North American Biathletes coming

    The Nordic Heritage Sport Club eagerly awaits the arrival this weekend of the top biathletes in North America for the TAMC North American Biathlon Cup No. 9. This event will mark the first time since the Biathlon Junior World Championships in 2006 that the club has hosted a biathlon event.     “We have hosted some very high level cross country races over the past two winters, but club members felt strongly that they wanted to host a biathlon event this season.” said Nordic Heritage Sport Club President Tom Chasse. “We were very pleased to be included on the NorAm Cup circuit this year.” The competition is the ninth of an eleven stop tour of venues in the United States and Canada. Athletes competing on the tour accrue points in an effort to be crowned North American Champions. As athletes look toward the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the experience they gain this season will be critical to their ability to make the Olympic team next season.
    “The Nordic Heritage Sport Club is very appreciative of the continued support of the Aroostook Medical Center, whose generous contribution makes this event possible.” said Tim Doak, head of the organizing committee for the TAMC NorAm Cup No. 9 and for the 2010 Cross Country Junior Olympics.
    The NorAm event is being used as training for volunteers planning the 2010 Cross Country Junior Olympics, to be held at the Nordic Heritage Center in early March of 2010.
    NorAm biathlon competitions on both Saturday, Feb. 21st and Sunday, Feb. 22nd will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday’s events will be a sprint competition and include a novice division for any aspiring local biathletes. Sunday will be the head to head mass start competition.
    Any local athletes that would like to participate in the novice division on Saturday can register at the venue prior to the race. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend free of charge.