Crowning achievement

The weather man provided the opportunity. The men and women of the Fort Kent area are doing the rest.

Three weeks ago, and with just a few days notice, the U.S. Junior Biathlon Championships were moved from the world-renowned and unexpectedly snowless Olympic facility at Lake Placid, N.Y., to Fort Kent’s Maine Winter Sports Center. While the young athletes who participate in this combination of Nordic skiing and marksmanship, their parents and coaches were highly impressed with the center, they were flabbergasted by the energy and hospitality of their hosts.

This weekend, three competitions come to town — The North American Biathlon Championships and the Canadian and U.S. National Championships. Again, the events were moved at the last minute from their original venue at Val Cartier, Quebec, because of a lack of snow; again, local volunteers are rolling out the red carpet.

All of this comes after they’d volunteered their hearts out for the annual Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Race in early March and had, like all Mainers, started thinking longingly of spring. The effort has paid off — officials of the Olympic-caliber events this weekend say the success of the junior championships made Fort Kent the logical alternative to slushy Quebec.

None of it would have happened, of course, without the financial generosity that has turned the Maine Winter Sports Center from Aroostook County dream to world-class reality. The Libra Foundation, the philanthropic legacy of Elizabeth Noyce, got this project rolling with a $1 million contribution two years ago. Just last week, Libra announced it was making a $4.5 million contribution to help complete the Fort Kent facility and to get another started in Presque Isle. MWSC officials have planned and invested wisely, the Crown of Maine is quickly establishing itself as a premier Nordic skiing destination.

But all that donating, planning and investing would come to nothing without a lot of pitching in. When the juniors came to town, a local motel quickly constructed a waxing and repair room, the UMaine campuses at Presque Isle and Fort Kent provided trainers, food and accommodations for the young biathletes, businesses pitched in, some 30 to 40 locals were always on hand to help the events run smoothly.

At the time, MWSC Director Carl Theriault, predicted that the tremendous outpouring of hospitality would lead to more and bigger events in the future. That future can be glimpsed this weekend — it’s one that is hard-earned and well-deserved.