love for some reason.
Biathlon is such a cool sport. I wish more people tried the challenge of shooting at five tiny targets fifty meters away while holding your breath, lying in a weird position on the snow, and pretending to love the race while your lungs are actually on fire. It is really fun, especially with friends.
02 The rifle glow up
Everything changed when I switched from my old Izhmash to a new Anschutz rifle. Even though it was a better model, it still wasn't quite right for me. It really needed a 'glow up' to look a bit more awesome, and it was also way too big for my small hands and body.
My dad and I decided to fix it ourselves. We spent days sketching ideas and used several cans of spray paint to create a unique look that really pops on the snow. We even tried carving a wooden extension part so I could reach the charging arm better. Although it was an improvement, it was hard to hold a grip.
That's when i start thinking of 3D printing. It was a steep learning curve to master the 3D modelling software, but I eventually figured out how to create my own custom parts that fit me perfectly. And you can probably see where i got my inspiration for the colors of the rifle....
03 Obsessed with 3D printing
When we first opened the 3D printer, I could barely contain my excitement. My parents taught me the basics and we started simple — printing small figures. I was amazed by the potential of 3D printing and what it could offer for biathlon. From that moment, the ideas just kept coming.
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After mastering 3D modelling, I found myself redesigning components that my parents had previously built by hand to help fit my rifle to my body. Taking ownership of that process felt like a turning point. Today, I have created over 20 custom designs, each one specifically developed to help young athletes better adapt their equipment to their bodies.
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04 Creating ShootIn App
I kept thinking about how I could make biathlon even better for everyone. I noticed that during zeroing before a race, coaches mostly were always carrying their magnetic boards or sometimes they forget. It was hard for them to show us exactly where we were hitting and even harder to keep track of the shooting results. I even saw some coaches trying to draw on their phone screens, which looked pretty difficult. That is when I had the idea for the ShootIn app. I decided to combine these ideas into one simple, cool-looking app. Now, all a user of the app has to do is type in the athlete's name and lane, mark the shots, note the wind direction, take a quick screenshot, and they are done. I have spent so much time working on this to make it just right for other kids and coaches. It has been a big project, but I am really proud of how it helps us focus on the sport we love.
05 My next big goals
I don't yet know exactly what path I'll take, and honestly, I think that's part of the excitement. What I do know is that I love biathlon and skiing, and I have no intention of stopping either. Whatever i do inthe future, I know that curiosity and drive will be at the center of it.
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I will keep designing, keep building, and keep looking for problems worth solving. True North Biathlon and the ShootIn App are just the beginning.Â
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