CALUMET — The eleventh annual CopperDog 150 sled dog race kicked off on Mainstreet in Calumet Friday evening. Between the CopperDog 150, 80, and 25 races, a total of 44 mushers are competing. Further, an estimated 3,000 spectators attend the launch of the races, according to Calumet Community Organizer Anne Linja.

As Calumet’s Community Organizer, Linja helped orchestrate the volunteers and organizations in Calumet that help to make Copper Dog possible.

“The (CopperDog) Board of Directors talks to (Calumet community members) to give them every opportunity to participate,” said Linja.

The CopperDog begins and ends in Calumet, but every town and village that the race passes through has its own Community Organizer, all of which answer to the Community Director Tony Laidlaw. Laidlaw was involved in volunteer recruitment both through Community Organizers and through online submissions in the months leading up to Copper Dog.

“I know that there are over 600 volunteers over the course of the weekend,” said Laidlaw. “It’s amazing how many people come out of the woodwork to be a part of this event.”

The dedication of sponsors, municipalities, and volunteers have contributed to the Copper Dog becoming the biggest race of its kind in the area, according to Race Director Jeff Foss.

“We’ve become one of the premier dog sled races in the U.P.,” said Foss. “We work closely with the Bear Grease (Sled Dog Marathon) and the U.P. 500 but those are different styles of races.”

The event attracts attention from around the Northern United States and Canada. The Canadian national anthem and the South African national anthem were played prior to the start of the race as well as the United States National Anthem to honor contestants from those countries who participated. Spectators also came from far and wide to witness the launch of the event.

“We love doing photography and anything out of the ordinary,” said Kevin Mercer, a photographer from Ohio who attended the launch with business partner Julie Martini. “I love the old downtown feel here. Everybody is so welcoming and it’s so fun to be a part of this. We hope to be here again next year.”

Volunteering with Copper Dog was also an opportunity for people from out of the area to connect with locals.

“The team asked if we could help and sent me the information. Of course we were interested,” said Dana Foreman of Meridian Mississippi. Foreman is the president of Hospice for Duke Lifepoint, and was giving away free hot chocolate near the starting line with members of U.P Health System. “Helping to Sponsor the event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I hadn’t met the (U.P.) team yet, so what better opportunity to do that?”

The first of the Copper Dog 150 Mushers are expected to cross the finish line in Calumet on Sunday morning. Results from copperdog150.com below, story coverage in Tuesday’s Gazette.