Home / Stag and hen do
Planning a Chamonix stag or hen do? Cross-country skiing, air rifle shooting, then a team relay: two hours outdoors in Haute-Savoie with Richard Etellin, a state-qualified biathlon instructor. Winter or summer, costumes welcome.
5.0
84 Google reviews · groups welcome
from €290
for the group, 3 to 7 people, 2-hour session · over 7 people: on quote
“We were about ten friends. We discovered the feel of biathlon, starting with an introduction and then moving on to team challenges.”
Jérôme M., Google review, translated from French · Read the reviews
State-qualified
Trained at ENSA in Chamonix
5.0 on Google
84 reviews
27 years
teaching skiing, since 1999
English, French
lessons in both languages
The idea
For a stag party or a hen party, biathlon makes a change from the usual activities. You learn the basics of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, then you compete in teams, outdoors.
No need to have skied or shot before: Richard Etellin, state-qualified instructor, trained at ENSA in Chamonix, explains everything. The session lasts two hours, all year round; in winter, mostly in the afternoon. In winter on cross-country skis; out of season, running or walking between two shooting rounds. And for even more fun, come in costumes. On the programme: a team game, a competitive atmosphere and an experience at the foot of Mont Blanc, to share before the evening. A stag and hen do activity out of the ordinary.
“We had a teaching part to learn cross-country skiing and the rifle, and then a fun and stimulating relay for people who like competition.”
Etienne D., Google review, group of 6 adults, translated from French
How it works
Two hours, from the taster to the final relay, with a biathlon instructor in Chamonix, state-qualified.
1
The basics of cross-country skiing, then the air rifle: prone shooting, then standing shooting. The mechanical targets flip over when you hit them.
2
The group splits into teams. Richard explains the rules: one ski loop, one stop at the range, one penalty loop for each missed target.
3
The team relay: skiing and shooting follow one another, and so do the penalty loops. Groups who have come before talk about a lot of laughter.
4
No podium: everyone knows their result. Some try to cheat, just for fun… but Richard keeps a close eye.
Who it is for
A stag do, or bachelor party, in the mountains in winter: sporty and outdoors. The groom-to-be and his friends switch from effort on the skis to focus at the range, with a chance for revenge in the relay. To organise a stag do in Chamonix, Richard runs the two hours: learning, shooting, then the thrill of the relay, moments to share for a memorable day.
Biathlon is enjoyed by women as much as by men. Hen do skiing does not have to mean the downhill slopes: with your friends, you discover cross-country skiing and shooting, in costumes if you like. A change from the usual hen party skiing, for a bachelorette party in the mountains in winter.
“I highly recommend this activity, which men and women enjoyed just as much!”
Olivier R., Google review, translated from French
A birthday, a reunion, a weekend with friends: from 3 to 7 people, the 2-hour challenge costs €290 to €490 for the group; over 7 people, it is organised on quote. As a present, there is also a biathlon gift voucher.
“A great biathlon introduction with friends: very clear teaching and a cheerful atmosphere!”
D. B., Google review, translated from French
In practice
3
people minimum for a group price
Groups of around ten friends have already come. The limit is around 20 to 25 people: for large groups, Richard works with other biathlon professionals.
2 h
per session, mostly in the afternoon
In winter, the biathlon slots are 12:30-14:30 or 14:30-16:30. Richard updates his biathlon schedule every week, as biathlon is not possible every day.
12
months out of 12: the activity runs all year round
On cross-country skis when there is snow, on the sites of Chamonix or Argentière; otherwise running or walking between two shooting rounds.
Prices
Rifles and targets provided. Ski hire and the trail pass, sold at the Maison nordique, are not included. 2026-2027 winter rates: see all Chamonix ski instructor prices.
1 to 2 people
€280
Groups of 3 to 7 people
€290 to €490
Over 7 people
On quote
2026-2027 winter rates: €280 for 1 to 2 people, €290 to €490 for 3 to 7 people.
Google reviews
5.0
84 reviews on the Google listing
checked on 16 October 2026
Before you come
Warm clothes and warm gloves: you load the pellets without gloves, so bring something to warm your hands. Costumes are welcome, on top.
Agreed with Richard when you book: on one of the biathlon sites in the valley, or sometimes at Intersport Chamonix Nord, opposite the cross-country ski trails in Chamonix, to choose the right equipment for the snow and the weather. In Chamonix, the Les Bois shooting range faces the Drus and Mont Blanc. Cross-country skis to rent at Intersport Chamonix Nord, his partner shop.
The session lasts 2 hours, from 12:30 to 14:30 or from 14:30 to 16:30 in winter: the rest of the day and the evening stay free for the rest of the party.
Questions
With Richard, at Chamonix Cross Country Skiing, it is biathlon: cross-country skiing, air rifle shooting, then a team relay. Among stag do skiing ideas, this biathlon challenge is a group activity in the open air, far from the usual stag party activities. The session is the same for a hen do in Haute-Savoie, winter or summer: on cross-country skis when there is snow, on foot otherwise. The principle is the one of competition: effort on the loop, then calm at the shooting range. The full plan of the session is on the page try biathlon in Chamonix.
No. You do not need to have done cross-country skiing or shooting before: the session starts with a taster. Richard, a state-qualified instructor, first shows the basics of cross-country skiing, then prone and standing shooting, before he starts the relay. For a stag do in the mountains in winter, each person’s level matters little: clients who were beginners at both skiing and shooting say they saw their progress by the end of the session.
Those who do not want to ski can do the activity on foot: nobody is left out. If you enjoy the skiing, a cross-country skiing lesson for beginners lets you carry on during your stay, and Richard’s cross-country ski lessons in Chamonix go from beginner to expert.
Yes, it is even recommended for more fun. For hen do skiing in the mountains in winter as for a stag party, costumes are part of the celebration. Keep warm clothes underneath and warm gloves: you load the pellets without gloves, so bring something to warm your hands between two shooting rounds. Choose a costume that leaves your arms free, to push on the poles and raise the rifle to your shoulder. A client who came with her friends says Richard takes the best photos: a group activity in Chamonix that you will remember. For the rest of your clothing, see cross-country ski equipment, from skis to clothing.
Biathlon runs all year round: without snow, shooting is combined with running or walking. The principle stays the same: an effort, then a stop at the shooting range, before the team relay. So your Chamonix stag do in winter is still possible if there is not enough snow. In spring or in summer, the session keeps its two hours. The decision is the instructor’s, depending on the weather and the snow, as set out in the terms and conditions (in French). For the summer season, see biathlon in summer.
Gift
A gift voucher for a biathlon taster, for the groom-to-be or the bride-to-be, valid for the whole winter.
Quote
Date, number of people, type of event: Richard replies with a quote. Would you rather contact the cross-country ski and biathlon instructor in Chamonix directly?
Quote request · stag dos, hen dos and groups
