Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association

Two Rivers, Alaska - Home of the finest mushing on Earth!

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Two Rivers 100/200  Sled Dog Race

March 10-13, 2011

TRDMA's "main event" of the season, the Two Rivers 200 is a qualifier for many major long distance races, including the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. 

2011 Finish Order

1   Scott Smith

2   Joel Switzer

3   Abbie West

4   Sarah Love

5   Mark May

6   Sue Ellis

7   Matthew Failor

8   Blake Matray

9   Justin High

10 Tony Angelo

Iris Sutton scratched at Angel Creek for the welfare of her dogs.

ELECTRONIC RACE REGISTRATION FORM

Registered Participants

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 200 mile race is $250. Entry fee for the 100 mile race is $125. Entries postmarked after March 5, 2011 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, plus additional sponsorship donations. The Board of Directors will divide any extra monies that are donated for the purse, as they deem appropriate, before the start of the race.  Total purse will be announced at the bib draw. Payout will be as follows:

              200                            100

1^st:  40%                   1st:   50%                      

2^nd: 30%                   2nd:  30%

3^rd: 15%                   3rd:   20%

4^th: 10%

5^th:   5%

Registration: Completed race entry forms must be postmarked no later than midnight March 5, 2011.  Total entries for the 200 race is limited to 30 teams. Total entries for the 100 race is limited to 20 teams. Once the maximum number of entries is received, a waiting list will be established and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Withdrawal prior to the race start: An entrant withdrawing prior to 12:01 A.M., March 10th will be refunded all but $50 of his or her entry fee. Teams that withdraw after that time will forfeit their entire entry fee.

Mandatory Driver's meeting: Attendance at the drivers' meeting immediately following the bib draw is mandatory. Any driver not in attendance is subject to penalty or disqualification.

Draw for start positions: Start position will be determined by the luck of the draw on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.  @ Two Rivers Lodge, 16 mile Chena Hot Springs Road. A buffet will be available for purchase.  The order of the draw will be determined by  the order entries are received. Race bibs will be distributed at that time.

Awards Banquet: Awards presentations will be held Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 6:00 P.M. at Two Rivers Lodge.  Entry fee provides musher meal at finish banquet.  Additional tickets may be purchased for $30.00.

Race cancellation: If the temperature at the Chatanika Lodge is colder than -44 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:00 A.M on Friday, March 12^th, the race will be cancelled. 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 March 1^st. 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 each checkpoint by handlers before the musher arrives.  TRDMA will not be responsible for delivering drop bags or straw.

Straw will be provided at Pleasant Valley Store. Drivers are responsible for providing their own straw at checkpoints other than Pleasant Valley Store. Straw must be bagged and clearly marked with the driver's name and checkpoint. 

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. PLEASE HAVE THESE WITH YOU AT THE DRIVERS MEETING TO BE CHECKED BY OFFICIALS.

Vet check: Dogs will 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 race officials.

• A handler and dog truck

Mandatory gear will be checked starting at 10:00 A.M. on race day.  Check in at Chatanika Lodge on race day is 9:30am.

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.

All gear and equipment must be in good operating condition or else team will not be allow to race.

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 Noon on Friday, March 12, 2011.  You must check in at Chatanika Lodge by 9:30am.

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 entered in the race will have ten hours of mandatory layover time at checkpoints. Drivers may take their mandatory layovers at any of the two (2) checkpoints in one hour increments to total ten hours. The one-hour increments can be taken in any combination that accumulates to ten hours prior to leaving the Pleasant Valley Store checkpoint on the return trip. Layover time will be rounded down, e.g. an hour and forty minutes will be counted as an hour. Make-up time will be added to adjust for starting times at Pleasant Valley Store. All teams must have completed their mandatory layover plus any adjustments to their time by 8:00 A.M. on Sunday. Any team remaining at the Angel Creek checkpoint after that time will be disqualified.

Checkpoints:

• Pleasant Valley Store: 97 miles from the race start. This is the end of the finish of the 100 mile race.

• Angel Creek: 151 miles from the race start.

• Pleasant Valley Store: 200 miles from race start.

Checkpoint procedure: Every driver must personally check in and out at each 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 the driver. Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association will provide garbage bags at all checkpoints. Handlers are responsible for removing garbage bags from checkpoints. A transfer site (dump) is located at 18 mile Chena Hot Springs Road.  Handlers must assist teams in and out of checkpoints.

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 and leave in harness attached to the towline.

Designated sleeping areas: Sleeping areas for drivers and drivers only will be designated at each checkpoint. A driver has the option of sleeping outside by his or her own team and sled. Only these areas may be used. We cannot guarantee sleeping areas for drivers, come prepared to camp out. If areas become available they will be discussed at the drivers meeting.

Time penalties: All time penalties accrued will be applied to the mandatory layovers 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 (at the 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 Two Rivers 200. 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 designated checkpoints 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:

• Mile 18 CHSR Road Crossing (Approximately 50 miles from Chatanika Lodge.)

• Pleasant Valley Store - 23 mile Chena Hot Springs Road. (Approximately 97 miles from Chatanika Lodge.)

• Angel Creek Lodge (Approximately 151 miles from Chatanika Lodge.)

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 checkpoints 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. Cell phones will not be used unless for emergency purposes only. If a driver is caught using a cell phone during the race for non-emergent purposes they will be disqualified. 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. A lost team must be recovered as quickly as possible by the musher. Motorized assistance will not be allowed, or disqualification will result. Outside assistance will be allowed only if a team is unmanageable, except that handlers must 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. Each musher must treat officials, media, volunteers, and fans with courteous behavior at all times.

200 Mile Race Description

The race begins at Chatanika Lodge at mile 28 on the Steese Highway. The route follows a series of trails and roads to Cleary Summit and over to Iowa Dome before descending into the Little Chena River drainage. After crossing the Little Chena, the trail heads toward Chena Hot Springs Road, crossing it at Mile 18 on CHSR. The trail then meanders west and south to the Chena River. Mushers will then follow the Chena River to the dam. The trail from the dam will turn back north to the Quest Trail where it will join the Rosser trail, to Mullen Slough and will then go counter-clockwise on the Two Rivers Ten Mile loop, coming in to Pleasant Valley Store from the east.

After leaving Pleasant Valley Store, mushers will head down Pleasant Valley Road to the Baseline Trail, taking it back west and then going under Jenny M. Creek Bridge. After crossing under Jenny M. Creek Bridge, the trail will go back to meet the Flattop Mountain Trail. The Flattop Mountain trail runs into the Quest Trail that continues to Angel Creek. The course goes back to Pleasant Valley Store by the same route for the finish. Please be prepared for possible overflow. Wet weather gear is advised.

( THIS TRAIL DESCRIPTION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  UPDATES WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE   www.trdma.org   OR DIRECT NOTIFICATION FOR ENTRIES RECEIVED)