World Cup success points to encore event in Fort Kent

FORT KENT – The World Cup athletes left town on the weekend, but indications are that they will return to the venue where they had great competitions and a welcome that was second to none.

Andy Shepard, CEO and president of the Maine Winter Sports Center, verified Monday that European members of the International Biathlon Union initiated talks before leaving town Saturday about Fort Kent’s becoming a regular site on the annual Biathlon World Cup tour.

The question left open for local organizers of the biathlon is what needs to be done to make that happen.

One of the answers is money. A major sponsor or series of sponsors will be sought to put American money into the sport that is No. 1 in Europe.

Europeans, including the important television crews, were “blown over” by what happened last week in Fort Kent. They were “surprised” by the enthusiasm and size of the crowds, and the overwhelming natural surroundings, Shepard said.

“They are discussing the importance of coming back to Fort Kent often,” Shepard said. A lot of people would like to see Fort Kent be a regular part of the tour.

“German TV liked the area for quality, colorful crowds with flags, bells and horns, creating an atmosphere like the Olympics,” he said. “I was told this was the best World Cup ever for a new venue.”

It’s too early now to say when they will return, but the important thing, Shepard explained, is they are interested in discussing that, “and they initiated the discussion.”

The MWSC will work hard to make it happen, Shepard said.

Shepard said that Guenther Zwatz, vice president of finance for the IBU, is a typical European who is not given to excess when speaking. Shepard said people have to earn every superlative they get from him.

He said Zwatz’s comment, “Absolutely, not bad” at the Thursday night banquet of VIPs and sponsors was a high compliment .

“Before he left Saturday, he put his arm on my shoulder, looked at me, simply said, ‘Perfect,’ and then walked away,” Shepard said. “That’s about as strong a show of support as anything I can imagine.”

The bar for a Biathlon World Cup was set high at Fort Kent. Shepard and his organizers believe that can be done again.

“Without a doubt,” George Dumond, one of three local chiefs who organized the local event, said Saturday night. “We need to find some American money.”

“It all had to do with the quality of the facility, the organization, the volunteers and the warmth of the community,” Max Cobb, another local chief who is an official of the IBU, said during the weekend. “This place loves biathlon.”

“People went all out. People didn’t say no. We would like the IBU to come back,” Nancy Thibodeau, the third of the triumvirate, said Saturday night. “Of course we can do this again.

“We will do it again,” she said. “Now we know what works and what does not. It will be a bit easier.”

“I have every confidence that this community can make this happen again, even better,” Shepard said.

On Monday morning, volunteers and crews from companies who worked at the site were taking down equipment and materials at the venue on the mountain west of Route 11.

The flags of the athletes’ countries were gone, with the U.S. and Maine flags the only ones left wafting in the wind at the shooting range.

Tents at the venue were going down, workers were reeling in 10 miles of broadcasting cables, and totem poles and other locally made crafts erected at the site were being packed and moved away.

“There’s only a few of us left,” Mike Collins said of the few volunteers at the site.