Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Today’s the day.
The kickoff to the 11th CopperDog 150 Dogsled Race is here.
Join our own Todd Van Dyke for the pre-race ceremony at 6:30pm in Calumet.
The race starts at 7pm.
Mushers and sled dog teams from as far as Montana and Ontario, are competing in the three stage, 132 mile race for $26,000 prize money.
The event, in its 11th year, is made possible by an all volunteer force.
The dogs, known as Alaskan Huskies, are a hybrid of various performance dogs, who have been perfected for the sport of sled dog racing.
Throughout the race, veterinarians are on location, with periodic inspections of the dogs, to determine if they’re OK to continue the race.
Food vendors including Baby E’s BBQ and The Dogfather will be on hand.
To add to the experience, the Calumet Theater is showing “The Great Alaskan Race” on Saturday at 5:30pm.
The movie chronicles the mushers and dogs, who traveled from Anchorage, Alaska to Nome, to bring the serum needed to stop a Diptheria outbreak.
Their race to save the town became the inspiration for the now world famous Iditarod Dog Sled Race.
Complete race details are available here.
