PRESQUE ISLE – Eileen and Dan Hughes are not biathletes, nor have they ever been to a biathlon competition.

Dan Hughes acknowledged Saturday that he has watched just a few competitions on TV.

But their lack of experience with the sport did not deter them from driving hundreds of miles from their Orland home to the Nordic Heritage Ski Center to take in the action at the 2006 Biathlon Junior World Championships.

The competition began Saturday.

“I’ve never been to one of these,” Eileen Hughes said, swaddled in thick layers of clothing as she sat on the bleachers overlooking the competition site. “But it was a beautiful day, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to come to Aroostook County and see something like this.”

The couple, who moved to Maine from Boston three years ago, said they were impressed by what they saw from the young athletes. They were rooting for contestants from the United States and Canada.

Biathlon is a sport that combines cross-country skiing with rifle marksmanship. The age groups participating in the Presque Isle contest are juniors, born in 1985 or 1986, and youth, born after 1987. Approximately 250 athletes from 30 countries are expected to participate in the competition, which ends Friday.

Crowds were on hand throughout the weekend, holding bright-red signs urging “Go U.S.A.,” waving flags from their native countries, and jangling cowbells as the biathletes raced by.

English, Russian and French languages could be heard as music wafted through speakers, and the scent of grilled hamburgers filled the air.

While the Hugheses intended to return to Orland on Saturday evening, others had different plans.

Easton residents Roxanne Poole and Steve Callioras attended Saturday’s competition with their children, Eva, Abigail and Matthew Poole. This was the first time that they had attended a biathlon event.

Callioras said he saw the day as a great opportunity to show the children what biathlon is all about.

“Maybe this will even get the kids interested in it,” he said.

“I would like to cross-country ski,” said Abigail Poole, adding that she and her brother, Matthew, already had tried downhill skiing,

Roxanne Poole said she expects to attend more of the competitions. The children also will visit on different days with their schools, she added.

Patty Burgess, who attended the event with her family, characterized the biathlon experience as “fabulous.” “The food is cheap, the admission is free, and it is exciting to watch. … It’s just wonderful.”

She said she and her family had moved to Aroostook County recently from South Portland.

“This a really cool event for Aroostook County,” she said.