Trail Update - Looking Good
(posted 6/9/2010, 2:00pm, added photos at 5:00pm)
Here are a couple of photos take by Brian on his trail recon
today showing the snow base on the trail system. Click on the
photo for a larger image. More information to come.
Provided by Truman: "Ran about 10 miles of
Trail 124 this morning a couple of miles outside Gay and it was
good! Firm and fast but not icy. There were some brown spots in
the lower section in the turns but not more than 20 feet long and
not wide enough to cover the whole width of trail. Looked at the
main trail, Trail 3 on the way home and saw close to a 2 foot base."
Provided by Todd: We should have an
updated trail map posted on the web site later this evening.
Changes to the route have been to avoid stretches of blacktop and
logging roads that have pushed into the trail system. None of
the reroutes have been due to deteriorated in-woods trails - the
trails are holding up. Brian Tiura (Race Director) is spending
the afternoon on the trails further assessing their condition.
We'll have an updated report upon his return.
What is wrong with this picture?
(posted 6/9/2010, 1:20pm)
Is it our imaginations or is there something a little suspicious
in play here? We caught these guys out training on the
beautiful
Swedetown cross-country ski trails, but we were not exactly sure
what they are training for? Ahh... we have it... these guys
are training for the CopperDog 150 sled-dog race and the Great Bear
Chase cross country ski race! Although their training tactics
seem... well... a little off.
Who is having the most fun here?
Perhaps the musher (Brian Tiura, Race Director of the
CopperDog 150), the skier (Arnie Kinnunen, Race Director of the
Great Bear Chase),
the lead dog (Punch) who's obviously just along for the ride,
the photographer Adam Johnson (of
brockit, inc.), or Todd
Brassard (of bbrassard media and
race organizer) who's just trying to stay out of the shot?
The correct answer is, all of the above!
The CopperDog 150 may be new to this neck of the woods, but
the GGreat Bear Chase has
been premier event drawing over 400 athlete's annually to
Calumet, Michigan for over 20 years.
Sharing the snow-covered streets of downtown Calumet, the
CopperDog 150 starts its trek northward Friday evening. On
Saturday while race teams are resting in Copper Harbor, at least
a thousand skiers and spectators will line the streets of
Calumet for the spectacle f the Great Bear Chase. Finally,
dog teams return home on Sunday to a big downtown finish.
Don't miss out on all of the action in Downtown Calumet on
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you want to meet the
CD150 race teams, join us in Calumet on Saturday 7am to 5pm.
If you are a night owl, come on out to the Gay Checkpoint
Saturday between 12am and 7am. See you on the trails!
See more pictures here.
Visit
Brockt's BLOG for more pictures and
information!
Trail Report - Registration is Open
(posted 6/7/2010)
Despite warm temperatures our trail is holding up well.
We have re-routed the second leg leaving Gay
to take advantage of the deeper snow base on the ridge. This shortens our second leg from a sixty mile
run to a fifty. We are set to cool of slightly toward the end of the week.
Registration is still open
online at www.copperdog150.com and the competition is shaping up nicely. We welcome returning Can-Am'rs
to stop by on the way home, as well as anyone else looking to finish off their season with an exciting
downtown start and a beautiful trail!
Registration closes on Thursday, March 11th at midnight.
Brian Tiura
Race Director
Volunteer Training Session
The CD150 held a non-mandatory training session for volunteers today
in Calumet at the CLK Elementary School gym and parking lot. Race Director,
Brian Tiura, Volunteer Coordinator Brad King, and Musher Truman Obermeyer
talked openly with mushers about the various volunteer jobs and provided
hands on experience with Brian's race team.
TTruman Obermeyer spent some time with volunteers showing them how a dog-sled
is equipped and how that equipment works. Volunteers can learn more about mushing
and watch a demo of the various sled-breaks in action in this video.
Explanation of the sled is about 12:27 into the video.
HAM Radio - CopperDog 150 Communications/h1>
The Keweenaw County Repeater Association is on the air!
One of the many challenges facing organizers of the CD150 is
establishing reliable real-time communications across 150-miles of
backwoods tails. Communication during the event is of
paramount importance for safety, coordination, and keeping the fans
up to date on the progress of their favorite race teams. Enter
the members of the Keweenaw County Repeater Association.
The Keweenaw County Repeater Association owns and
maintains a 2-way radio system in Keweenaw County. This is "HAM" radio.
A repeater is a radio system that repeats low-powered signals such as hand-held radios and mobile units that normally run
low power (less that 10 watts) and repeats them at a higher power from an higher elevation, there extending the range of
these devices from just a few miles to something like 100 miles.
The
KCRA has been in existence now for over 25 years and
serves a 5-county area here in Michigan's Copper Country. Weekly tests are run each Friday to be sure the system is
operational, and we are part of a system called ARES or Amateur Radio Emergency Service a division of our National
organization the American Radio Relay League. (ARRL).
Their motto is... "When other systems fails there is always HAM
radio !" Visit their web site at
kcra-mi.net.
Volunteer Training this Saturday
The CopperDog 150 is hosting a non-mandatory training session for event volunteers Saturday, March 6th, start at
2PM in the CLK Elementary School gym and parking lot. Whether you have already signed up to be a volunteer, are
thinking about joining our volunteer army, or are just curious, come and join the fun on Saturday. Race Director,
Brian Tiura will be talking about the race, about mushers, dog teams, and how volunteers play a critical role in
making this event a success. So join us for information, treats, and hands-on experience.
Donations for Musher Bags Needed!
March 1st, 2010
The students at CLK Elementary are working hard to decorate bags for each CopperDog Musher.
to make these extra special bags even more special we need items to place inside them.
If you have 50 of some small item to donate to be placed in these Musher Bags (i.e. chapstick,
hot cocoa, candy bars, small packs of kleenex, etc), please drop them off at the CLK Elementary
School Principal's Office during school hours. (Thanks to Karyn King for heading this up.)
Volunteer - We need you!
February 26th, 2010
To support this race we will need 200-300 volunteers to handle chores
that include escorting screaming dog teams to the starting chute, setting up
fences and signs, staffing road crossings, and cleaning up downtown. Race
dates are March 12, 13, and 14. Job locations include Calumet, Gay,
Copper Harbor, and many points in between.
Please mark your calendar for a Volunteer Training Session that will be held on Saturday, March 6 from 2-4 pm at the Calumet Elementary School.
Thank you very much for your support. It will be a challenge to coordinate this first-annual event, but with your help it will be a success.
First Places winners in the 2010 Heikinpiva Parade! That's another $100 for the 2010 CopperDog 150 budget.
Competition Shaping up for the CD150
by Race Director Brian Tiura, 2/26/2007
The inaugural running of the Copper Dog 150 is
filling up, and our unique race format is drawing some of the finest
teams the sport has to offer.
Jo Ann Fortier, the current Midnight Run champion,
has been signed up from the beginning. "We were drawn to the race
because it is 10 dogs and 150 miles, which compliments our focus in
racing," she said. "Also, it is in Michigan, making it not as
expensive to travel. I am looking forward to running a race in an
area that I've never been to before."
Several top Stage Racing teams also fill the
roster, including two teams from Caribou Creek Racing Kennel, owned
and operated by Lloyd and Mary Gilbertson in Chatham, MI. Teams from
this kennel have crossed the finish line first multiple times in the
prestigious International Pedigree Stage Stop held in Wyoming each
year.
Another IPSSSDR regular visiting the Copper
Country this year is Team Magnusson Racing who placed fourth in
2009. "The thing about dog racing is that you never know who the
competitive threat will be," said Monica Magnusson. "We focus on
running our dogs the way that they have been trained, and we hope
for a clean, fast run." "This year we had a bad run at the UP200 and many of our
core dogs will have to sit out the Copper Dog. We will be bringing a team with a
bunch of young dogs to give them experience and have fun."
"We are very excited about the CopperDog for a
number of reasons", continued Monica. "We have always felt there were too few races
in the UP given the abundance of snow they get, and there are no races later in
March. This race is at a perfect time of the season. We are excited about the
format because stage racing is very dog friendly and it gives mushers the
opportunity to actually spend time together and it gives the spectators the
opportunity to see the mushers and dogs. The Copper country is so beautiful and
we are anticipating some gorgeous trails."
The Copper Country is going to the dogs!
Calling all dogs to the 1st Annual CopperDog 150 Sled Dog
challenge! Join us March 12-14, 2010 on the snow covered streets of
historic Calumet, MI and experience one of sled dog racing's few
downtown starts. Watch the anticipation build on Friday evening as teams of canine athletes and their drivers approach
the chute bouncing and banging to launch, then tearing off
into the night to chase and be pursued.
Michigan's Copper Country, located in the northernmost part of the
Western Upper Peninsula, is the ideal location for winter fun and
excitement this year. Technically an island, the peninsula enjoys
heavy lake effect snow on trails as rich in natural beauty as they
are in history. Spectators will enjoy following the dog teams as
they traverse 150 miles of beautiful and scenic Copper Country
woodlands. The unique combined stage/checkpoint format allows
many opportunities for spectators to cheer on the teams as they pass
through crossings, villages, and checkpoints from Calumet to Gay to
Copper Harbor and back again.
Make this winter one to remember! Plan on running with the
dogs this coming March, 2010, at the CopperDog 150 in Calumet,
Michigan.
We need your help...
Now that we are well into the planning of the CopperDog 150, we
are getting a good idea of what we need to pull of this event and
make it exciting for everyone involved. We need mushers,
sponsors, volunteers and spectators to get plugged-in to this event.
If you are interested in helping out with the CopperDog 150,
please let us know ASAP by filling out our Plugged-In form.
Getting plugged-in will let us know your out their and interested in
volunteering your time, sponsorship, donation money, or even if you
just plan on watching.
Get Plugged-In Now!
Photo courtesy of Gary Minckler.