EXCELSIOR, Minn. — The record-setting warmth has made it a hard winter for outdoor event organizers. Several popular activities have already been postponed or canceled, and on Wednesday, the Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby became the latest to join the list.
Klondike Dog Derby founder Bethany Hway announced that the 40-mile race, which begins in downtown Excelsior and extends onto Lake Minnetonka, is canceled this year, saying it was in the best interest of the mushers, sponsors and volunteers.
“Given current conditions and long-term weather forecasts, we determined it is in the best interest of mushers who planned to race this year, our sponsors, and our volunteers to cancel at this time,” said Hway, who is also the vice president and race director, in a statement. “While Minnesota could still give us sub-zero temperatures needed to freeze the lake quickly, plus snow needed to make a trail for the dogs, the odds are not in our favor.”
Officials say there will still be a "Cutest Puppy contest," which will be held on Feb. 3, but the race will have to wait until at least another year, when organizers are eyeing a Feb. 8, 2025.
“For our organization, our sponsors and our volunteers, it’s a bit of an adrenaline ache to have to pull the reins at this point, but we must,” said Klondike Dog Derby co-founder and president Bill Damberg. “But as we do, we have a head start for working on 2025, when we’ll come back stronger and better than ever.”
The news comes one day after officials postponed the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, the longest sled dog race in the contiguous United States.
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