U.P. 200 RACE INFO | MIDNIGHT RUN RACE INFO | JACK PINE 30 RACE INFO | INFORMATION FOR MUSHERS | MESSAGE BOARD

 

2008 RACE RULES

Jack Pine 30

 

    The volunteers helping to put on this race are dedicated and make every effort to accomplish their duties accurately. Any failure on their part does not lessen the responsibility of the musher to fulfill the demands of the race rules. Any failure of a volunteer to carry out their assigned duties DOES NOT constitute a technicality in determining a musher’s performance or race finish placement.

    The Jack Pine Mushers Association has made a special effort to offer a fun, yet competitive, sport class event. Ensuring the safety and care of the animals and maintaining the positive spirit of competition are a priority. It should be noted that in all situations race officials will attempt to follow the spirit of the rule, rather than the letter of the law, understanding that the race is to be awarded on merit and not on technicality.

I. A. REGISTRATION AND ENTRY FEE ( U.S. Funds)

1. The entry fee for the February 16, 2008 race is $60.00 per team ($50 per team for Jack Pine Mushers paid members) for entries postmarked on or before February 1. After February 1, the entry fee is $70.00 per team. (All entries are US funds). Entries must be received no later than Wednesday February 13, 2008 .

2. Entries will be limited to the first 35 teams. Start order is established by postmarked date of entry.

Multiple entries postmarked on any one day will be randomly selected for starting order.

3. An entrant may withdraw for any reason on or before February 2, 2008 and be refunded 50% of their entry fee. No refunds will be issued after February 2, 2008 .

4. The Jack Pine Mushers Association reserves the right to reject any entry for just cause.

I. B. MUSHERS

1. The Jack Pine Mushers strongly recommend that all mushers entering the Jack Pine 30 have sufficient experience to negotiate a moderately difficult trail.

2. Mushers under the age of eighteen may participate with a waiver of liability signed by a parent or legal guardian.

3. Mushers under the age of fourteen need special written permission from the Jack Pine Mushers Association.

4. Only one musher per team is permitted and no substitution will be allowed during the race.

5. Substitution of mushers will be allowed up to the beginning of the mandatory mushers’ meeting.

6. All mushers must attend the mushers’ meeting held the morning of the race. The first roll call will be taken at the start of the meeting. Any musher who misses the first roll call will be assessed a $30.00 penalty. Any musher who misses the second roll call, taken 10 minutes after the first roll call, will not be allowed to run the race. The race judge may grant an exception for unusual circumstances.

I. C. DOGS

1. Each team must start the race with a minimum of four (4) dogs and a maximum of six (6) dogs.

2. All dogs starting the race must be in harness in the team at the finish line unless carried in the sled bag. There is no dog drop along the race trail.

3. After the start of the race, no switching of dogs will be permitted.

I. D. MANDATORY VETERINARY RECORDS

1. All dogs entered in the race must be current with vaccinations for parvovirus, distemper, and rabies.

a. Proof of valid rabies vaccination from the musher's state of residence signed and dated at least two weeks prior to the race by a licensed veterinarian is required.

b. Proof of purchase for valid vaccines for other vaccinations is required.

c. Race veterinarians will not vaccinate dogs on the day of the race.

2. Vaccination verification forms will be collected at the mushers’ meeting on race day.

I. E. VETERINARIAN & VETERINARY GUIDELINES

1. A veterinarian will be available prior to the race for consultation. There is no dog drop along the race trail, so mushers should consult the veterinarian and err on the side of caution for any dog that may be unable to complete the race course. The race veterinarian may remove a dog from a team for just cause when the health of the dog is jeopardized.

2. Each musher is responsible for the care of her/his dogs and for all costs associated with any

first aid, emergency care, or other veterinary services required.

I. F. EQUIPMENT

1. All harnesses must be padded around the neck and chest areas.

2. All ganglines must be arranged for single or double file disposition. Necklines are required.

3. Each sled must be equipped with a brushbow, a snowhook, and a working brake bolted to the sled.

• A sled/dog bag capable of safely restraining a struggling or injured dog is required.

I. G. MANDATORY GEAR

1. One (1) complete working headlamp

2. One set (4) of booties per dog

3. Spare collar and harness

4. Knife

5. First aid kit including Ace bandages and pressure dressings for severe bleeding

6. Compass

7. Waterproof matches or a lighter

8. If using a cable gangline, a cable cutter you know will cut your cable gangline

Sled bags will be checked for mandatory gear at both the start and finish of the race.

II. OFFICIATING

II. A. RACE OFFICIALS

1. The Race Judge has:

a. Final authority and interpretation of all rules.

b. Final decision on disqualifications.

c. Final determination of winners and placing.

2. Race officials, timers, and the race veterinarian each have immediate authority in their specific area of responsibility and will act as consultants to the Race Judge who has ultimate responsibility for

appeal.

II. B. MUSHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Mushers are responsible for the conduct of their dogs and handlers during the race event, including

pre- and post-race activities.

2. The musher is required to report all violations of race rules and regulations to the Race Judge.

Any musher who fails to comply with the race rules may face disqualification.

3. Mushers or handlers must clean up their team’s parking area at both the start and finish.

II. C. DISQUALIFICATION

1. Mushers shall be disqualified for rules infractions, including but not limited to physical abuse of a dog

(e.g. kicking or beating), cheating, or deliberate rule infractions which give a musher an unfair

advantage over another musher. Mushers may also be disqualified for other acts involving cruel or

inhumane treatment, including mistreatment of volunteers and race officials.

III. THE RACE

III A. Start/Finish

1. All teams will have their sled bags checked before the race start and at the finish. A five (5) minute time penalty will be assessed for each item of mandatory gear missing at the finish line. Expendable items (i.e. dog booties) need not be present at the finish.

2. Any musher who misses his/her start time will start two minutes after the last team leaves but will be

on the clock using the original start time.

3. A team’s finish time is measured when the nose of the lead dog crosses the finish line.

4. In order to finish the race, a team must pass the M 553 road crossing no later than 3:0 0 p.m. EST.

Any team unable to cross M 553 by this time will be noted as “did not finish ” (DNF). Teams will not

be allowed to continue after they are noted as DNF.  

5. No outside assistance is permitted other than that planned by the race giving organization.

6. Mushers may aid each other in appropriate ways under emergency conditions.

7. Mushers may receive assistance in cases of uncontrolled or lost dog teams.

a. Outside assistance must be accepted if a musher has lost complete control of a team; this

includes motorized assistance.  

III. B. HANDLING AND TREATMENT OF DOGS

1. Cruel and/or inhumane treatment of dogs by any musher or handler as determined by the Race Officials is strictly prohibited.

2. In the event a team gets away from the musher, it will not be disqualified if the musher regains control provided they have not left the race course.

a. If the team and musher have left the race course, they must re-enter the course at the point they left it.

3. All dogs on a team must be in harness and attached to the sled.

a. No loose leaders will be permitted.

b. A musher must make every effort to secure a dog which becomes loose accidentally.

c. Dogs not in the team gangline must be restrained in the sled basket at all times during the

course of the race.

4. It is the musher's responsibility to check for traffic at road crossings on the race course. The Jack Pine Mushers will attempt to secure road crossings, but final safety is the musher's responsibility.

5. Expired dogs: Any dog expired on the trail must be covered and transported in the sled to a road crossing or the finish line. The musher must notify a race official and then complete a report and present it to the race veterinarian. An expired dog may be necropsied at the musher’s expense.

III. C. THE RACE COURSE

1. Teams must stay on the race course. If the team and the musher have left the race course, they must re-enter the course at the point they left it.

2. When overtaking another team, the musher must call "TRAIL".

a. The slower team must relinquish the trail and assist the passing team if necessary.

b. When neither team is able to pull away from the other, the mushers shall agree mutually on the appropriate team to lead out.

3. Sticks and other poling aids cannot be used.

4. No-Man’s-Land starts approximately one (1) mile from the finish line and will be marked. Mushers will no longer have the option to call trail nor will mushers be required to relinquish the trail.

IV. CLAIMS

1. Each musher agrees to hold the Jack Pine Mushers Association harmless from any claim or demand resulting from injury to the musher, his/her dogs, his/her property, or others acting on his/her behalf.

2. The Jack Pine Mushers claims unconditional authority to allow race organizers and sponsors to film, photograph or otherwise collect and document information about the race and race participants for use in advertising, public relations or other publicity purposes.

3. Each musher shall sign any and all documents as may be requested by the Jack Pine Mushers Association to accept the foregoing statements and conditions.

a. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

b. All documents will be presented to the musher at the mushers’ meeting or will be included in the entry application package.