March 30, 2026 (LITTLE FALLS, Minnesota) - Members of the Minnesota National Guard Biathlon Team recently competed in the National Guard Bureau Eastern Invitational at Fort Kent in Maine March 28-29, 2026.
The 2026 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships, originally scheduled for late February at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, were ultimately canceled due to unseasonably warm temperatures and deteriorating snow conditions.
“We were all very excited for this year’s Guard Bureau Champs,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shawna Thieschafer of the Minnesota National Guard Biathlon Team.
But when the snow conditions for the anticipated races melted away, the NGB Biathlon program team looked for other opportunities and a replacement event took shape, the National Guard Bureau Eastern Invitational (NGBEI) hosted at Fort Kent in Maine.
The snow-covered venue at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center, accommodated sprint and individual race formats, continuing competitive opportunities for Guard athletes despite the disruption to the national schedule.
Minnesota has long stood as one of the cornerstones for the National Guard biathlon program. Alongside Vermont, North Dakota, Alaska, and Utah it has historically produced top competitors and hosted major events, including the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Championships at the Camp Ripley Training Center and regional competitions across the state. Just last year, Minnesota again demonstrated its resourcefulness due to a lack of snow and its leadership by hosting the CNGB Biathlon Championships at Mt. Itasca near Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
The Fort Kent venue itself carries deep international pedigree, having hosted the International Biathlon Union or IBU World Cup biathlon races in 2004 and 2011. These events carried global attention to northern Maine’s elite skiing terrain and the sport of biathlon.
National Guard athletes from 19 states participated alongside civilian biathletes in the Eastern Invitational or (NGBEI), including Minnesota’s own Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Lindberg, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shawna Thieschafer, Sgt. First Class Samantha Hall, Sgt. Hunter Zupko, and Sgt. Trevor Larson, at the world-class Fort Kent Outdoor Center.
Minnesota earned a first-place finish in the female distances of 7.5km and 10km by Thieschafer, and a 5th place finish by Hall in the 7.5km and 12.5km lengths.
The Sr. Men’s 10km race on Saturday and 15km on Sunday produced 4th and 5th place finishes from Zupko and Larson, respectively. In the largest division, Master’s Men, Lindberg placed 5th. The results for all competitors can be found at: [https://zone4.ca/event/2026/M0xz0q/](https://zone4.ca/event/2026/M0xz0q/).
“Thank you to the team at Fort Kent and all the dedicated support from volunteers across Maine. The iconic course paired with exceptional snow conditions and all the hard work, made for an amazing event,” added Thieschafer.
While the 2026 championship cancellation marked an unusual interruption, the swift transition to Fort Kent ensured the National Guard biathlon tradition would continue. Resilience, adaptability, and spirit sustained a standout event celebrating military marksmanship, physical fitness, and camaraderie.
WELL DONE!! To our Minnesota National Guard Biathlon Athletes!
If you are a competitive skier who would like to join the Minnesota Army National Guard or are currently serving in the National Guard, contact CW4 Derek Lindberg for more information.