St. John Valley Times - Wednesday, February 16, 2005
by Blake Lagasse
FORT KENT. Excitement is growing for the 13th Annual Can-Am Crown Sled Dog races to be held from March 5 to 8. The event, which includes 250, 60, and 30-mile races, is experiencing a level of participation that it has never seen.
President of the Can-Am Bpard of Directors Rita Cannan says the highest participation level the race had seen was in 2003 when there were 86 entrants out of 90 possible teams competing in the race. This year seems. to be even more hopeful as the 250-mile race is full at the moment and even has a waiting list of six teams. Cannan projected that the race will most likely be full this year.
The Can-Am Board of Directors has limited the three races to a maximum of 30 teams to ensure manageable events. Cannan associates this boost in participation with the quality and organization of the race. "Our race, the Can-Am, is one of .the best organized and most professional races in the Northeast and Quebec area," she explains. Cannan also believes that word of mouth within the dog sledding circle has helped increase the CanAm's popularity. "Because we treat the mushers with respect for what they're doing," she says, the Can-Am can grow in participation and renown.
The races start on Saturday, March 6. The 60 The 60mile race is the first to start at 8 a.m. followed- by the 30mile race at 9 a.m., and - the 250-mile race at 10 a.m.. All races start on Main Street in Fort Kent. The 30-mile race is estimated to have finishers after 12 p.m. and throughout the afternoon at the Lonesome Pine Ski lodge, while the 60-mile race is expected to have finishers coming in throughout the afternoon and evening at the Lonesome Pine Ski Lodge. On Sunday, March 6, at 8 a.m., an awards ceremony and brunch will be held at the Lonesome Pine Ski Lodge.for both the 30- and 60-mile races. Finishers for the CanAm 250 are expected to come in throughout late Monday and Tuesday with an awards ceremony being held at 6 p.m. at the Lonesome Pine Ski Lodge on Tuesday, March 8.
Events such as the CanAm, Eagle Lake 100, and the Biathlon World Cup are helping to solidify Fort Kent and Northern Maine as a community for professional winter sports, says Cannan. She uses the analogy of a snowball gathering snow and speed as it rolls down a hill to describe the boost of activity in winter sports in- Northern Maine.
The Can-Am 250, sponsored by Irving Woodlands, is also a qualifying race for the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest. sled dog races. "We are qualifiers for these races because we follow the guidelines the Iditarod and Yukon Quest have," says Cannan. Although these races offer guidelines for qualifying races to follow, the Can-Am has some freedom with their rules. The rules and guidelines of the qualifiers include veterinary checks and overall safety of the race. She also credits the Can-Am's status as a qualifying race to the "great volunteers and board of directors," who show "a lot of expertise and organizational skills."
The volunteer base for the Can-Am has been huge in the past, says Cannan, and it is expected to be just as big this year. Although only approximately 80 volunteers may attend the volunteer meetings held before the race, a week before the race "they seem to come out of the wood works," says Cannan.
On March 5, the first day of the race, Cannan is expecting approximately 500 volunteers to help at checkpoints, starts and finishes and with about 90 teams of dogs to handle, a large volunteer base is necessary.
A change for this year's Can-Am is that the second checkpoint changed from Big Machias to Rocky Brook. Canaan says this change was because Irving Woodlands relocated and acquired facilities at Rock.y Brook and let the Can-Am use them for no cost. She also remarks that the facilities are bigger, have more amenities for mushers and volunteers, and can accommodate participants of the race properly. Irving Woodlands will also be donating food for the race and has made a three-year commitment to the race for $20,000 a year.
The 60-mile race has been sponsored in memory of Willard Jalbert, Jr.; while the 30-mile race is sponsored by Pepsi/Budweiser, a "long time supporter of the CanAm," says Canaan.
The "Finishing Touch" sponsor is Fairpoint New England and they have provided a purse of $4,000 which is to be split between all finishers of the 250.
Stage sponsors, who provide $1,000 for mushers who reach a checkpoint first, include Daigle Oil, Dead River, New England Dodge Dealers, M.S. Walker/Allen's Coffee Brandy, and Thibodeau's Insurance.
Canaan also acknowledges key local sponsors who are instrumental in putting the race on. "Without them, it would not be possible," says Canaan.