CALGARY — Members of the Canadian women's biathlon team are taking their clothes off to raise money for training and competition expenses heading into the 2010 Olympic Games.

Canada's five elite female biathletes launched a nude calendar Wednesday by roller-skiing through downtown Calgary. They were clad in shorts, tank tops and race bibs and had their rifles strapped to their backs.

The 14-month calendar themed "Bold Beautiful Biathlon" features photos of Zina Kocher of Red Deer, Alta., Calgary's Sandra Keith, Rosanna Crawford of Canmore, Alta., Megan Imrie of Falcon Lake, Man., and Megan Tandy of Prince George, B.C.

Crawford is the younger sister of Chandra Crawford, an Olympic gold medallist in cross-country skiing.

The biathletes follow a number of athletes who have posed nude for calendars to raise money for their sport or for charitable organizations.

The third edition of a curling calendar was released last month featuring curlers from several countries, including Canadians Christine Keshen and Chrissy Cadorin.

The Canadian women's rugby team has also published a 24-month calendar with rugby balls and Canadian flags strategically placed on their otherwise bare bodies.

The biathlon calendar goes on sale Nov. 1 for $25.