Curt Perano of Queensland, NZ heads north out of the Sawbill checkpoint near Tofte, MN with his team of sled dogs during the marathon distance running of the 2011 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. The Beargrease is a sled dog race run every year in northern Minnesota from Duluth to nearly the Canadian border. The marathon distance event, 373 miles in length, is a qualifier for the famous Iditarod, run in Alaska. Photo: Jeff Keacher, Creative Commons license
The Duluth News Tribune is reporting that the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon has cancelled its January 2014 race.
In short, the Beargrease is out of money. Several races over the past few years have been cancelled or delayed due to lack of snow or wet conditions. This has sapped the organization’s reserves. So, the race is taking a year off for organizers to raise money for a 2015 race.
[Race Director Pat Olson] said the Beargrease board will focus on fundraising. It takes about $50,000 to run the marathon and mid-distance races, she said. When asked what the board would do if $50,000 came in today, she said “game on.”
But, the year off also is meant to gauge interest in the event. Olson said the “sport has changed its color.” Mushing has become more expensive, especially for those traveling from out of state. She said a 2014 race could be held, but it probably couldn’t offer the incentive of a purse.
“We want a good purse,” Olson said.
“Perhaps the interest in the sport has declined,” she said, noting that the Beargrease relies on a small group of passionate volunteers.
Olson said changes could come to the race, including the idea of running it in stages, where mushers rest overnight. But that setup would exclude it as a qualifying event for the most famous race, the Iditarod in Alaska.
The Beargrease is one of the most arduous sled dog races in the world, Olson said. It’s often mentioned in the same breath as the Iditarod.
“We have a premier event,” she said. “We take pride in that.”
Here’s hoping people can make the race happen in the future. The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is an iconic part of winter in northern Minnesota. I remember watching the start of the race on Channel 6 as a kid and know many folks who make the trip every year to see the dogs race.
(h/t Bob Collins, MPR 5×8. Welcome back, Bob!)
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