MWSC Biathlon Tackles D2R2 - One of The Hardest Century Rides Around

A field of sunflowers at one of the rest stops.

This ice cream truck was strategically placed!

This year's Crown of Maine Balloon Fest will host a unique event for cycling enthusiasts! Dubbed the "Ride-Fly-Ride," the race consists of a qualifying bicycle road race and the possibility of a balloon ride with your bike before the final leg - a race to the finish line!

The qualifying race takes place Friday at 6:00 p.m., and will take riders on a 20-mile course from the Northern Maine Fairgrounds to Industrial Street, through Mapleton to the Hughes Road, up Skyway Street to Edgemont Drive, to the finish line at the rear entrance of the Fairgrounds. The top two qualifiers from each of six gender/age divisions will then be matched with balloon pilots to devise a strategy for the main event early Sunday morning - a hot air balloon ride with their bikes to an undisclosed location. The top two qualifiers from each division will ride together in their respective hot air balloons then race each other to the Fairgrounds, finding their own way back from the landing site!

The fun is not just for the cyclists, though. The balloon pilots will participate in a "Hound and Hare" challenge, tossing a bean bag from the balloon onto a target on the ground below. The pilot closest to the bulls-eye wins a cash prize. The prize for the cyclists is, of course, the hot air balloon ride itself ($180 value).

Registration for the road race is $20, which includes a Crown of Maine Balloon Fest Ride-Fly-Ride t-shirt for the first 30 entrants. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m. on race day. Age divisions: Male/Female 16 - 29, 30 - 49, and 50+. If less than 3 competitors register within a particular age division, a judgment will be made at race time regarding the appropriate age division in which to register the unchallenged cyclists. Weather in northern Maine is unpredictable, so if the hot air balloons are unable to launch on Sunday morning, rain checks for rides will be issued to the qualifiers for redemption at another time during the festival or at next year's festival.

Please visit www.crownofmaineballoonfest.org/index.htm FMI

6:00-10:00 p.m. Come out and enjoy the entertainment by locals! Limited food options will be available. Visit www.skiblackmountain.org FMI

9:00 a.m.-Noon at North Street Healthcare. Reserve your seat by pledging or collecting $120 in sponsorships. All proceeds benefit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. T-shirts, beverages and snacks provided for participants!

This is the 2010 County Spin Off - a 3-hour spinning class (10-minute break every 50 minutes) that will be held in the parking lot of County Physical Therapy on North Street in Presque Isle. Great music, great fun and great exercise outside! Contact Dawn Poitras dawnpoitras@tamc.org FMI

Meet at the visitor center at 1:00 p.m. This will be a casual ride to explore parts of the refuge that cannot usually be seen during the summer.  Norm Page will serve as tour guide. Contact Jeff Dubis (207-834-7543) or jdubis@maine.edu FMI

The Viking Run kids' running races starts at 9:00 a.m.; 8k Walk at 10:30 a.m.; and the 8k Run at 11:00 a.m. Contact Chris Smith (207-768-9472) or Christopher.smith@umpi.edu FMI

"It's gonna be BIG!" All trails lead to Millinocket, Maine and the annual Trails End Festival. Come to the Katahdin Region and celebrate with food, music, activities and fun for the whole family in downtown Millinocket and the surrounding area.

New this year is Wiley's Crossing, a 100+ foot suspension bridge spanning the West Branch of the Penobscot River just west of Millinocket. This multi-use bridge connects the Katahdin Region with the Seboeis/Brownville area. The trail opens for non-motorized traffic in the spring of 2010 with motorized vehicle use scheduled for early 2011.

The 2010 Trails End Festival entertainment is highlighted by a free David Mallett concert in Veteran's Memorial Park in downtown Millinocket. Visit the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce website FMI

It's that time of year again! The Falls Brook Centre is once again gearing up for their annual fall celebration of rural living...and Acadian Forest Festival!

Carvers, bowl turners, sawmillers and outdoor survival trainers will gather together to show off their woodworking skills and storytelling. Guest speakers will round out the gathering of people and activities, highlighting current issues and livelihoods that depend upon the diversity & health of the local forest.

Fair Grounds are open Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; and Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Admission: $5 per person per day; kids under 9 free. Visit www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/community/fair.htm FMI

For anyone interested in mixing up some fun with a "low key" triathlon. Start time is 9:30 a.m. at Brent Jepson's camp (beginning of the South Shore Road on Madawaska Lake). You might concentrate on running, or biking, or paddling - come see how you stack up when you put all of them together! This 4-mile run, 13-mile pedal, 3-mile paddle (or just go for a swim on your own if you'd rather) will be a good time - and good training for the Acadia Triathlon on Columbus Day weekend in Bar Harbor, in case you might be interested in going down with a bunch of us.

Put together a 2- to 4-person team to split up the tri into the three legs, or do it yourself Ironman style. There will be Road Bike and Mountain Bike divisions. Participants will need to provide their own kayak or canoe (we might have a few spares - let us know if you need one) and life jackets. All ages welcome but there will be no adult supervision provided for children on the roads or on the lake.

No charge (therefore no t-shirts, no trophies, etc. - only bragging rights). BBQ cranked up about noon; bring whatever you'd like to munch on, grill, and drink. Please let us know if you think you might be coming so we can let you know if the date changes because of dangerous weather. We could also use two volunteers to help with "unofficial" timing, etc. Contact Brent Jepson at (207-492-2222 or 207-498-6166) or jepson@gwi.net or Jeff Dubis at (207-834-7543 or 207-316-8866) or jdubis@maine.edu FMI

Presentations by longtime Canadian Head Coach and team leader Dave Wood, US Ski Team Physical Therapist Kurt Jepson, Stratton Mountain School Head Nordic Coach Sverre Caldwell, and more! This is a can't-miss event for coaches, club leaders, and officials.

The Nordic Symposium will be held at the Westin Waltham-Boston in Waltham, MA. The cost of the symposium is $195.00. Thanks to NENSA member Aime Smith's hard work, NENSA has a block of rooms at a very reduced price at the Westin Waltham-Boston hotel for $99.00 plus tax per night. Rooms at this price are limited! Rooms must be booked online using this link: $99 per room per night group rate by August 18 to receive this pricing. After that date, any unreserved rooms will be released and reservations will be at the full rate.

Meals are at the cost of the participant. There are many food options available in and around the hotel.

Registration Deadline: September 10, 2010. Visit www.nensa.net FMI

5k run starts at 11:00 a.m. Contact Chris Smith (207-768-9472) or Christopher.smith@umpi.edu FMI

PIHS is currently accepting applications for the position of ski coach. Interested applicants may contact Gehrig Johnson at the Superintendent's Office (207-764-4101) or David Heald at the Athletic Office at (207-764-6507) FMI

No charge. See below for details. Contact MOJO (207-760-9500) or mojosports@ainop.com FMI

Mondays:  PQI; Monday Meander. All abilities - distances and routes are determined before leaving MOJO. Rolling out at 5:30 p.m.

     Tuesdays:  CAR; Moderate pace road ride. Meet at S.W. Collins at 5:30 p.m.  Average speed 16-22mph with distances up to 30 miles.

Tuesdays:  HOU; Moderate to fast pace road ride. Meet at the Tourist Information Center at 5:30 p.m. 17-22mph, 30+ miles.

  Wednesdays:  PQI; 'Good Times' Ride. All abilities welcome. A hybrid or road bike is recommended. Rolling out from MOJO at 5:30 p.m.

Sundays: PQI; Sundays with Steph. Join Stephanie Caverhill on this moderate road ride. Rolling out at 8:30 a.m.

No Charge. Visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org FMI

Mondays: PQI; All abilities mountain bike ride. Meet at the Fort Road parking lot at Tom's Trailhead at 6:00 p.m.

Wednesdays: PQI; All abilities mountain bike ride. Meet in the parking lot at the Nordic Heritage Center at 6:00 p.m.

Mondays; 6:00-7:30 p.m. U.S. Biathlon Coach Gary Colliander and Athlete Raleigh Goessling will be heading up the club. Contact Gary Colliander (207-227-3863) FMI

Mondays: Meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Stockholm School. Cost: $5 per class. Contact Sarah Dominick (207-896-3514) FMI

Tuesdays and Thursdays; meets at the lodge at 6:00 p.m. Visit www.10thmtskiclub.org FMI

Thursdays; this program is for 3rd to 8th graders. They will be shooting and roller skiing and games! Contact Gary Colliander (207-227-3863) FMI