The United States Biathlon Association has announced the relocation of its headquarters from New Gloucester, Maine, to Midway, following an extensive search process and approval from its board of directors.
The organization said that as the sport of biathlon grows, the presence of the U.S. Biathlon Association is also expanding. To strengthen its support and presence nationally, and extend the strong community relationships it has established in Lake Placid, New York, and Bozeman, Montana, and other communities across the country, U.S. Biathlon chose Midway, home to Soldier Hollow Nordic Center and the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games venue for biathlon and Nordic skiing.
Lake Placid will remain the home of the U.S. Biathlon National Team and the Olympic Regional Development Authority will continue to host the team at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, and Bozeman will remain the home of the U.S. Biathlon Junior National Team and U.S. Biathlon Paralympic Team.
“We are excited to expand our footprint westward and join the Utah Olympic community. Our presence in Midway directly supports our 2030 strategic plan to grow the sport of biathlon in the United States, recruit and develop top talent and support our athletes on their journey to the Olympic podium,” said Jack Gierhart, U.S. Biathlon president and CEO. “We are looking forward to engaging with the Greater Heber Valley and Utah community and expanding our support of the vibrant and growing biathlon communities around the country.”
The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation has invested purposefully in the growth of its cross-country and biathlon programs and connection to the Heber Valley community, a press statement said. Currently, Team Soldier Hollow and the Soldier Hollow Charter School program combine for over 500 local kids engaging in cross-country skiing at least twice per week during the winter.
“Welcoming U.S. Biathlon’s headquarters to Utah and Soldier Hollow Nordic Center aligns our organizations’ goals and objectives — including expanding interest and participation in biathlon and supporting U.S. Biathlon’s goal of competitive excellence at the highest levels of the sport,” said Luke Bodensteiner, Soldier Hollow general manager. “We look forward to providing Soldier Hollow’s world-renowned trails and grooming, world-class shooting range and rollerski trail, and our new competition and training center to these Team USA athletes. Their presence will inspire Soldier Hollow to build upon and reach a new level of providing exemplary Nordic skiing experiences, resources and facilities to our local community.”
“Establishing the United States Biathlon Association headquarters in our state will strengthen Utah’s commitment to its Olympic and Paralympic legacy,” said Utah Sports Commission President and CEO Jeff Robbins. “Since the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Utah has evolved into ‘The State of Sport’ as we continue to welcome the world’s greatest athletes and events and become home to now four national governing bodies’ headquarters: U.S. Ski & Snowboard, U.S. Speedskating, USA Climbing, and now U.S. Biathlon.”
