RULES AND MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

Updated: 2010-01-19

The race is judged according to the Long Distance Rules (LR) of the Norwegian Sled Dog Racing Association (NHF), and the special rules applying to Pasvik Trail. All mushers must have read and acknowledge the rules. The LR can be obtained from NHF. at http://www.sleddog.no/ Pasvik Trail has in addition to LR established the following rules and policies that will apply to the race

Policy

Open class and 8-dog class Pasvik Trail will be open for all dog mushers.Open class has no upper limit * but there has to be minimum of 9 dogs at the starting line. At the finish line an open class team have to have a minimum of 6 dogs. An 8-dog class team will have a limit on 8 dogs or a minimum of 6 at the starting line and a minimum of 5 dogs at the finish line.

*The board of Pasviktrail can limit the number om dogs in open class because of weather/snowconditions

Rules

#1. Dogs: Every dog participating in Pasvik Trail has to be micro chipped.

#2. Start: The teams starts with a 1 - one - minute interval. Open class fisrt. Teams that have signed up after the first deadline will start in the sign up order last in its own class. If two teams have signed up late, but on the same date, there will be a draw.

#3. Promotional material: Participants can be made to display sponsors’ advertisements either on their clothing or their sled and dogs, according to Pasvik Trail regulations.

#4. Public roads: Mushers are not allowed to use public roads on any part of the trail except where Pasvik Trail has marked the trail to follow roads. Information will be given at the drivers meeting.

#5. Checkpoints:Mushers must personally sign in and out at checkpoint Vaggatem and Neiden No help is allowed with the team at the checkpoints from handlers (exept se mark 11)

#6. Mandatory layovers:
Both classes has a 10-hours retingpot. And is to be taken out in whole minutes at Vaggatem and/or at Neiden. Differences in race times will be evened out at Neiden.

#7. Food drops. Vaggatem and Neiden

#8. Food drop bags: Depot sacks can be delivered by handlers on both checkpoints and All depot sacks MUST be marked with the musher’s name, and are to be placed where detailed.  Depot sacks may be checked by the TD, race leader or checkpoint official. Depot sacks can only contains: Doog food, Snow hooks, Dog blankets, blankets, batteries, dog booties, wrist warmers, foot and leg ointments for dogs - sled plastic - fuel for cooker

#9 Care of dogs: All care of dog, gear and feeding of dogs must be done only by the musher in the designated holding area at the checkpoint. Only cold water from a designated area at checkpoint can be brought to the sled by the musher to be used for preparing dog food. Cold water can be fetched in a plastic bucket or container, or something alike. Mushers are not allowed to bring their coolers or similar gear out of the holding area Handlers or other than the musher allowed to prepare the dog food

#10 Help / assistance: No help is allowed with the team at the checkpoints. The only assistance allowed is getting help handling the team in and out of checkpoint. Unless other is decides by the checkpoint official/Race judge/Race marshall.

#11 Dogs/checkpoints: At checkpoint dogs are not allowed in houses, dog boxes or something alike, exempt are a medical examination or treatment by race veterinarians. Musher and dogs can use his/hers own tent that has been in the sled from the start.

#12. Dead dog: If a dog dies between two checkpoints, the dog has to be carried to the next checkpoint or the musher can return to the former checkpoint. The dog must be carried in the sled and be properly covered up when arriving at the checkpoint. Having checked in the musher must, as fast as possible, notify the TD, the race marshal or the race veterinarian about what has happened. The musher is not allowed to continue the race unless permission is given by the TD, the race marshal or the race veterinarian. The musher may be disqualified if an inspection of the dog shows that the musher has mistreated the dog or otherwise is due to the death of the dog. The musher may also be disqualified if he/ she at a former checkpoint have got an instruction in writing from the race officials to leave the dog behind. The musher may also be disqualified if the death is due to dehydration or hypothermia. The finish line in Kirkenes is also considered as checkpoints in such cases. If autopsy is needed the musher will not be charged.

#13. Dropped dogs: Dogs can be dropped at any of the checkpoints. Dropped dog will be notified to the Race Officials at the checkpoint. Any dropped dog must be left with 2 pounds of dog food unless the dog straight away is taken over by the mushers handlers.

#14. Outside assistance: Any outside assistance at checkpoint and aid not according to the rules can result in disqualification of the musher.

#15. Harness and Cables: A musher must have cable in the towline

#16. Change of sled: If a sled is damaged beyond repair, it may be replaced if approved by race marshal, race judge or race official. Except for this the musher may only receive an empty sled two times during the race

#17 No mans land is marked and would be informed at the mushers meeting

#18 MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
At all times, each musher must have with them the following items. Random checks of equipment may be made both at checkpoints and out on the race trail.

Mandatory items that are lost or damaged can be replaced from the depot bag or from the mushers support team. Any replacement of mandatory items must first be approved by via a race marshal, judge or checkpoint official. (Exception: Items such as used dog booties, batteries, rubbish sack and fuel for the water cooker/primus. These can be replaced as necessary from the depot bag or from the support team.)

Compass and maps. A map with the trail marked on it can be bought at the mushers’ meeting.

• Functional snow shovel.

• Winter sleeping bag (minimum 2 kg).

• Extreme survival bag (windproof). This must weigh at least 1200 grams.
  - (Alternative to extreme survival bag: tent)

• Water cooker with capacity for ½ litre water per dog in the team. And ½ litre liquid fuel

• Rubbish sack.

• Extra clothing (trousers, jacket and boots).

• First aid equipment.

• Axe or long knife.

• Head torch and batteries.

• 4 booties per dog (either in the sled or in use).

• Matches

• Light stick or signal flare that can be used in an emergency, such that the race arrangers can find the location. This item is to be carried in the pocket, on the musher’s person.

• Emergency food rations for the musher for 24 hours. (minimum 1/2 kg) 

• Wire or chain for use on dropdogs, min 40cm long. Lengths of gangline or necklines with wire core can also be used. Atleast 3 wire or chain in limited class. In open class; atleast 1 for each dog left over 6 dogs.Thats mean if u start with 16 dogs you must have 10 wires or chaines.

• 500g emergency food per dog, sealed by the race arranger and which should, under normal circumstances, arrive unused at the finishline.

The Pasvik trail also goes trough some"reindeer territory". Dog teams must be under total control and never be let loose from the team during the race.

• Protests, in writing, must be given to race officials no later than 30 min after last team has crossed the finish line. A fee of: NOK 50, - must follow the protest.

• A dog in sled when arriving a checkpoint, is considered in the team unless the musher wants to drop the dog.

• A musher scratching from the race has to report to Pasvik Trail as soon as possible.

Before the mandatory mushers meeting the mushers must deliver at The Race office:

• List with chip numbers and names of the dogs used in the race (two copies)