"The Toughest Race above the Arctic Circle"
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Kobuk
440 Racing Association "The Toughest Race above the Arctic Circle" |
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2011
Race Rules
2011 Kobuk 440 rules PART 1: DRIVER QUALIFICATION 1.1 No musher under 18 years of age will be allowed to compete. 1.2 The Race Marshall may refuse the entry of any musher at the drawing or before the race, if, in the opinion of the judges or marshal, the condition of the driver and/or his/her equipment constitutes a hazard and/or delaying factor to himself/herself or other entrants in the race. 1.3 Entry fee is $540.00 . There will be a late fee of $300.00 after the 1st of April. 1.4 There must be at least 4 entrants at the drawing in order to hold a race. 1.5 Race will not be held if the ambient temperature is colder than –30F or –35F wind-chill. PART 2: CONDITIONS FOR RACING 2.1 Each musher must attend mandatory pre-race held after drawing and post race “musher meeting” prior to banquet. 2.2 Each team must have a sled or toboggan equipped with a brush bow, operating foot brake, and hook. 2.3 The following items are required on person or in the sled at the starting line: *1. All-weather parka (recommended 40 above to 40 below) *2 Tarp or sled bag *3. Axe *4. Chain or cable for dropping dogs (5) min. required *5. Headlight or flashlight 6. 20 lbs. Dog food *7. Sleeping bag 8. Four (4) booties per dog *9. Musher’s Log Book A check of the items will be conducted by the Race Officials at the start of the race. Asterisked (*) items may be checked at his discretion during the race and shall be checked at the finish line. Note – Straw will be provided by K440 at Ambler, Kiana, Selawik, and Noorvik. 2.4 Each musher must enter with no more than twelve (12) dogs, and cannot drop more than seven (7) dogs. The first three dogs will be shipped back to Kotzebue at the expense of K440A. However, the musher will be charged $50.00 per dog for the remainder of dogs dropped. The musher must finish with no less than five (5) dogs. Official dog drops are located in Noorvik, Kiana, Selawik, Ambler. 2.5 Dog food drops that will be shipped by K440A, must be delivered to the FBX Hangar, 5PM April 12 , 2011 K440A will not be responsible for food drops delivered after the scheduled time. Racers must make their own arrangements for shipping food drops after this deadline. All food drops must be received in the checkpoints prior to the race start. 2.6 Each musher of each team starting the race shall be the only musher thereof during race. PART 3: RACE RULES 3.1 The race will start at 4:40 pm on the ice in front of the Eskimo Building. It will be a mass start unless otherwise instructed. 3.2 The designated checkpoints will be Noorvik, Kiana, Ambler, Shungnak, Kobuk, Shungnak, Ambler, Selawik, Noorvik and Kotzebue. 3.3 There will be a mandatory 20 hours total layover time at the designated checkpoints of the musher’s discretion. The musher will be responsible for signing in and signing out at the designated checkpoints that he/she chooses to layover. K440A will provide a log book that each musher is required to carry on his/her person throughout the race. Log-in and Log-out times must have a Race Official or designee’s signature. 3.4 No musher will be permitted to have outside assistance during the race: 1. Mushers must provide as many handlers as are required to keep their teams under control at the starting point. 2. Only the musher is allowed to handle, feed, and care for their dogs. Hot water will be available at each checkpoint for musher’s use. 3. A team and driver must complete the entire race trail including checking in at all required checkpoints. A driverless team or loose dong may be stopped and secured by anyone. The driver may recover his/her team either on foot, with assistance from another musher or mechanized vehicle and continue the race. Motorized assistance must be reported to an official at the next checkpoint. If mechanized help is used and advantage has been gained, the Race Marshal may impose appropriate sanctions. 4. No pacing or trailing by snow machines is allowed. 5. At no time are snow machines allowed to carry dog food or any items for the musher. 6. Musher/dog items to be returned to Kotzebue, may be dropped in Ambler and Kiana. Items must be packaged/bagged and clearly marked with musher name. These items will be flown to Kotzebue by K440A, and must be picked up at the K440 checkpoint . K440A will not be responsible for loss or damage. 3.5 Every musher must follow the official course of the race under penalty of time or disqualification, depending upon the severity of the violation. The B M B Short cut is the trail. 3.6 No force may be used to control dogs in the race, at the starting line, or in the holding area. Beating or abuse of a dog must be distinguished from cuffing or appropriate discipline of a dog. No whips will be allowed. The following kinds of force will be cause for immediate disqualification: 1. Kicking a dog 2. Striking a dog with any rigid object 3. Beating of a dog in any form, including picking up and throwing a dog to the ground. 3.7 Expired dogs will become the property of K440A for the purpose of performing a necropsy. Any prize monies will be held until a necropsy is done. If necropsy shows musher abuse, musher forfeits all earning and is banned from K440A races for 5 years. 3.8 A musher will be responsible for his/her team in the event any dog in his team becomes aggressive and causes damage to another team. The musher with the team with the aggressive dog will be on official ruling responsible for financial compensation of all medical and transportation expenses to repair all damages caused by his/her animal. If the musher does not comply with this ruling, he/she will be banned from ALL K440A races in the future. The musher with the damaged dog or dogs will inform K440A when this ruling has been complied with. Additionally, the Race Marshall, at his/her discretion, can remove an overly aggressive dog or dogs from any team he/she decides they are a threat or hazardous to other dogs or drivers in the race. 3.9 Dogs may be dropped at the official checkpoints (Noorvik, Kiana, Selawik, Ambler). Dropped dogs must be picked up by the musher or designee no later than 12:00 PM Monday April 18. K440A will assume no responsibility after that time. 3.10 When one team overtakes another, the team behind shall have the right-of-way upon demand: the musher ahead must stop his/her dogs such that the team behind may easily pass. In the event that the team passed hangs on for three minutes or one mile, he/she shall have the right to demand the trail again; but he/she must not pass for any reason for three minutes or one mile. 3.11 The passing rule, (above), is suspended in “No Man’s Land” established for each checkpoint/village putting up a purse, (to be announced at the Musher’s meeting after the drawings for positions). “No Man’s Land” for Kotzebue is the incoming Kotzebue portage. 3.12 The first part of the lead dog which crosses the finish line will mark the racer’s finish time. 3.13 All entrants must finish within 36 hours of the leader in order to be an official finisher. 3.14 Every person entering or driving a team in the race will be required to conduct himself/herself in a sportsmanship-like, fair and honorable manner, under penalty of forfeiture of prize, and racing privileges for up to five (5) years. 3.15 Drug Use Rule – No injectable, oral or topical drug which may suppress the signs of illness or injury may be used on a dog. A musher may not inject any substance into their dogs. No other drugs or artificial means may be used to drive a dog or cause a dog to perform or attempt to perform beyond its natural ability. Drugs which are not permitted include but are not limited to: Narcotic, Nystads (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), Stimulants, or Steroids. 3.18 No basting of dogs is allowed. PART 4: RACE OFFICIALS, PENALTIES AND APPEALS 4.1 There shall be a Race Marshall, Race Judges, Vet(s), and Timekeepers. All officials of the race will be identified at the drawing. The Race Marshall or designee will be present at the start and finish line for all official starters and finishers of the race. 4.2 All officials of the race are under the jurisdiction of the Race Marshall. 4.3 Any protests of the race results by a musher must be made by said musher within one hour of said mushers finish. The Race Marshall’s decision on the protest shall be final unless appealed. Only mushers may lodge a protest. 4.4 The Race Marshall’s decision on a protest may be appealed to the Board of Directors. Such appeal must be made to a board member within one hour of the Race Marshall’s decision, upon receipt of $200.00 fee for the appeal by the complainant. The Board of Director’s decision will be final. The fee is refundable if the appeal is in the complainant’s favor. AWARDS: Prize money will be given out at the banquet. PRIZE WINNERS MUST BE PRESENT TO ACCEPT THEIR PRIZES. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN THE PRIZE BEING FORFEITED. (this rule will be waived if the entrant is involved in a verifiable medical emergency.) Good luck to all mushers and have a great race! Trail route ODD YEARS *Approximate mileages EVEN YEARS App. Mileage Kotzebue – Noorvik 65 miles Kotzebue – Noorvik 65 miles Noorvik - Kiana 24 miles Noorvik - Selawik 40 miles Kiana – Ambler 80 miles Selawik - Ambler 90 miles Ambler – Shungnak 26 miles Ambler - Shungnak 26 miles Shungnak – Kobuk 11 miles Shungnak - Kobuk 11 miles Kobuk – Shungnak 11 miles Kobuk - Shungnak 11 miles Shungnak – Ambler 26 miles Shungnak - Ambler 26 miles Ambler – Selawik 90 miles Ambler - Kiana 80 miles Selawik – Noorvik 40 miles Kiana – Noorvik 24 miles Noorvik – Kotzebue 65 miles Noorvik - Kotzebue 65 miles |
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