By Rik Champine
A girl takes aim during a paintball biathlon at Mountain Top Inn & Resort.
Sunday, Jan. 27—CHITTENDEN— Mountain Top Inn & Resort is proud to once again host the annual paintball biathlon, Sunday, Jan. 27. Founded in 2006, the event is a joint effort between Mountain Top Inn & Resort and the Mountain Top Ski Club (an independent ski association), the event is hailed as the first ever paintball biathlon event in the world and continues to be the largest of its kind in North America.
The event, conducted in a festival-like atmosphere, is a combination of cross country skiing and shooting paintballs at vinyl targets. The biathlon features several races throughout the day based on age group. There are five races for ages pre-K through eighth grade, one race for high school aged participants and one race for adults. Course distances range from .3km to 4.5km loops.
“The event is incredibly spectator friendly. The course is set-up in front of the Mountain Top Inn & Resort Cross Country Ski Center and a majority of the course is visible from that location,” stated Roger Hill, Mountain Top Inn & Resort activities and facilities director.
Upwards of 300 competitors and as many spectators will descend upon the Mountain Top Inn & Resort Cross Country Ski Center. The race day involves the participation of 40 volunteers in addition to Mountain Top Inn & Resort staff, as well as use of Mountain Top Inn & Resort facilities and grooming resources to execute.
Racers from all over New England plus New York and New Jersey travel to Chittenden to compete. Registration is open through Friday, Jan. 25, at skireg.com/14th-annual-mountain-top-paintball-biathlon.
Mountain Top Inn is located at 195 Mountain Top Road, Chittenden.
