CALUMET - When organizers of the Portage Health Great Bear Chase and Copper Dog 150 looked ahead to dates for their 2010 events, it wasn't even a thought to go the same weekend.
A small series of events changed the outlook, and late last week organizers made it official: March 12 to 14 is the weekend both events will run.
"With dogsled races, they get few participants and a lot of spectators; with cross country skiers we get a lot of participants and few spectators. I'd like to see us basically swap crowds, have some of the people watching the sleds and also watch the skiing," Great Bear Chase Race Director Arnie Kinnunen said.
"It's a great opportunity for both events, it lets us ride the coattails of an existing, very professionally run event," Copper Dog 150 Race Director Brian Tiura said. "It works very well with our race format because we leave downtown Calumet Friday night and then run up to Gay and Copper Harbor, where we'll be all day Saturday.
"Then the Great Bear Chase takes over in Calumet and runs on that downtown snow."
While the move should help both events, it will also be a big boost to the community.
"This is a great benefit, not just to the Calumet economy, but to the whole Keweenaw economy," Main Street Calumet Director Tom Tikkanen said. "The combining of the two events will probably fill hotel rooms from Copper Harbor to Chassell and an event of this stature should project a positive image for the whole region."
Tikkanen thinks the GBC will be able to help the Copper Dog 150 learn the ropes of a well-run organization.
"The Great Bear Chase organizers are veterans, they have remarkable volunteers, they're very talented and have a lot of insight on how to do things properly," Tikkanen said. "I know that the Copper Dog organizers are very appreciative of being able to work in consent with this group."
Besides bringing in larger crowds to both events, it will also be a money saver for the two groups.
"The schedule is a no brainer because the dogs will start Friday night and be gone until Sunday," Tikkanen said. "The skiers have already decided to switch the GBC to Saturday, and the race will still finish up downtown and all the snow will remain in place until after the dogs finish Sunday afternoon."
Tiura said that eases the stress a little for his organization.
"It helps to share the costs of bringing the snow and it will help create a block-party attitude all weekend in Calumet. It's a great chance to bring your family out because there will be something going on all weekend," Tiura said.
For Kinnunen, it just adds that much more excitement to an event that brings in over 500 people to the Copper Country.
"It's going to be a really exciting weekend, I hope everyone comes out," Kinnunen said. "The Bear Chase alone brings in 500 people, hopefully the local businesses will be ready and welcoming to the people."
Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.