The town and the valley have a small town atmosphere full of fun-loving, hard-working people who have embraced the sport of biathlon. The Tenth Mountain Ski Club is a non-profit organization with a mission promote healthy lifestyles and economic growth by providing world-class facilities, trails, and events for area residents, athletes, and visitors. The club hosts local, national, and internation
al biathlon and cross-country competitions as well as community development programs. The club is comprised of about 100 active members from Fort Kent and surrounding communities. An important part of the club's responsibility is to oversee the management and maintenance of the Tenth Mountain Ski Center for the Maine Winter Sports Center. Money to run the facility is raised though hosting major biathlon competitions and through donations. Volunteers dedicate countless hours maintaining the buildings, grounds, and trails. The club strives to combine a topnotch skiing venue with a welcoming atmosphere for skiers of all levels. For those new to the sport of biathlon, this physically and mentally demanding endurance sport is to Europe, what NASCAR and major league sports are to many Americans. In biathlon, the two polar opposite sports of rifle marksmanship and cross-country ski racing converge in a dramatic spectacle of competition. It’s about speed, crashes, fan clubs, the roar of the crowd, and of course, victory and defeat. In the past ten years, biathlon has seen a significant growth and following right here in North America. Two winter Olympic events on this continent certainly have had an impact on the growth of biathlon in both the USA and Canada.
