LOUISVILLE – The St. Lawrence Valley Primitive Snowshoe Biathlon at the Massena Rod and Gun Club this weekend is offering a three-day cabin-and-boat-slip package on the St. Lawrence as its grand prize.

The prize, courtesy of St. Lawrence River Experience in Waddington, goes to the best snowshoer and shooter in the competition, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The competition is in the tradition of the St. Lawrence Valley’s colonial and early American history. Biathlon organizers, from the Fort La Présentation Association and Forsyth’s Rifles, have set it up so that in two of the three biathlon classes competitors must use smoothbore muskets or rifles (flintlock or caplock). In the third class, participants use in-line rifles.

“Snow or no snow, snowshoes are essential to the competition,” said Fred Hanss, one of the organizers. “In the first two classes wooden snowshoes must be worn, or carried if the trails are bare.”

“The modern shooters don’t get off the hook. Depending on the weather, they too must wear or carry modern or traditional snowshoes,” he added.

The organizers encourage shooters to wear historic clothes covering 1750 to 1812. Fort La Présentation Association’s Founder’s Day Weekend in each July commemorates the French and Indian War on the St. Lawrence River. Forsyth’s Rifles recently hosted their annual War of 1812 Battle of Ogdensburg re-enactment.

There are men’s, ladies’ and youth divisions within the three shooting classes. The registration fee is $25 at the event.

Massena Rod & Gun Club is at 155 Patterson Road, Louisville, NY. The club is well posted with a sign on Route 37.

Biathlon information and the registration form are online at www.fort1749.org/primitive-biathlon/.