EAGLE LAKE, Maine — 11 a.m. on January 24 will mark the start of the Eagle Lake 100, a dog sled race that will be celebrating its fifth anniversary. “Our race starts on Saturday, but teams will begin arriving in Eagle Lake on Friday,” said Race Coordinator Tenley Bennett. “There is a mandatory pre-race meeting for the drivers as well as a 5 p.m. spaghetti supper at the Eagle Lake elementary school, which will be open to the public for a reasonable fee,” she added.
The race will be at the Eagle Lake Public Beach that is right off Route 11, a well-known area according to Bennett.
“Following the start of the race, we have a number of other festivities going on,” she said. “Specifically, there’s going to be a MADBOMBER® look alike contest and a snow shoe wiffle ball tournament,” she added. People can enter either event by contacting Dave Kelso beforehand at 834-5354, or they can register in person on Saturday.
“They need a five-man teams for the wiffle ball tournament,” said Kelso. “They need to wear snow shoes during the games.”
“We have two teams, possibly three, already signed up,” Kelso added, “because of last week’s weather, I think a lot of people have been waiting to sign up, but we can easily accommodate about five teams.”
According to Kelso, the winner of both events will receive a plaque.
“We’re really interested in getting area businesses and local groups to come and support the town of Eagle Lake and the greater Fort Kent area,” Kelso said.
According to Bennett, this year’s main sponsors are long time supporter Irving Woodlands LLC and first year supporter MADBOMBER®.
“As a race organization, we’re so grateful for Irving woodlands LLC for sponsoring the race for past five years,” Bennett said, “previously, they had been sponsoring us with $5,000; this year their sponsorship increased by another $5,000. MADBOMBER® hats, which is the maker of the ‘original’ rabbit fur hats, is a new sponsor this year, and we want to welcome them,” Bennett added, “with their additional contribution, we were able to increase our purse to $10,000.”
Aside from the annual 100-mile race, this year marks the start of the 30-mile race, which will be a permanent fixture in the Eagle Lake 100, according to Bennett. Whereas the 100-mile race will finish back on the Eagle Lake Public Beach, the 30-mile race finish line will be at the Eagle Lake Recreation Center, which is about a mile from the beach.
Participants in the 30-mile race are expected to start crossing the finish line around 3:30 p.m. Participants in the 100-mile race are expected to start crossing the finish line around midnight on Sunday morning.
“Personally, I think that watching the mushers cross the finish line is exciting to see,” said Bennett, “winning a race is exciting for the mushers, but the jubilation on some of their faces, especially the rookies, it shows you why these people do it.”
“When the cue is called out that a sled is coming towards the finish line, everyone rushes out to greet them and it’s a very different kind of excitement,” she added. “We’re always happy to see all the teams finally finish, and the race isn’t over until they do; there are no losers in dog sled racing. To have come, competed, and finished is a triumph in itself.”
“For safety reasons, the race put in mandatory resting periods, said Chief Veterinarian for the Eagle Lake 100 Dr. Nick Pesut of the Presque Isle Animal Hospital. “From the start of the race, the dogs have 50 miles to go before the mandatory rest periods, but the built in resting time is in addition to any recovery time the mushers give their dogs along the trail,” he added.
“If you’ve ever been to the starting gate before the race, these dogs are excited,” he added, “they’re so eager to get started that some will have four feet off of the ground; based on that, I’d say that the dogs really enjoy it.”
Though the weather may be a daunting factor in this weekend’s race, cold conditions may be worse for the humans than the dogs, according to Dr. Pesut.
“There are some issues, like frostbite, that may present themselves during extremely cold weather,” said Dr. Pesut, “many dogs wear booties to protect their feet, but other parts can be susceptible if there are strong winds in addition to harsh temperatures.”
At various points throughout the weekend, the dogs will be examined by veterinarians checking the dogs’ hydration, heart rate, temperature, and any lameness in order to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves and to ensure the health and well being of the animals.
The mandatory resting point will be at Moose Point Camps, where mushers will feed and bed the animals comfortably before seeking comfort of their own. For the brief down time the mushers do get, they will be provided with a warm place to rest and a warm meal compliments of Moose Point Camps.
“It’s really nice for the mushers,” said Bennett, “after the dogs are situated, they can go into the cabin and get chicken stew, ployes, and some rest.”
The race headquarters will be at the Eagle Lake Public Beach, where spectators can drop by throughout the race to find the most up-to-date listings.
Any questions regarding the race and racing events can be directed toward Tenley Bennett, who can be reached at (207) 444-5207.
The race will be at the Eagle Lake Public Beach that is right off Route 11, a well-known area according to Bennett.
“Following the start of the race, we have a number of other festivities going on,” she said. “Specifically, there’s going to be a MADBOMBER® look alike contest and a snow shoe wiffle ball tournament,” she added. People can enter either event by contacting Dave Kelso beforehand at 834-5354, or they can register in person on Saturday.
“They need a five-man teams for the wiffle ball tournament,” said Kelso. “They need to wear snow shoes during the games.”
“We have two teams, possibly three, already signed up,” Kelso added, “because of last week’s weather, I think a lot of people have been waiting to sign up, but we can easily accommodate about five teams.”
According to Kelso, the winner of both events will receive a plaque.
“We’re really interested in getting area businesses and local groups to come and support the town of Eagle Lake and the greater Fort Kent area,” Kelso said.
According to Bennett, this year’s main sponsors are long time supporter Irving Woodlands LLC and first year supporter MADBOMBER®.
“As a race organization, we’re so grateful for Irving woodlands LLC for sponsoring the race for past five years,” Bennett said, “previously, they had been sponsoring us with $5,000; this year their sponsorship increased by another $5,000. MADBOMBER® hats, which is the maker of the ‘original’ rabbit fur hats, is a new sponsor this year, and we want to welcome them,” Bennett added, “with their additional contribution, we were able to increase our purse to $10,000.”
Aside from the annual 100-mile race, this year marks the start of the 30-mile race, which will be a permanent fixture in the Eagle Lake 100, according to Bennett. Whereas the 100-mile race will finish back on the Eagle Lake Public Beach, the 30-mile race finish line will be at the Eagle Lake Recreation Center, which is about a mile from the beach.
Participants in the 30-mile race are expected to start crossing the finish line around 3:30 p.m. Participants in the 100-mile race are expected to start crossing the finish line around midnight on Sunday morning.
“Personally, I think that watching the mushers cross the finish line is exciting to see,” said Bennett, “winning a race is exciting for the mushers, but the jubilation on some of their faces, especially the rookies, it shows you why these people do it.”
“When the cue is called out that a sled is coming towards the finish line, everyone rushes out to greet them and it’s a very different kind of excitement,” she added. “We’re always happy to see all the teams finally finish, and the race isn’t over until they do; there are no losers in dog sled racing. To have come, competed, and finished is a triumph in itself.”
“For safety reasons, the race put in mandatory resting periods, said Chief Veterinarian for the Eagle Lake 100 Dr. Nick Pesut of the Presque Isle Animal Hospital. “From the start of the race, the dogs have 50 miles to go before the mandatory rest periods, but the built in resting time is in addition to any recovery time the mushers give their dogs along the trail,” he added.
“If you’ve ever been to the starting gate before the race, these dogs are excited,” he added, “they’re so eager to get started that some will have four feet off of the ground; based on that, I’d say that the dogs really enjoy it.”
Though the weather may be a daunting factor in this weekend’s race, cold conditions may be worse for the humans than the dogs, according to Dr. Pesut.
“There are some issues, like frostbite, that may present themselves during extremely cold weather,” said Dr. Pesut, “many dogs wear booties to protect their feet, but other parts can be susceptible if there are strong winds in addition to harsh temperatures.”
At various points throughout the weekend, the dogs will be examined by veterinarians checking the dogs’ hydration, heart rate, temperature, and any lameness in order to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves and to ensure the health and well being of the animals.
The mandatory resting point will be at Moose Point Camps, where mushers will feed and bed the animals comfortably before seeking comfort of their own. For the brief down time the mushers do get, they will be provided with a warm place to rest and a warm meal compliments of Moose Point Camps.
“It’s really nice for the mushers,” said Bennett, “after the dogs are situated, they can go into the cabin and get chicken stew, ployes, and some rest.”
The race headquarters will be at the Eagle Lake Public Beach, where spectators can drop by throughout the race to find the most up-to-date listings.
Any questions regarding the race and racing events can be directed toward Tenley Bennett, who can be reached at (207) 444-5207.
