FORT KENT, Maine — Martin Massicotte of Saint-Tite, Quebec, was declared winner of the Can-Am’s 250-mile race early Tuesday morning in a social media post by race organizers.
Massicotte finished the race in two days and 33 minutes. In second place, Remy Leduc of Glenwood, New Brunswick, finished with a time of two days, one hour and 29 minutes. And in third place, Jaye Foucher of Wentworth, New Hampshire, finished the race in two days, five hours and six minutes.
This marks Massicotte’s 11th Can-Am victory, as he also won the 250-mile race in 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008 and every race from 2014 to 2019.
He said in a press release issued by race officials that he became optimistic about victory when conditions improved after the Sil-Ver checkpoint, which is the third checkpoint in the 250 race.
“That change in conditions raised my spirit and my morale improved,” he said. “Before then the trail was too powdery and it was difficult. After Syl-ber the trail was very hard packed, fast, it brought up my morale and I could see it in the dogs as they too were excited.”
The 250-mile category, Can-Am’s longest, had only seven participants this year due to other sled dog races getting postponed due to a lack of snow and moved to the same weekend as the Fort Kent event.
Out of the seven mushers in the 250 category, two dropped out of the race — Andre Longchamps of Pont-Rouge, Quebec, and Katherine Langlais of Glenwood, New Brunswick. Langlais made Can-Am history in 2023 by being the first woman to win the race. Langlais had been the most recent champion, as the races in 2024 were canceled due to lack of snow.
Florence Shaw, of Fermont, Quebec, won the 100-mile race on Saturday with a time of 09:03:38. Melodie Beauchemin of Saint-Felix de Dalquier, Quebec, was second in the 100-mile race with a time of 09:13:20 and Keven Lariviere, also of Saint-Felix de Dalquier, came in third at 09:13:52.
In the Can-Am 30 mile category, Michel Bernier of Saint Anselme, Quebec, received the first place prize with a time of 2:46:28. Stephanie Roy of Saint-Anne-de-Madawaska came in second with a time of 2:47:45 and Eric Delisle of Mont-Laurier, Quebec, was third in the 30-mile category with a time of 2:50:05.
The race’s return was a monumental occasion for the town of Fort Kent, which was hit hard by the loss of the 2024 event. The race brings in thousands to the area, and many local businesses depend on the additional income from the sled dog races.
This year, businesses were celebrating the return of the big race. In one case, the Swamp Buck restaurant offers a one-time-only breakfast buffet while giving spectators a place to stool while watching the race on Main Street. And Rock’s Family Diner, also on Main Street, depends on using income from the race to reinvest in the business. The diner also prepares copious amounts of food at the Irving-sponsored tent during the race.
Hotels this year were also booked solid for the race.
This year’s race involved more than 90 sponsors and 400 volunteers. And in spite of steady snow and poor driving conditions, Fort Kent’s Main Street was lined with spectators as far as the eye could see on Saturday morning as the races kicked off.
According to the National Weather Service, the area saw seven inches of snow Saturday.
