The word is out about Hidden Valley Nature Center’s sixth annual Liberal Cup Biathlon. This year HVNC will host their Liberal Cup Biathlon on Sunday, Jan. 31. Space is limited and filling up quickly. Prices will go up on Jan. 16.

This year we’re bringing back the Youth category for racers ages 10-14. As in other categories, skiers can race individually or in teams of four, and they are encouraged to race in costume. The event uses air rifles, and, in addition to requiring all participants to attend a gun safety session, each station on the gun range will be staffed by safety personnel. Prizes will be awarded for costumes as well as individual and team times.

Other categories include High School, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. The Intermediate category is nearly full. Due to popular demand there will likely not be day-of registration so sign up soon! Details will be updated online at: http://hvnc.org/biathlon-2/.

Races will begin about 9 a.m. and continue into the early afternoon. All day long there will be bonfires, great food, and something on tap from the Liberal Cup. Spectators are encouraged.

Registration fees range from $10 to $25. Awards will be given out for best costume, best team name, and for youth and high school aged participants. The winning team will take home the official Liberal Cup trophy.

The Liberal Cup Biathlon is a fun, not-so-competitive take on the classic Olympic sport of biathlon. Racers will ski a designated loop and target-shoot between each loop. The Liberal Cup Biathlon is supported by the Liberal Cup Brewpub in Hallowell, Reny’s, and the Southern Maine Biathlon Club.

HVNC is a program of Midcoast Conservancy, a new organization whose mission is: to support and promote healthy lands, waters, wildlife, and people in the mid-coast through conservation, education, and recreation. Midcoast Conservancy serves much of Waldo and Lincoln counties, providing over 60 miles of publicly accessible trails, fields trips and programs designed to help people of all ages deepen their curiosity of the natural world, and 6300 acres of conserved land that are open to the public for non-motorized recreation. For more information, visit HVNC’s website (www.hvnc.org), write to us at andy@midcoastconservancy.org, or call 207-389-5150.