Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog Race resurrected for 2013

By Matt Lorenz

Copperriverrecord.net

The race is on.

Following a disastrous partial running of the CB300 in January — in which the race was canceled less than a third of the way through when teams piled up into a huge logjam and were unable to traverse heavily drifted trails with 40-below nighttime temps between the Meier’s Lake and Sourdough checkpoints — the 2013 running of the marquee mid-distance race and important Iditarod qualifier had been officially canceled.

Many local residents and race supporters were dismayed to learn that the “Toughest 300 miles in Alaska” would not be run in 2013 and efforts have begun to reorganize and rejuvenate the CB300.

Race supporters held an early organizational meeting in Glennallen Nov. 5 to ensure the continuance of the CB300. During these meetings, organizers set up the board of directors, led by Sarah Valentine, and a committee of supporters. The group met again in Glennallen on Nov. 12.

According to Valentine, “Enough people complained about the race being cancelled that a small group of supporters decided to hold a meeting and see if there was enough interest to keep the race alive. As of now, the race is on, but we still have a long way to go.”

Several key positions were also filled during the Nov. 5 meeting. Perhaps most importantly, Jamey Kemp has volunteered to tackle the role of heading up the Trails Committee and working to ensure mushers do not face the same problems with trail conditions encountered during the 2012 CB300.

Lianne John has volunteered to fill another significant role as acting volunteer coordinator and Sarah Valentine will head the board and work on renewing and generating sponsors for this year’s race. Prospective volunteers and/or sponsors can contact the newly formed race committee by email at copperbasin300@gmail.com. The committee is still searching for a race marshall and will need upwards of 150 volunteers to make the 2013 race a success.

The 2013 running of the Copper Basin 300 is scheduled to begin Jan. 12, 2013, in Glennallen, run counter-clockwise, and finish in Glennallen.