What Is CopperDog?

by Lesley DuTemple ; Sunday, September 23, 2012

Hey! Let’s organize a sled dog race!

That’s what a small group of people said in 2009, and from that initial idea the CopperDog 150 and CopperDog 40 sled dog races were born.

Both races usually run the first weekend in March. The CopperDog 150 features teams of ten dogs and covers 150 miles in three days, while the CopperDog 40 featured teams of six dogs and covered approximately forty miles in one day. The first weekend in March finds 350+ dogs racing through Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

The CopperDog 150, and now the CopperDog 80 and CopperDog 25 instead of the CopperDog 40, are organized by CopperDog, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization located in Calumet, Michigan, a small town in the middle of the Keweenaw Peninsula – a narrow finger of land on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that juts into the middle of Lake Superior.  With an average annual snowfall of 241 inches it’s the perfect place for... well, a sled dog race.

Since its beginning the CopperDog races have attracted mushers from around the world. While many mushers come from the Midwest, each race usually has several Canadian mushers competing – and in 2011 and 2012 a musher from South Africa competed.

CopperDog is definitely a labor of love. It is an entirely volunteer operation, with more than 500 volunteers helping to put the race on. Local residents help mushers with their dogs, provide housing, and oversee trail crossings. Local police and fire departments volunteer their time to man all highway crossings and ensure the safety of all volunteers and participants. On its business end, CopperDog, Inc. is run by an unpaid volunteer board of directors.

CopperDog is more than just two sled dog races. In addition to promoting community vitality through sled dog racing, CopperDog strives to provide education on the history and sport of sled dog racing. Numerous public events – such as classroom visits, volunteer training, “Meet the Dogs” events, and free sled dog rides - are held throughout the year.

CopperDog is always looking for new volunteers. If you’d like to work with a great group of people and be part of one of the MOST FUN winter events you’ll ever see, please contact us. We can’t do it without you!

CopperDog150 Race Results

The CopperDog Team ; Sunday, March 3, 2019

Another CopperDog 150 race is in the books with Martha Schouweiler, a previous CD40 winner coming in first just ahead of Ryan Anderson, followed by Rita Wehseler in third place.

Click here to see official race results

CD150 Race Results

CopperDog80 Race Results

The CopperDog Team ; Sunday, March 3, 2019

Another CopperDog 80 race is in the books with Jerry Trudell, a local Calumet, Michigan resident, this year's winner. Followed closely by an impressive second stage finish by Alex LaPlante and Lynn Witte.

Click here to see official race results

CD80 Race Results

CopperDog 25 Results

Thursday, March 8, 2018

The CopperDog 25 race was added this year in commemoration of the 10th Annual running of the CopperDog in 2019.  The CD25 featured an impressive field of 18 teams. All teams finished. Geri Menard won the event, followed by our local Hancock musher, Susan Serafini in second and Linda Thompson in third place. Mushers and fans seemed to really enjoy our return to a short race. The Village of Gay community embraced the event and provided a marvelous finish. Luminaries aligned the finish line to make for a spectacular night time finish.

Our newest Assistant Race Director Maddie Harrer is seen here presenting the first place plaque to Geri Minard.

Remembering Jo Cauvin

The CopperDog Family ; Wednesday, February 27, 2019

It is with a heavy heart that CopperDog announces the passing of a longtime family member, Jo Cauvin.

Jo was a founding incorporator of CopperDog, a board member and officer, and the skills she brought from her corporate background were invaluable in guiding the organization through its infancy and into the present day.

Jo personally took on the obtaining of land permits, waivers, liability forms, and insurance. All the "Invisible" tasks with no glory, but without them CopperDog would not exist. There would be no race. A week before her death, Jo was still working on these tasks, tying up loose ends for the 10th annual 2019 race.

Jo was also a vital resident of her beloved Eagle Harbor and handled the organization of that checkpoint, personally raising the sponsorship money, every year, for that stop on the race.

We will miss her insight, business acumen, loyalty and tireless energy. But most of all we are grateful she chose to devote her considerable talents to CopperDog.

We send our love and condolences to her family and friends. Thank you for sharing her with us.