July 22, 2020
Perhaps the most critical decision made at the July 15, 2020 UP Sled Dog Association board meeting is also one of the sadder choices weve had to make and that is to forego the UP200 Dryland Dash for this year. Since its inception in 2016, the UP200 Dryland Dash has steadily built a good reputation. This ISDRA sanctioned event received an excellent rating in all classes. The venue at Negaunee Township (MI) park has proven to be a welcoming, comfortable and safe environment for the event and we were looking forward to another great race this October.
Read MoreJune 29, 2020
Love the sled dog races? We are looking for one more person to run for an open UPSDA Board position. The Board meets monthly and a Zoom link is usually available for Board members who need to attend remotely. Were a friendly, hardworking group of folks come join us! Email us for details.
Read MoreJune 29, 2020
Well have the UPSDA Annual meeting and Board elections on Wednesday, July 15th from 6:00 8:00 pm. We have a room at Holiday Inn MQT that will accommodate about 18 people with social distancing. We need to bring our own water bottles (they cant provide water). Please bring a mask. Our Zoom account will be active so those of you from a distance can participate that way. Email us for a Zoom link.Read More
May 18, 2020
We on the UPSDA Board are grateful to have had such spectacular events in the past year! From the UP200 Dryland Dash in October through the UP200Midnight RunJack Pine 30 Sled Dog Championship races in February, we experienced the excitement and camaraderie among mushers, officials, volunteers, and spectators. We also experienced the enthusiasm of our many sponsors, donors, start/finish and checkpoint hosts who once again contributed so much to making these events happen. Thank You!
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2020
Ryan Anderson has won the 2020 UP200 Sled Dog race at the Lower Harbor in Marquette, MI. Ryan finished at 10:01:56 am on Sunday, Feb 16. Ryan Redington was the second musher to cross the finish line at 10:35:22 am. In third place was Martin Massicotte at 11:02:15 am. Mushers will continue to finish at the Lower Harbor until the 2 to 3 pm this afternoon. There is still time to go see the musher and the real stars, the dogs!!
Read MoreFebruary 15, 2020
Joann Fortier is the winner of the 2020 Midnight Run finishing at 9:47:13 am on Saturday, February 15 at the Ojibwa Casino in Marquette. Second place is Joanns husband Larry less than 2 minutes behind his wife, finishing at 9:48:54 am. In third place, we welcome Mike Bestgen back to the Midnight Run, finishing at 10:06:06 am. Midnight Run mushers will continue to finish at Ojibwa Casino east of Marquette throughout the morning until all 20 mushers have finished.
Read MoreFebruary 15, 2020
Susan Serafini Hancock, MI, won the 2020 Jack Pine 30 Sled Dog race in Gwinn, MI with a time of 1:42:04. Second place was Jerry Trudell from Calumet, MI in 1:42:38 and the 3rd musher was Jesse Quayle of Champion, MI in 1:44:20. Congratulations to the 15 mushers who finished the Jack Pine 30!
Read MoreFebruary 13, 2020
P12 Films, Iditarod Trail Committee, and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon have partnered up to present anEXCLUSIVE 3-FILM Educational Bundlethat takes you through a unique experience of the dog mushing world.This collection includes the feature filmThe Great Alaskan Raceand two short documentaries: IditarodsWhy Do They Run?andLure of the Northproduced by Jonathan Chapman and presented by The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.
Read MoreJanuary 19, 2020
Help us celebrate our 30th anniversary by becoming a member. Memberships help support the UPSDA by providing funds for trail and race expenses. Choose the Membership tab on our website and select the membership level that suits you best. Secure your membership via PayPal (can use a credit card or PayPal account) or by check mailed to UPSDA, PO Box 15, Marquette MI 49855. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address. Join the UPSDA today!
Read MoreNovember 08, 2019
Working dogs were featured in an afternoon session of the Fresh Coast Film Festival Family Program on October 19, 2019. A sled dog, search and rescue dog, and therapy dog wagged happily with participants who gathered to learn more about these working dogs. Darlene Walch, UPSDA President, was joined by musher Lynne Witte and her sled dog Snow White to show and tell about the sport of mushing and the awesome dogs who run the trails. Thank you, Lynne, for sharing your time, expertise, and beautiful dog!
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