Even in the middle of summer, Krissy Tepsa is already thinking about snow. She and other Copper Dog board members recently announced a big change coming to the race in 2026. The race weekend will drop the 150 race title from its name to become the Copper Dog. Tepsa says this helps to give the weekend a clear vision and allows each race to have its spotlight.
Doing away with the copper dog 150 and the copper dog 80. They’re going to be merged into a copper dog 120. It’ll be a much bigger field of mushers and also a much bigger purse. – Krissy Tepsa, volunteer director, Copper Dog Board of Directors
The larger of the changes the copper dog board of directors announced includes moving the closing gate from Eagle Harbor to Laurium. This move helps to centralize activity and festival foot traffic.
The event has grown significantly over the last decade, and more and more people are coming to spectate, More and more mushers are coming from across the country to participate. We’re going to have a bigger draw now with the kids’ race, Where they can run their team by themselves. That’s just going to be a big draw. We just keep changing things and just kind of being fluid with everything, and just trying to incorporate all these towns that we have up here. – Krissy Tepsa, volunteer director, Copper Dog Board of Directors
Copper Dog’s 2026 main race includes professional teams. But next year’s excitement will also include some more competitive fun by encouraging a new generation of sled teams with the Copper Dart.
That’ll be on Sunday, starting in Copper City, and all of our finishes for the 120 and the copper dart will be finishing at the George Gipp Arena in Laurium this year instead of downtown Calumet. – Krissy Tepsa, volunteer director, Copper Dog Board of Directors
The Copper Dog weight pull, Copper Dash, and closing gate will all move to Laurium. While Calumet plays host to the spectacle, 5th Street becomes a scene of teams howling, and attendees line up along the starting gate on Friday night.
We’ll keep our copper dash, which is the 75-foot chute for the kids to race on the sled with one dog. That’ll also be at the George Gipp. So the Twin Cities dog-powered sports and CD kennels put on this sanctioned worldwide weight pole event. They get dogs and people interested from all around. – Krissy Tepsa, volunteer director, Copper Dog Board of Directors
Copper dog organizers expect to announce more details for teams and volunteers later this fall. Learn more about the Copper Dog on facebook or online with the official race website. There you can find details as the board of directors makes announcements this fall.
