Martin Massicote’s 2022 Iditarod race was memorialized in the book, “La Piste des Braves: Martin Massicotte à la Conquête de l'Iditarod,” or “The Trail of the Brave: Martin Massicotte’s Conquest of the Iditarod,” written by his wife and dog handler, Marie Josée-Dulong. (Photo courtesy of Marie Josée-Dulong)

MARQUETTE — Martin Massicote, last year’s winner of the UP200, is back for another race. He’s no stranger to competition, having mushed in countless sled dog races, including many UP200s plus a go at the Iditarod in Alaska in 2022.

“I am feeling very zen and I am not putting any pressure on myself this year,” said Massicotte. “I have several young dogs on my team and I will do my best with this new, promising generation.”

The U.P.’s unusually snowy winter this year does not faze Massicotte, who is from Saint-Tite in the Canadian province of Quebec.

“Where we live, we always have a lot of snow and I am prepared for the worst conditions. Each year I prepare for races with the same rigor.”

Massicote has been competing in UP200 races going back to 1996, according to his wife and dog handler Marie Josée-Dulong.

“He hasn’t participated every year, but certainly a good dozen times,” said Josée-Dulong.

For Massicotte and Josée-Dulong, the UP200 is a race they especially look forward to.

“The UP200 is special for me because I love the high level of competition, the incredible welcome from the locals and the UP200 committee, the professionalism of the organization and the friendly atmosphere among the mushers,” said Massicotte. “I’d also add the extraordinary and magical ambiance you find at the evening starting line on Washington Street.”

Last year, Masicotte not only won the UP200 race but also won the Tom Cooley Humanitarian Award.

The Tom Cooley Humanitarian award is “an award presented by the race’s veterinarians,” said Josée-Dulong. “This distinction honors the musher and their team of handlers who offered the best care for their dogs, demonstrating constant attention to their health, their comfort, their recovery and their well-being, from the departure to the finish line.”

Masicotte has won this type of award five times.

“My primary mission is to finish with the dogs in good health,” said Masicotte. “They are trained, fed and handled to arrive at the race in peak condition.”

Massicotte competed in the Iditarod in 2022, making him the first Quebequois person to do so. Josée-Dulong wrote a book about his journey to and experience during the Iditarod, titled “La Piste des Braves: Martin Massicotte à la Conquête de l’Iditarod,” or “The Trail of the Brave: Martin Massicotte’s Conquest of the Iditarod.” The book was released in January.

“I dream of (racing in) the Iditarod again, but all of the conditions would have to be right to try the experiment again,” said Massicotte. “At present, the core age group of my team is young. If I think one day that I have a competitive team, then I’ll seriously consider it.”

For now, he’s focused on Friday night’s race.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.