Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association
Two Rivers, Alaska - Home of the finest mushing on Earth!
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TRDMA Solstice 100 Sled Dog Race
THERE WILL BE NO 50 MILE RACE THIS YEAR
Celebrate the Winter Solstice by racing your eight to 12-dog-team 100 miles through the beautiful Chena River State Recreation Area. The race begins at Pleasant Valley Store, runs to Angel Creek Lodge, and then returns to Pleasant Valley.
PRE-RACE RULES
Qualifications: All drivers must be members in good standing with the TRDMA. Drivers must be at least 18 years of age by the start of the race. No one convicted of animal abuse or neglect will be eligible to enter the race. TRDMA may honor censure by any other sled dog racing organization.
Fees: Entry fee for the 100 mile race is $100 for TRDMA members and $120 for non-members. Entries postmarked after December 15th will have a $25 late fee assessed, payable at the Drivers’ meeting.
Purse: Minimum purse will be 50% of the total entry fees received in each class. Payout will be as follows:
Solstice 100
1st: 50%
2nd: 30%
3rd: 20%
Registration: Completed race entry forms must be postmarked no later than midnight December 15th, 2009. Late entries will be accepted until the start of the drivers’ meeting.
Withdrawal prior to the race start: An entrant withdrawing prior to the race start will be refunded his or her entry fee. Teams that withdraw after that time will forfeit their entire entry fee.
Draw for start position: Start position will be determined by luck of the draw on Saturday, December 19th, 2009 at 9:30 A.M. at Pleasant Valley Store. The order of the draw will be determined by the order entries are received. Race bibs will be distributed at that time.
Mandatory Driver's meeting: Attendance at the drivers' meeting is mandatory. Any driver not in attendance is subject to penalty or disqualification. The drivers’ meeting will be held immediately following the bib draw.
Awards: The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will have their check waiting for them at Pleasant Valley Store.
Race cancellation: If the temperature at the Pleasant Valley Store is colder than -44 degrees Fahrenheit at 9:00 A.M on Saturday, the 19th of December, the race will be postponed or cancelled at the Race Marshall’s/drivers’ discretion. When in doubt, call Pleasant Valley Store for information (488-9501). After the race is started, it will continue regardless of temperature.
In the event of low/no snow conditions, the race will be cancelled no later than December 15th. If possible, a different race trail may be substituted if conditions support an alternate route. Notice of race cancellation will be posted on the TRDMA web site and a best-effort attempt will be made to contact registered drivers by telephone and/or email.
Food drops:
Drivers are responsible for providing their own drop bags. Drop bags must:
Be clearly marked with the driver's name and checkpoint.
Not exceed 60 pounds in weight.
Be packed securely enough to withstand handling and transport to the
checkpoints.
Be delivered to the checkpoint by each musher’s handler before the musher arrives at the checkpoint.
Straw will not be provided at the halfway food drop/checkpoint handler
Handlers may deliver drop bags and straw to the checkpoint during the race, but before the musher arrives.
Proof of vaccinations required: All dogs must have current rabies, distemper, and parvo vaccinations with proof available to be presented to the race veterinarian upon request prior to the start of the race. Copies of rabies certificates and purchase receipts for distemper/parvo vaccines are acceptable as proof.
Vet check: Dogs may be checked for health and fitness by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician starting at 10:00 A.M. on race day. Dogs considered unfit will not be allowed to start the race.
GENERAL RACE RULES
Mandatory gear:
· Cooker with three gallon capacity
· Cooking gear, including fuel sufficient for at least one feeding
· Food sufficient for at least one feeding of driver and team
· Cold weather sleeping bag
· Hand ax with an overall length of at least 22 inches
· A pair of snowshoes with bindings and at least 250 square inches of surface area
· Eight booties per dog
· Headlamp
· Snow hook
· Cable gang lines or picket lines to stake dogs at checkpoints or other campsites
· Assigned starting bib which, must be visible at all times
· Vet book, which will be provided by the race officials.
· Mushers must have both a handler and a dog truck
Mandatory gear will be checked starting at 10:00 A.M on race day.
All mandatory gear, except booties, food or fuel must be in possession at sign-in at each checkpoint. Lost mandatory gear must be replaced prior to signing in or a penalty will be assessed for each item. Drivers must have all mandatory gear when leaving a checkpoint.
Keep the trail clear: Drivers resting their team must keep the trail clear of their dogs, food and gear at all times, i.e. you must not interfere or obstruct the passage of other teams and must camp at least 10 feet off the trail.
One driver per team: Only one driver per team.
Following the trail: All teams must follow the trail as marked. Deviations/shorter routes will be assessed a time penalty. Every effort will be made to keep trail markers in place, but TRDMA cannot be responsible for acts of nature or malicious acts. Two stakes on the side of the trail the turn is on will mark turns; e.g. a left turn will have two markers side-by-side on the left hand side of the trail; a right hand turn will have markers on the right. Intersections that are to be traveled straight through will have a single marker on the right and left side of the trail.
Trail right-of-way: When one team approaches to within 50 feet of another team, the team behind shall have the immediate right-of-way upon demand, except within one mile of the finish line. The driver ahead must stop his or her dogs and hold them to the best of his or her ability for a maximum of one minute or until the other team has passed, whichever occurs first. The passed team must remain behind at least five minutes before demanding trail right-of-way.
Littering prohibited: A minimum thirty minute time penalty will be assessed for littering on the trail or at checkpoints. Booties are considered litter.
Number of dogs: Drivers must start the race with no fewer than eight (8) dogs and no more than twelve (12). Drivers must finish with no fewer than five (5) dogs. No dogs can be added to a team after the start.
Dog marking: The Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association may mark all dogs leaving the starting line.
No loose leaders: Loose leaders are not allowed. A driver must make every effort to secure a dog that becomes loose.
RUNNING THE RACE
Race start: Race will start at 11 A.M. on Saturday, December 19th, 2009.
Starting interval: Teams will leave the starting line at two-minute intervals. Any team that cannot leave the starting line within one minute of its designated time will be required to start two minutes after the scheduled departure of the final team. Any team that cannot leave the starting line within 30 minutes of the last team's scheduled departure will be disqualified.
Mandatory layovers: Teams are required to take a 4-hour mandatory layover at halfway checkpoint. Make-up time will be added to adjust for starting times at the checkpoint. All teams must have completed their mandatory layover plus any adjustments to their time by Midnight on Saturday. Any team remaining at the halfway checkpoint after that time will be disqualified.
Checkpoints:
· The halfway checkpoint is approximately 50 miles from the race start.
Checkpoint procedure: Every driver must personally check in and out at the checkpoint. A driver is not officially checked in until he or she has all mandatory gear verified. A driver's checkpoint campsite must be clean of all straw, debris, etc. Handlers are allowed to clean the checkpoint campsites, but drivers are ultimately responsible for insuring campsites are clean. Handlers must start to clean the campsite within a half-hour of the driver leaving the checkpoint. Unsatisfactory cleanup will result in a penalty being assessed to the driver. The Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association will provide garbage bags at the halfway Checkpoint. Handlers are responsible for removing garbage bags from the halfway checkpoint.
Dogs Entering and Leaving Checkpoints: Drivers must check in with all of dogs they left the previous checkpoint with. All dogs must leave checkpoints in harness and attached to the towline. A dog may arrive at a checkpoint in the sled but must leave in harness and attached to the towline.
Designated sleeping areas: Sleeping areas for drivers and drivers only will be designated at the checkpoint. A driver has the option of sleeping outside by his or her own team and sled. Only these areas may be used.
Time penalties: All time penalties accrued will be applied to the mandatory layover or at the finish.
Protests: A driver may protest any action of a competitor that he/she feels is contrary to the intent of these rules. To be recognized as a legitimate protest, the infraction(s) observed by a musher must be presented to a race official in writing at the musher’s earliest convenience (next checkpoint preferably), and in no case more than twenty-four (24) hours after a musher finishes the race.
Appeals: Drivers may appeal Race officials’ decisions or penalties assessed by submitting, in writing, an account of the circumstances surrounding the decision or penalty being appealed. The appeal must be submitted to a race official no more than 24 hours after the incident or driver’s race finish, whichever is later. An Appeals Board will be convened within 24 hours of the appeal being received. The Board will consist of an Association Director, a Rules Committee member, a Race committee member and, if veterinary issues are involved, a Race Vet. An informal hearing will be held at that time. Decisions of the Appeals Board will be final.
DOG CARE
Mistreatment prohibited: Mistreatment of dogs will cause immediate disqualification from the Solstice 100. Such an action will also be reported to all major race organizations. The race marshal will have absolute authority over this matter.
Signal whips: Signal whips will not be permitted.
Dog drops: Injured, sick or fatigued dogs must be dropped at the halfway checkpoint only. Drivers are responsible for their own dropped dogs. Drivers must have the means to safely carry dogs in the sled bag. Dogs cannot be led behind a sled. Drivers will be responsible for any veterinary fees incurred by an injured, sick, or expired dog.
Designated dog drops:
· Halfway checkpoint (Approximately 50 miles from the finish line at Valley Center.)
· Drugs and drug testing: No injectable drugs may be used unless administered by the race veterinarian. Oral or topical drugs that may suppress the signs of illness or injury may not be carried or used. No drugs or artificial means may be used to drive the dogs beyond their natural ability. Race officials may require urine or blood samples for random drug testing. Drivers will be required to cooperate with race officials to accomplish the gathering of samples.
Expired dogs: Any dog that expires during the race for any reason must be taken to the next checkpoint or returned to the checkpoint last passed and submitted to the race marshal, a judge, or a race veterinarian. A licensed veterinary pathologist or veterinarian will perform a necropsy on all expired dogs. The driver will be responsible for necropsy expenses. The death of any dog may result in the disqualification of the driver, and/or prohibition from entering future races.
Tampering: No driver may tamper with another driver's dogs, food, or gear.
Sleds: Only one sled may be used during the race. Sled must have brush bow, sled bag, and braking device. Any repairs must be done exclusively by the driver. No significant alterations as to weight or size will be allowed. Sled and equipment must be in good repair. Equipment will be inspected before the musher will be permitted to start the race.
Race assistance: No planned help is allowed in the race, except that drop bags will be delivered to the checkpoint by race officials. No driver may receive outside assistance between or at checkpoints unless an emergency exists. The driver must not accept assistance in the feeding or care of his or her team or for sled repairs.
No driver will accept any assistance from a motorized vehicle, including pacing. A lost team will not be disqualified if the driver regains control of it, provided the team and driver complete the course and comply with rules, including checkpoint requirements. A driver may receive assistance from another driver in recovering a lost team. Motorized assistance will not be allowed, or disqualification will result.
Outside assistance will be allowed only if a team is unmanageable, except that handlers may help in and out of a checkpoint. The race marshal's decision concerning this will be final.
Withdrawal from the race: A driver wishing to withdraw may do so only at the checkpoints.
Courteous behavior: All drivers shall conduct themselves in a courteous and honorable manner at all times. Officials, media, volunteers and fans are all equal participants in the race and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain a courteous rapport with them at all times.
Solstice 100 Mile Race Description: The trail route departs west out of Pleasant Valley Store to Pleasant Valley Road and then onto the Winter Trail, then left onto the Beer Can Trail, left onto the Rossitor Trail, through the Pheasant Farm Road Slough, back onto the winter trail to the 27 mile Chena Hot Springs Road crossing. This loop will be approximately 20 miles, then after the road crossing you will head straight into Angel Creek Lodge where a mandatory 4 hour layover and time adjustments will be made for the 100 milers. The run from the road crossing to Angel Creek Lodge is approximately 30 miles. Angel Creek Lodge will be where the 50 milers end their race. Trail will be run in reverse back to Pleasant Valley Store. Pleasant Valley Road will be the start of no man's land. Trail may change at anytime due to conditions.
