Why run the CopperDog?
So, exactly one week from today, February 24th, is the last day to register for the 2025 CopperDog. With the deadline coming up, a musher approached us a couple days ago and asked; “Why should I pick your race instead? Why CopperDog?”
We don’t think we have ever answered this question accurately because we always get caught by surprise. And so we thought about it some and here are a few facts and opinions that may help you and other mushers, volunteers, and/or spectators decide to come our event.
The facts;
Three of our four races start at night on the Main Street of a historic copper mining village that is located inside the Keweenaw National Historical Park. Thousands (not hundreds) attend with each musher departing the chute to their own soundtrack. Our master of ceremonies, Todd VanDyke, is a professional disc jockey.
A street party with everyone around has fire pits, food & drink vendors, and fireworks (after all the dogs are long gone)! It brings the Village of Calumet alive as it was over 120 years ago. Businesses are open late and they join in the fun festivities of Friday night.
The amount of snow we usually get is second to none in the Midwest. You will have a hard time finding better trails anywhere because of the amount of lake effect that falls every season. We are already well over 200 inches of the white gold for this Winter. How much snow do you have?
Our timing team is the best in the business; you will not find better. Our results are accurate and instantaneous. Most importantly is that our four distance races get the same treatment and respect when it comes to timing; the CD15 is not less important than the CD150.
The 2025 overall purse is $32,500 with each of the four races taking part in it! In the 15 years we have been racing, including 2025, our event will have paid out ~$390,000!!! Our yearly average is ~$26,000 so we are always going higher with the current purse being ~$6,500 bigger!
We have had 33 different races in the past 14 years; CD15, CD25, CD30, CD35, CD40, CD80, & CD150. That’s 579 teams that have participated in the history of our event; 2025 will bring that number even higher. The average number of teams per each race is an astounding 17+!
We are the home-race for the Mushing Club at Michigan Tech which was the first collegiate organization of its kind in the country. We take pride in working with them to create an opportunity where club members can have the attainable chance to learn, participate, help, and race. And win!
Our decisions always have what’s best for the sport at the forefront. Happy & healthy dogs, mushers, volunteers, and fans. Our resolution process is transparent and honest. Constant communication with all stakeholders is the key to our continued success.
We are one of the members of the Superior Crown Sled Dog Series which has the mission to increase awareness of the sport and make the Upper Peninsula Mushing Circuit the best in the Midwest. The UP200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30 and the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race are also members.
The opinions;
We think we put on one heck of a show during race weekend. The communities, our Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor Checkpoints, the fans, our volunteer army, and all the sponsors come through in ways unimaginable! We work 11 months of the year to bring a highlight of Michigan’s Winters to everyone! Our board and race planning team are dedicated, passionate, and focused. We like to boast once in a while, but we always rope ourselves back into staying humble – there is no other way.
But in the end, the only opinion that matters is yours. And you can’t have one until you attend CopperDog by racing, volunteering, and/or just watching! We invite you to make 2025 the year you give us a go! Good times promised; great times delivered.
So why [or why not] CopperDog? Do tell us…