2014 Races - Letter to Mushers

by Todd Brassard; Sunday, April 14, 2013

Mushers,

I am very pleased to announce that we will once again be hosting pro and sport class races in 2014. The 5th annual CopperDog will be held Friday, February 28th through Sunday, March 2nd.

Registration opens on Saturday, September 7th, 2013 at 9:00am. The races may fill up quickly, so please note the date on your calendars.

Calendar Conflict with UP200/Midnight Run

We host our event each year the first weekend of March which has typically been two weeks after the UP200/Midnight Run and one week before the Great Bear Chase (a regional cross country ski race that also takes place in Calumet).

In 2014, March 1st falls on a Saturday, so it is arguable that our event should be held March 7 – 9, because the first Friday in March is the 7th.  Unfortunately, this would place CopperDog weekend on the same weekend as the Great Bear Chase (a large regional cross country ski race that brings 500 skiers to Calumet), which would simply overtax our community’s people power, resources, and make little economic sense.  With this in mind, we have scheduled our event February 28th through March 2nd, the true first "weekend" of March.

Because February 1st 2014 is also a Saturday and the UPSDA schedules their race weekend on the third full weekend (Fri, Sat & Sun) of February, the UP200/Midnight Run and CopperDog 150 races are currently scheduled one week apart in 2014.

We understand that this will be a conflict for teams who want to run both races and we are open to ideas.  If you are interested in or planning on running both the UP200 or Midnight Run and the CopperDog 150 or CopperDog 40, we are very interested in hearing from you.

CopperDog 40 Sport-Class Race

We have been working to make improvements to our sport class race for many years.  This has included trying to reduced the distance, finding an excellent ending location, and adding prize money to the event.  This event is still very much a work in progress.  We feel the mileage is a bit long for a sportsman class event, but we believe ending in Eagle River was a phenomenal change to the event for 2013.

CopperDog 40 Details

• Team: 6-Dog
• Mileage: 42 Miles (possibly reduced to 37 miles)
• Stages: 1 (night run, downtown start)
• Capacity: 15 Teams
• Purse: $1,000 (500, 300, 200)
• Registration: $100 (flat rate), Open Sat, Sep. 7
• Refund: Dec 7 - 75% Refund, Jan 4 – 50% Refund, Feb 1 – 0% Refund
• Withdraw: No carry forward to next seasons event

CopperDog 150 Pro-Class Race

As many of you know the CopperDog 150 has become very popular in a few short years.  We are very appreciative of the positive feedback, criticism, and suggestions for improving the event.  We are still learning, open minded, willing to experiment, and always looking to improve.  We continue to be 110% committed to the mushers, handlers, kennels, and dog teams who are the stars of our event.  We also remain focused on our goal of “happy healthy dogs, happy healthy mushers”.

Dog Pool (with a Twist)

For several years we have been hearing about the pros and cons of pool racing.  We have had many conversations, read a ton of testimony (for and against), and consulted with a number of trusted race vets.  Our conclusion: A pool format provides more options for mushers to manage their dogs in a race.  Options to reduce the distance some dogs run, increase the rest period for some dogs, and reduce the number of dogs pulling to increase the mushers control on a fast or icy trail.

Although we are interested trying the pool format, we are not interested in significantly changing the nature of our pro-class competition which has been popular and successful.  It is our belief that instituting a 12-dog pool would likely make it more challenging for kennels with a dozen or less dogs to field a team they felt would be competitive.  Therefore, we are instituting a 10-dog race with a 10-dog pool.

Ultimately, the CopperDog 150 is still a 10-dog race for those traditionalists, except mushers may choose to start with 8 dogs on Stage 1 and move back up to 10 Dogs for stages 2 and 3, for example.  Mushers may also choose to rest a dog between Stages 1 and 3.  We believe this format in an excellent opportunity for us to try to give mushers more options for caring for their teams as they see fit while not significantly changing the nature of the competition.  Everyone gets 10 dogs, how are you going to run them?

CopperDog 150 Details

• Team: 10-Dog Pool, Max 10 Dogs In Line
• Mileage:138 Miles
• Stages: 3 Stages (Night 50 miles, Day 43.7 miles, Day 43 miles)
• Capacity: 35 Teams
• Purse: $24,000 (6300, 4800, 3600, 2600, 1800, 1200, 1100, 1000, 900, 700)
• Registration: $350 (flat rate), Open Sat, Sep. 7
• Refund: Dec 7 - 75% Refund, Jan 4 – 50% Refund, Feb 1 – 0% Refund
• Withdraw: No carry forward to next seasons event

Pool Rules

• Maximum number of dogs in pool: 10
• Maximum number of dogs in line: 10
• Minimum number of dogs to start Stage 1: 8
• Minimum number of dogs to start Stage 2: 7
• Minimum number of dogs to start Stage 3: 6
• Minimum number of dogs to finish any stage: 5

For those hard core traditionalists who want to hit the trail with the 10 best dogs, this 10-dog pool format allows them to do just that.  For those teams who have never run in a pool race, this is an excellent opportunity to get their feet wet.  For those race organizations (that would be us) that have never hosted a pool race, it’s an excellent opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge and insight into pool racing.  Our hope is to keep the competition fair for mushers who favor traditional racing and those who favor pool racing; we believe a 10-dog pool does exactly that.

If you would like to share your thoughts on the 2014 CopperDog 150 10-Dog Pool Race, please e-mail toddbrassard@copperdog150.com .  All musher feedback receives full consideration.  We greatly value your input.

Purse and Registration Fees

The CopperDog, a non-profit volunteer organization, currently operates with an annual budget around $70,000 with less than $10,000 of revenue from registration fees.  We have increased our guaranteed purse by $1,000 each year for the past several years and we hope to continue to do so in the future.

For 2014 we are increasing the purse for 6th – 10th Place and put a little more money into 1st Place. We also discussed day money, but were not convinced this was a healthy decision for dogs.

We have increased the registration fee by $55 to help shore up our overall revenue since our expenses are coming so close to matching or exceeding our income each year. The registration fee is a flat fee regardless of when a musher registers. If we have room on our roster, we see no need to punish a musher with a “late fee” for wanting to run our race at the last minute.

We are however becoming more aggressive with our cancellation policy to help prevent tentative mushers from “squatting” on the roster only to pull out after it’s too late for other teams who really want to attend the race to get in.

The cancellation schedule is as follows:

• Withdraw before December 7 – 100% refund
• Withdraw before January 4 – 75% refund
• Withdraw before February 1 – 50% refund
• After February 1 – no refunds

Mushers will be allowed to do one transfer between races without penalty. Mushers will not be able to withdraw and roll their registration into the following seasons. All mushers must register on a first-come-first-serve basis. The first place winner of each race is guaranteed lot in the following year's race if they plan to compete (they must still pay the registration fee). The maximum number of participants for the pro-class race has been raised from 30 to 35.

Thank You!

On behalf of our Board of Directors, thank you for all the great things you bring to our community. We hope you will find the decisions we have made for the 2014 to your liking and will choose to compete in our 2014 event!

Kind Regards,
Todd Brassard
Exec/Race Director
CopperDog, LLC.

2013 CopperDog 150 Survivors Social

Meredith LaBeau; Friday, March 29, 2013

IT'S TIME TO SAY THANK YOU ... TO YOU, OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER!

It's time to put on your party hats and let CopperDog give you a round of applause! Copperdog is hosting its annual Volunteer Thank You Party, Thursday April 11, from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Calumet Theatre ballroom. And we need YOU to be there so we can give you a high five and a huge "Thank You!" Volunteers are why CopperDog exists - we literally cannot do this without every single one of our marvelous volunteers. Volunteers are the backbone of CopperDog. So come party with us on April 11. We'll be serving refreshments and showing race videos.

We would also like to create a photo montage of volunteer photos - the photos you took at the event. The ones YOU took of the dogs, of your friends smiling bravely as their feet froze solid, the one of your friend on his butt as a dog dragged him off, I'm sure you get the idea. Please send your photos to Meredith LaBeau no later than Monday April 8.

So come join us April 11, and help us celebrate YOU. CopperDog: we can't do it without you. (And we don't want to celebrate without you!)

2013 Calumet Start Highlights

by Mark Riutta of Defined Visuals; Tuesday, March 05, 2013

2012 CopperDog 150 Sled Dog Race Highlights from Todd Brassard on Vimeo.

Sun Shines for CopperDog

by Stephen Anderson - DMG Writer; Tuesday, March 05, 2013

(click here to view the original story)

CALUMET - The CopperDog 150 is only in its fourth year, but the event has already come full circle, converting a harsh critic into a top promoter - and now, after Sunday, a first-time winner.

Bruce Magnusson withdrew from the race in its inaugural year after safety concerns, but race organizers addressed those concerns and convinced him to come back the next year. He finished 11th then, second last year and won this year's pro-class race over a finishing field of 26 mushers in 10 hours, 43 minutes, 2 seconds.

"We had a conversation (the first year), but they're phenomenal. I wouldn't miss it now," said Magnusson, who lives in downstate Novi and runs his kennel out of Cheboygan. "My main goal this year was there was no repeat winners. The nice thing is I don't think it's a bad idea anymore."

Bruce Magnusson crosses the finish line in downtown Calumet Sunday afternoon. He didn’t know at the time, but final results showed he won his first CopperDog 150.

Photo Credit: Stephen Anderson/Daily Mining Gazette

Magnusson said there's only two races on his list every year: The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race in Wyoming and the CopperDog 150.

"The first year we were running (the CopperDog), nobody came from Stage Stop. There's seven of us here this year - only by good word and passing on the word of this race," Magnusson said.

Photo Credit: Stephen Anderson/Daily Mining Gazette

Frank Teasley, race director of the Stage Stop, participated in the CopperDog, finishing 11th in the most competitive field yet. Several other sled dog racing dignitaries were in attendance, including Ryan Redington (eighth) - whose father founded the Iditarod - and his wife Erin (15th).

"We heard a lot of good things about this race - beautiful trails, well put on, and we had to come check it out," said 30-year-old Ryan, who has been racing dogs for 25 years. "I just thought it was an amazing race, fantastic competition, great sportsmanship and I look forward to being back here someday."

Ryan Redington epitomized sportsmanship as voted on by fellow mushers, earning the Sportsmanship Award during Sunday afternoon's awards ceremony at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet. Ironically enough for Redington, who crossed the finish line Sunday wearing a T-shirt, the award came with a Carhartt jacket.

Dennis LaBoda finished in second place and also garnered the Copper Harness Award. A team of 11 veterinarians bestow the award to the musher who takes the best care of his or her dogs.

"We saw the mushers do an outstanding job taking care of their dogs at each of the checkpoints," said chief veterinarian Dr. Jeff Ladd, who reported no injuries outside of a few sore wrists, pulled muscles and the slightest overheating in Sunday's warm (for the dogs) 20-degree temperatures under sunny skies.

"This is so much fun," said LaBoda. "I've been racing dogs for a long time - this is my 40th year - and I only go to dog races that I really like. This is done so well."

From race organizers to volunteers, to mushers and dogs, to trail crew members and sponsors, to veterinarians and spectators - who came out in droves (6,000-plus projected Friday night; 800 projected at Sunday's finish, up from 400 last year) - organizers say it takes an army to pull off a race of the CopperDog's magnitude, but veteran mushers gushed over the organization.

Photo Credit: Stephen Anderson/Daily Mining Gazette

"Wow, you guys put on an event that - and I've been to a bunch of dog races - this race is top notch. I love coming here, I love the atmosphere," said fourth-place finisher, 2011 winner and veteran bike race organizer Ross Fraboni.

Erin Redington gave particularly high praise for the volunteer force: "The number of volunteers they get for this race is astounding - all the folks out at the road crossings, that is really impressive ... definitely unlike most races. Most races have a lot of support, too, but this was above and beyond."

Erin's brother Andrew Letzring also ran the race, and the three mushers and teams all came in the same Ford F-350 truck with the Alaska license plate "MUSHAK."

But the Redingtons were "mushing MI" for the third time this month (TheIronLine and the U.P. 200), using Erin's parents' Duluth home - a 71-hour drive from their Alaska home -as headquarters.

Other notable finishers include Jake Golton in third place and Jerry Bath rounding out the top five. Local 16-year-old Roy Bauer from Chassell finished in ninth, while last year's winner JR Anderson finished 13th.

"If I want to do one race a year, this is probably the race I'm going to do," Bauer said. "It's just a great vibe."

The race started Friday night with a party-like atmosphere capped off by fireworks in downtown Calumet; continued with a 9 a.m. start in Eagle Harbor and finishing in the afternoon in Copper Harbor; and started with a 9:22 a.m. start (intentionally later because mushers were pushing the volunteer time schedule with their speed) in Copper Harbor before entering Calumet shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday.

"From our perspective, the mushers' perspective in everything we're hearing, the race went well, the trail was great, the mushers were running well," CopperDog 150 Assistant Race Director Kim Pici said. "I think it was a success."

The weekend also featured a CopperDog 40 recreation-class race, which was won by Martha Schouweiler, with Calumet-based musher Truman Obermeyer taking second and Linda Thompson in third.

Photo Credit: Stephen Anderson/Daily Mining Gazette

But Magnusson's victory stole the show, garnering a standing ovation at the award's presentation.

"Bruce Magnusson was one of our biggest critics our first year, he's one of our biggest champions and evangelists right now, and to have him win the race, I guess that just makes sense," CopperDog 150 Executive/Race Director Todd Brassard said.

Brassard is working with Pici and another assistant race director, Meredith LaBeau (who was going to be race director until she became pregnant) to make sure the race continues in the future.

Vice Chair Abbey Green presented LaBeau and Todd's wife Jessica with children's CopperDog shirts to signify carrying on the tradition.

For full CopperDog 150 and 40 results, visit copperdog150.com, and for additional photos and CopperDog coverage, visit cu.mininggazette.com and mininggazette.com.

CopperDog 150 Final Results

by Todd Brassard; Monday, March 04, 2013

Friday Night Results

by Todd Brassard; Saturday, March 02, 2013

The 2013 CopperDog 150 is Finally Here!

by Kim Pici; Thursday, February 28, 2013

5, 4, 3, 2 , 1, READY… GO!

Are you ready for a Dog Race?! (Imagine that set to some cool music sort of like Hank Williams Jr’s infamous Monday night Football theme)

That’s right folks we are here- at the point where the real fun begins. Friday, March 1st, bright and early, the Keweenaw will start to see trucks arrive, housing some very elite 4- legged athletes. Mushers, along with their dog handlers, who are not only looking for some prize money, but the chance to travel over our beautiful Keweenaw in one of the oldest and coolest modes of transport through the snow.

Vet checks, where each animal is meticulously examined by a team of skilled Veterinarians and their assistants, will start bright and early Friday morning.

CopperDog Volunteers will be in “go mode” and downtown Calumet will be transformed into a race showplace. A snow road will be laid down the middle of 5th Street so people can watch these teams depart Friday night, heading out into the snow covered terrain for a race filled with challenging twists, turns, and elevations. Merchants will be readying their shops for all the visitors that will be flooding the streets of Calumet Friday night during the Main Street Calumet street party.

Music, food, and dogs all come together to create an event that will suck you into the excitement of sled dog racing.

The 4th Annual CopperDog 150 has arrived. And I can tell you personally, this volunteer is exhausted, a little nervous, a little stressed, but…. so excited I cannot see straight!

So join us, tomorrow evening at 6:30 pm for the opening ceremonies, and a chance to see an event that is becoming bigger than any of us could have imagined.

2013 CopperDog 150 Event Schedule

by Todd Brassard; Friday, February 22, 2013

CLICK TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD 2013 EVENT SCHEDULE

Volunteers: Please Update Your Contact Info...

by Todd Brassard; Thursday, February 21, 2013

Dear Volunteers,

Please take a moment to fill in and/or update your contact information on the CopperDog web site.  We are especially interested in having your cell phone or other number we can reach you at during race weekend.  We would also like to know if you have attended a general volunteer training session and/or volunteer lead/coordinator training session.

Please follow this link and provide as much information as you can!  Thank you!

http://www.copperdog150.com/Profile/ContactForm

Todd Brassard
Exec/Race Director
CopperDog 150

Volunteer Training - Classroom & Hands On Sessions

by Todd Brassard; Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Sunday, February 24, 1pm - 3pm

Behind CLK Schools (rear parking lot)

Safety is one of the biggest concerns of CopperDog and a strong volunteer base is one our most important resources.  We put a lot of time and energy into planning a safe race, but ultimately its the volunteers that hold the lines and take action on the trail.  When it come to actually executing a safety event, its the volunteers in the field that everyone is counting on.

To better familiarize our volunteers with what can go around and equip them to handle situations that may arise, we provide volunteers with training at our annual hands-on volunteer training session.  The training session is fun and very straight forward with 45 minutes of indoor training and 45 minutes of outside training working with dog teams.

We strongly encourage all volunteers and anyone from the general public who wants to learn the ins and outs of a musher's sled and the dog team that pulls it; wants to learn the do's and don'ts of working with sled-dogs; wants to learn about race safety and communication procedures; and wants to work hands-on with a couple of dog teams to gain experience to attend this volunteer training session.

Thinking of Frank

by CopperDog 150; Sunday, February 17, 2013

We all understand the risks involved when hosting or competing in a sled dog race, but nothing ever prepares us for those moments when something goes tragically wrong. If race organizations, sponsors, volunteers and fans have anything in common, it’s the love of the dogs and the mushers who bring teams together.  We extend our hearts to Frank and his family and deeply regret this unfortunate event. We hope the injured dogs recover quickly and return to good health. Our most heartfelt condolences Frank. -- CopperDog Crew

Volunteer Registration Is Open!

by Todd Brassard; Monday, January 14, 2013

Click here to volunteer...

Volunteer registration is now open for the CopperDog 150 and CopperDog 40 sled dog races this coming March 1-3, 2013.  There are literally hundreds of shifts and positions to fill, so we need your help.  Please take a look at the volunteer schedule, find something that suites your liking and sign-up for as many shifts as you want.  Please watch out for conflicts in your schedule.

A few new features...

The volunteer system has some new features.  There are many more jobs listed, including jobs that are by appointment or internal to the race.  You'll have to contact our volunteer coordinator to sign-up for these jobs as they require experience or special gear.  When you sign-up you can also indicate how many people you are bringing with you.  This makes it easy for a family member or leader of a team to include multiple people with their registration, although we strongly encourage people to have their own account and volunteer schedule.

Register a couple, group, or team...

When you register more than just yourself for a volunteer shift, you become responsible to bring all of the people you indicated.  Kids age 14 and over are considered able bodied volunteers, but there must be at least one adult (18+) on each shift.  Kids 13 and younger are welcome to volunteer, but do not count towards the minimum number of volunteers that must be present.  Volunteering is fun for the entire family, we just need to make sure that our bases or covered to provide a safe event for all.

There might be bugs...

The volunteer system is still a little buggy and might blow up in your face from time to time.  Please let us know if this happens to you, if the system doesn't work as expect, or you just have ideas on how to improve it.  Send an e-mail to Todd Brassard with a description of the problem.  Cut and paste the error if you can.  Thanks for using our online system to volunteer for CopperDog!

Calling All Food Vendors!

by Lesley DuTemble; Monday, January 21, 2013

If you are a food vendor, CopperDog wants you ... and your food! (We want you even if you're not a food vendor, but that's another issue.)

CopperDog is currently accepting food vendor applications for the Friday night (March 1, 2013) race start event. That Friday night, thousands of people will converge on historic downtown Calumet, all of them wanting food and drinks. Last year nearly 6000 people attended the race start. This year we are expecting 5000-7000 people. We want those people to come hungry and to be able to get some food while they watch the race.

CopperDog is not just about sled dogs. It's about community involvement and vitality. It's about creating a great event that brings people together. Having food and drinks available is part of this vision. And the better the entire vendor program, the better the individual success of each vendor.

To ensure that spectators and vendors have a good experience CopperDog is introducing a Vendor Facilitation Program. Our goal is to identify great locations for vendors to set up shop, with easy access to for spectators. Power will be provided, and CopperDog will coordinate with vendors to avoid duplication of menus. CopperDog will advertise and promote vendor menus and provide location maps to the public. We will also be campaigning for people to come early, come hungry, and have dinner downtown during the race start. And we will work to retain a balance between downtown Calumet restaurants and vendor services.

For more information, and to fill out an application, please contact Cynthia Cote at cynthiacote@copperdog150.com.  To see a copy of the application, please click here.

Thanks for all you do ... here's to the best race ever!

Fireworks - A Little Fundraising

by Jessie Brassard; Saturday, January 12, 2013

FIREWORKS!

$2,000

$1,500

$1,000

$500

CopperDog Volunteers ... Its Almost Time!

by Kim Pici and Todd Brassard; Friday, January 04, 2013

Note: Volunteer registration opens Monday, January 21 at 8:00AM!

The 2013 CopperDog 150 is rapidly approaching and event organizers are once again reaching out to our most important resource... volunteers from the community.  Our volunteer army is simply amazing, maybe the best in racing today. 

We welcome anyone and everyone both experienced and "newbies" to come and participate in this great event.  Volunteers are the life-blood of the CopperDog 150, every single individual counts and we greatly appreciate your support.

New this year is the Lead Volunteer program.  The focus of this program is to provide advanced race operations training to a handful (25 - 35) of passionate volunteers who will then serve as leaders and coordinators on race weekend.  This program is open to anybody who is interested in giving more to the CopperDog effort (around 8 to 12 hours) in the weeks leading up to the race and have responsibility for various aspects of the race during the event.

Important Events

Lead Volunteer Training Sessions

• We are seeking 25 - 35 passionate volunteers.
  
• At the Julita Center in Hancock
  
• Saturday, January 26 2013, 10:00am-12:00pm
• Saturday, February 16 2013, 10:00am-12:00pm
• We will be asking for a commitment between 8 to 12 hours in the weeks before the race.
• Please RSVP to  volunteer@copperdog150.com (so we set up enough tables)

Annual Volunteer Drive

• Sponsors by Aspirus Keweenaw, the Official Volunteer Sponsors of the CopperDog 150.
  
• At River Valley Bank, Calumet (on US 41)
  
• Saturday, February 2, 2013, 10:00AM - 2:00PM
• Meeting mushers, pet dogs, treats will be served, learn about the race, volunteer sign-up.

Official CopperDog 150 Volunteer Training Session

• All volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend this training event.
• Behind CLK Schools, Calumet in rear parking lot
  
• Sunday, February 24, 2013, 1:00PM - 3:00PM
• 45 minutes of indoor training, demonstration, and discussion
  
• 45 minutes of outdoor "hands-on" handling of real dog teams.
  
• There will be “hands-on” training with sled dog teams, crossing instructions, and general safety instructions from CopperDog organization members as well as several of our local Mushers.

Limited Edition CopperDog Shirts

by Lesley DuTemple; Wednesday, January 09, 2013

We're very proud of our CopperDog tee shirts but when the wind really howls you might want something a wee bit warmer than a cotton tee - no matter how snazzy the design. Which is why we are now offering thermal CopperDog shirts!

For a limited time only thermal shirts are available at River Valley Bank, our Lead Dog Sponsor. Both local branches of River Valley Bank (in Calumet on US41, and in Houghton on Sharon Avenue) will be carrying the shirts. The price is $25 and they come in sizes S-XXL.

Don't live locally, but want a shirt? No problem. Just contact Rob Greenhoe at robgreenhoe@copperdog150.com and he can send one to you. Or maybe you're still looking for the copper colored 2011 cotton tee shirt, or the sage green colored 2012 cotton tee shirt? Rob also has limited quantities of both those CopperDog tee shirts, as well as some grey CopperDog hoodies. Tee shirt prices are $18, and the hoodies are $30.

Quantities of the new thermal shirts and the remaining collector's merchandise is limited while supplies last, don't delay!

CopperDog Kids Rides Video Revue

by Mark Riutta of Defined Visuals; Monday, December 17, 2012

I'm delighted to post another great CopperDog video by Mark Riutta the owner and creative talent behind Defined Visuals.  Mark captures many great CopperDog moments. Mark can work magic for your organization too!  - Todd

Welcome to CopperDog 2013!

by Lesley DuTemple, Todd Brassard; Sunday, September 16, 2012

What could possibly inspire 45 race teams, 450 of volunteers, and thousands of spectators to spend a weekend in the Keweenaw snow, working and playing together in freezing temperatures?  The CopperDog 150 and CopperDog 40 sled-dog races!

The CopperDog 150 and CopperDog 40 brings 45 professional and recreational teams, 400 sled dogs, and over 5,000 of fans to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula for 150 miles of sled dog racing through a pristine winter wilderness. This amazing race takes place annually the first weekend in March. Over the course of the weekend, the sled dog teams make their way from historic downtown Calumet, to the warm and welcoming community of Eagle Harbor, to the ever beautiful Copper Harbor, and then back to downtown Calumet again. Along the way, fans and volunteers cheer them on and provide friendly assistance.

The race starts on historic Fifth Street in downtown Calumet, Friday night. Thousands of fans crowd the streets as each sled dog team launches into the dark night, cheering them on. When the last team has disappeared down the trail the street party continues, taking over the town of Calumet with music, dancing, food, and drink.

Meanwhile out on the trail, volunteers are ready. For each leg of the race, hundreds of volunteers oversee the trail, record times and relay them by wireless radio network to the live webcast, and assisting mushers with road crossings.

Saturday morning, after the hospitality of the Eagle Harbor Inn and a nights rest in Eagle Harbor, the teams depart to Copper Harbor. Saturday afternoon fans, families, and volunteers welcome the teams in from the trail, and can meet the dogs and visit with mushers before the mid-race banquet that evening.

Sunday morning, after a full night's rest, the teams leave Copper Harbor and make the climb up Brockway mountain.  Teams race along the crest of the mountain until they reach the top, then turn downward and return to Calumet, where they once again travel through the town (lined with cheering fans) and cross the finish line.

It’s a fun filled weekend involving the entire community – a family party taking place on the entire peninsula. Come join us for this unique experience March 1-3, 2013!

Fans are welcomed with open arms and volunteers (and more volunteers) are always needed.

"Tis the Season"

Lesley DuTemple; Monday, December 03, 2012

It's not quite the Twelve Days of Christmas, but it's darn close. The countdown has begun and if you are looking for a unique—and we mean UNIQUE—gift for that special someone, look no further. The gift of a customized CopperDog 150 Dasher Banner or Sled Banner comes packed with 3 days of adventure, fun, friendship, and glamour (yes, glamour - with those gorgeous eyes, sled-dogs are glamourous).

Did we mention big? Because this is a BIG gift! It encompasses the entire community and will be seen all over the Keweenaw! All banners are prominently displayed during CopperDog race weekend (March 1, 2, and 3, 2013) and are seen by thousands of people.

Consider purchasing a banner in the name of your loved one. They come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. Why give a sweater (or diamond earrings) when you can give a CopperDog 150 banner and all the adventure that comes with it?

For more information click here or contact Abbey Green at abbeygreen@copperdog150.com.

"Oh What Fun It Is To Ride..."

by Kim Pici, Assistant Race Director; Thursday, November 29, 2012

Part of the mission of the CopperDog organization is to find ways to enrich our community and an important part of our community is our kids. And what is a fun, exciting way for us to do accomplish this? Well, giving them a chance to experience one of the most exciting winter sports that you will ever see in the Keweenaw…sled dog racing!

December 15th, 1 - 3PM!

CopperDog is sponsoring their annual Free Kids Sled Dog Rides on Saturday, December 15 Agassiz Park, Calumet. This event is a sure sign that sled dog season is here and the CopperDog races are just around the corner!

Children of all ages will have the chance to sit in an actual dog sled and take a ride with a team of some amazing athletes — furry, four-legged ones. Professional Musher Tom Bauer of Otter River Sled Dog Training Center and Wilderness Adventures will be bringing his dogs to Calumet, giving kids the chance to experience a small glimpse into this great sport.

Not only are the rides free, but there will be free hot dogs and hot chocolate for all from 1:00pm until 3:00pm. Several other teams along with their musher will be there for the public to meet and ask questions about these unique animals, and the sport of sled dog racing.

Families will also have a chance to get a free photo keepsake of their kids with the “celebrities” of the day- the dogs of course! Everyone is welcome but we ask one favor for the safety and health of the sled dogs — if you think you have a “track running Terrier” or a “sprinting Springer Spaniel”, please, let them stay at home.

Bring your family out and enjoy the afternoon with CopperDog, on Saturday, December 15, 1pm to 3pm in Calumet's Agassiz Park.

Update (12/16/2012): The annual December kids rides came off without a hitch despite Mother Nature not being most cooperative.  Check the CopperDog blog page for a full update by Kim Pici.

2012 CopperDog 150 Highlights Reel

by Todd Brassard; Saturday, September 08, 2012

An event like the CopperDog 150 is a tremendous undertaking that absolutely needs the help and support of many people and organizations.  This highlights video is dedicated to all those individuals and organizations who make this event possible for everyone to enjoy.

Register Now for 2013 CopperDog

Monday, September 17, 2012

Registration for the CopperDog 150 and CopperDog 40 is now open.  The CopperDog 150 has a maximum of 30 teams and the CopperDog 40 can take 15 teams.  Registration opened on Monday, September 17, 2012 at 8am EST as previously announced.

Click here to register now...

As some of you many know from prior years, our online registration system can be a little temperamental at time and PayPal can be sassy with some people's credit cards, so please take your time as you move through each step. If you have any problems, just give Meredith LaBeau a call at 517-974-8579, she is super helpful!

Update!

September 17, 2012 11:20PM

The CopperDog 150 Pro-Class race appears to be popular this year. Registration for this event reached the maximum of 30 teams around 11:30AM on the opening day of registration. We are greatly honored by the excellent turnout of mushers who put their faith in us to put on a great race. Thank you for the support, truly, thank you.

To get on the waiting list, just proceed with the normal registration process. Teams that do not make it into the race will receive a full refund of their registration fee.