Mushing Midwest

11/06/2025

A beautiful night of Aurora, it was.

10/22/2025

🐾🐾🐾Wowza!🐾🐾🐾

We were going to just post about the up coming Winter events in the Upper Midwest that have races that are 30 miles or more but... well, hear us out;

Dear Races, Mushers, Fans, Volunteers, and Sponsors:

This is an open letter that was written for the love and sustainability of the sport in the Upper Midwest. With all of you, our stakeholders, in mind; right at the forefront of this niche passion.

CopperDog is proposing an annual Spring get-together (in person and/or online) between all races in our region where post-season accomplishments and failures are discussed. And dates are decided, as best as they can be, for each event part of the circuit in our region.

The idea is to learn from each other and to avoid, again as best as possible, events being on the same weekend. And while that may impossible, getting to discuss whatever-things can only be a win-win.

We are not talking about changes/postponements because of weather - each race has to do what each race has to do in regard to this issue. We are talking about honoring all constituents by saying we deliberately tried to design an overall schedule that created the least impactful conflict for all involved, including the dogs.

And that's with the understanding that all these organizations have their own constraints that may allow only a few-to-one weekend choices. We clearly understand that for we face them as a race. But discussing what went right and what went wrong alone is worth the gathering.

CopperDog will gladly take the lead in trying to create this synergy. We hope that you agree and join us making sure this amazing sport has everything to be strong and healthy for years to come.

Maybe some feel that this is a waste of time, but we are certain, some won't. We don't mind taking a stab even if it turns out to be a futile effort; CopperDog didn't get to where we are by not taking chances. So any and all comments are appreciated...

Thanks! And here is what's in store for this coming Winter;

Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race
JAN 10th & 11th

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
> Iditarod Qualifier
JAN 25th - 28th

Hiawatha Heritage Dog Sled Race
JAN 31st & FEB 1st

Gunflint Mail Run
FEB 7th

Northern Pines Sled Dog Race,
FEB 7th

The UP200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30
> Iditarod Qualifier
FEB 12th - 16th

Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby
FEB 13th

WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race
FEB 22nd

CopperDog
FEB 27th - MAR 1st

United States Federation of Sleddog Sports - USFSS / Sled Dog Central / Mushing Magazine / Mushing Midwest / Sled Dog Talk / Sled Dog World

10/21/2025

Cool!

SUPERIOR CROWN SLED DOG SERIES - The multi-race point-based quest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula!

> Eastern Region - Newberry (event #1);
10-dog TC10P - January 10th & 11th, 2026
Registration will open December 1st!

> Central Region - Marquette (event #2);
12-dog UP200 -OR- 8-dog MNR - February 12th to 16th, 2026
Registration is already open!

> Western Region - Calumet (event #3);
10-dog CD120 - February 27th to March 1st, 2026
Registration will open November 8th!

The three events have already committed to donating $1,000 each for a purse totaling $3,000. With that, the 2026 purse-breakdown is;

First place; $1,500
Second place; $1,000
Third place; $500

The musher with the least amount of points will be crowned the 2026 Superior Crown Sled Dog Series Champion!!! It is also our intent that all new participants that complete their three events in the series will receive an unique commemorative patch only available to mushers!! Can you say FINISHER?? And it's FREE to participate; just signup for the three events of your choice!

The point system you see is based on a calculation using the number of dogs and the distance of each event. If mileage changes for a race for whatever reason, the point table/chart will be updated accordingly.

Also, the three organizations had many discussions about including the TC6P, JP30, and CD30 but opted for keeping things the same in 2026 as they were 2025. Why? Simply because we have had only one year where all three races have counted/participated. We will see what 2027 brings; including the 6-dog races is not off the table.

Anyway, as always, because we can’t say this enough; hats off to our communities across the three regions of da Yoop, the fans, the volunteers, the sponsors, the mushers, and the dogs... Without you we are nothing. Again, thank you!

Here is hoping you are as excited as we are about all this!! See you down the trail! We absolutely can’t wait!!

Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race / The UP200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30 / CopperDog / Tahquamenon Country / Travel Marquette / Visit Keweenaw / Michigan's Upper Peninsula / Pure Michigan / Sled Dog World / Mushing Midwest / Mushing Magazine / Sled Dog Central / Sled Dog Talk / Newberry Michigan - Newberry Area Chamber of Commerce / Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce / Michigan Chamber of Commerce

10/14/2025

Honoring Indigenous People’s Day

10/09/2025

✔️ 🐾👀

We have a great line up from previous champions to rookie racers. Here are the mushers that are signed up so far.

10/08/2025

❄️ 👀
Frosty.

10/08/2025

Wowza!

We’re so excited to welcome an amazing lineup of new and returning mushers back to Lake Minnetonka for the 2026 Klondike Dog Derby! Paws crossed for blue skies and perfect racing weather! ❄️🛷

Grant Beck 🇨🇦
Grant Beck - second team 🇨🇦
Eva Robinson 🇺🇸
Ashley Miller 🇺🇸 Captured here in action at the 2023 Klondike Dog Derby!
Nick Turman 🇺🇸
John Beck 🇨🇦
Richard Beck 🇨🇦
Richard Beck - second team 🇨🇦
Brent Beck 🇨🇦
Lynne Witte 🇺🇸
Dave Hochman 🇨🇦 - Klondike’s 3-time champion!
Martha Schouweiler 🇺🇸
Billie Thompson 🇺🇸
Rita Wehseler 🇺🇸
Linus Meyer 🇺🇸
William Sima 🇺🇸
Steve Goedken 🇺🇸
Sean de Wolski 🇺🇸
Sam Louters 🇺🇸
Curt Laboda 🇺🇸
Neal Seeger 🇺🇸
Danielle McGunigal 🇨🇦
Danielle McGunigal - second team 🇨🇦
Laura Bontranger 🇺🇸
Sheryl Johnson 🇺🇸
Julia Cross 🇨🇦
Bruce Magnusson 🇺🇸
Julia Cross - second team 🇨🇦
John Stumm 🇺🇸
Michael Bestgen 🇺🇸
Michael Bestgen - second team 🇺🇸
Laura Bontranger - second team 🇺🇸
Alexandra Johnson 🇺🇸
Anna Anderson 🇺🇸
Jake Robinson 🇺🇸

👉 Think you’ve got what it takes to join the pack? Waitlist spots are still available!!

Here’s to an unforgettable race weekend ahead!

09/30/2025

C👀L

Sign up for the FIRST (& very EXCITING) NPSDR JUNIOR Musher Boot Camp. Guest Trainers: Ann Stead and Jennifer Freking. NPSDR trainers/facilitators: Martens Mushing, Rob Lombard & Bonnie Ryszka. Space is limited! Sign up at northernpinessdr.com

09/24/2025

Tis the season of registrations:

HELLO mushers, fans, volunteers, and sponsors!! CopperDog registration for the 2026 event will open on November the 8th at 12 PM - high noon Keweenaw time! YES!!! The 16th running of our distance events will be so amazing!!!! What we have to offer;

CD120 - 30 teams @ ~121 miles - $400/entry
CD30 - 20 teams @ ~31 miles - $200/entry
CD15 - 20 teams @ ~16 miles - $100/entry
CopperDart - 10 teams @ ~5 miles - $30/entry

Rules, purse, purse distribution, max/min number of dogs, and other relevant details will be shared in the next two to five weeks. But we wanted to make sure you knew what already has been approved and can be made official. Keep checking our page for the latest and greatest!

The CD120 will be a 3-day, 3-stage race with the Friday night leg being the same route as the CD30; around 31 miles. This will make the Saturday and Sunday legs around 45 miles each. Got it?

Sunday of CopperDog will see things finish in the Village of Laurium at the George Gipp Recreation Area & Ice Arena. This is -SO- exciting!!! Sunday will also see the CopperDart running to the Gipp as well.

NOTE: The CopperDart is a "sled dog race for kids" that are under 16 years old!!! Mushers that are 13 and older have the CD15 as the next shortest option! Noting as well that we hope (maybe) to have a race-with-in-a-race for "teen mushers" taking part in the CD15.

Laurium will also see the now-famous CopperPull over the weekend bringing dogs from all over the Midwest to compete in the Keweenaw! And yes, we will still have the 75-foot CopperDash on Saturday too! The Friday night start will still happen on Main Street Calumet.

Mark you calendars!! Registration opens on November 8th and race weekend is February 27th to March 1st!

Visit Keweenaw / Michigan's Upper Peninsula / Pure Michigan / Sled Dog Central / Mushing Midwest / Mushing Magazine

09/08/2025

2026 RACE DATES: January 10th & 11th 2026! We are so excited to announce the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race will be coming to a peninsula near you on January 10th and 11th 2026! Similar to last year, we will be offering two professional classes that will run a two day event, and 2 sportsman’s/y...