Rules

Race rules: IFSS, VUL and Gold Rush Run.
Every musher have to get familiar with these rules.
All dogs have to be micro chipped and vaccinated (info), age limit 18 months, all breeds allowed.
Mushers have to be insured with sled dog associations license.
Dogs on the starting line minimum 8 dogs and maximum 16 dogs. 6 dogs minimum on the finish line, dog(s) in the sled bag is part of the team.
Musher must provide a list of dogs with names and micro chip numbers to the registrations office.
Before the race start there is organized a mushers meeting and it is mandatory for every musher. If for unexpected reasons musher has been delayed from mushers meeting, race marshal can evade this rule and musher is obliged to find out the required information before starting in the race.
Necklines are not mandatory to use at any dog in team.
The trail goes through the “reindeer herding territory”, dog team must be in complete control and never be let loose during the race. A musher who has been noticed with a loose dog/dogs, will be disqualified from the race. The musher will be held responsible for any damages caused by his/her dog/dogs.
A driverless team or loose dog may be stopped by anyone.
If musher scratch from the race it must be reported to the race marshal as soon as possible. He/she is responsible for their own transportation, plus that of their dogs and equipment from the trail.
Ski poles are allowed.
Start is two minute interval, time adjustment is in Nellim 1&2 -checkpoints.
Lottery of starting order will be 5.10.2023 with mushers who signed in the race during September, mushers who sign up 1.10. or later starts in sign up order.
Unrepairable sled is possible to change during the race in the checkpoint, race marshall have to give the permission for changing the sled. In Roiro-checkpoint changing the sled is not possible.
There must not be limping dogs in the team when arriving to the checkpoints.
The veterinarian and vet-corresponding person are allowed to check a dog/team at any point of the race if there is any reason to suspect that the dog/team is not able to continue the race. Head veterinarian together with race marshal is allowed to order to take the dog off the team / disqualify the team if the team is not able to continue the race. Veterinarian can also instruct how to proceed with the team, to allow musher to continue the race.
Both mushers and handlers must show respectful behaviors in both race center and checkpoints. If unrespectful behaviour is noticed, it will result in notice and if not corrected disqualifying of the musher.

Checkpoint

Race has five checkpoints.
Mandatory layover total 8 hours + time adjustment has to be taken in Nellim 1 and Nellim 2 checkpoints. It is the musher’s responsibility to make sure that before checking out from Nellim 2 -checkpoint, a total of 8 hours of rest + time adjustment has been accumulated at the Nellim 1 and 2 checkpoints.
VET-check is in Nellim 2 -checkpoint, it is the musher’s responsibility that the veterinarian has checked the team before checking out from the checkpoint.
Legs are about 95km – 75km – 85km – 85km – 85km – 85km.
Mushers have to check in at all checkpoints.
Arctic River Resort and Nellim 1&2 are manned checkpoints. Roiro and Kerttujärvi are hospitality -stop.
Dog who is in the sled bag is part of the team unless musher wants to drop the dog out of the team.
Depot -sacks are in use Arctic River Resort and Nellim 1&2 -checkpoints. Musher is responsible transportation of depot -sacks to the checkpoints and away from the checkpoints.
Cold water and one bale of straw per one team is served in all checkpoints. Musher / handler have to clean the straw and dog waste in the trash bag when leaving the checkpoint. If musher rest on the trail between checkpoints, musher have to carry all straw and litter in the sled to the next checkpoint / finish line. Littering results in a 4-hour time penalty.
Handlers are allowed in checkpoints Arctic River Resort and Nellim 1&2. Handlers can help the team to resting place but it’s not allowed to help the musher to take care of the dogs.
All maintenance, care and feeding of dogs will be done only by that team’s musher.
Dogs can be dropped off at checkpoints Arctic River Resort, Nellim 1&2 and Kerttujärvi. Race officials must be notified immediately of the dogs that are dropped from the team. It’s not allowed to continue from the checkpoint until the handler has been contacted and agreed to pick up the dog. It’s not possible to drop the dogs in Roiro -hospitality stop.
Roiro-checkpoint you can go in the hut to warm up, eat and dry your equipment, but sleeping in the hut is prohibited.
Scratching must be happening to the checkpoint. It is not possible to scratch in Roiro-hospitality stop.
If musher scratch on the trail and can’t continue the race, race staff will come to pick up after the race / after 24h the last point of contact.

Mandatory equipment

GPS
VET-book
Compass
Snow shovel
Axe
Winter sleeping bag, rated minimum -30C
First aid equipments
Extreme winter clothing with reflectors
Extra clothes: underlayer, overlayer, socks and winter shoes
8 booties / dog, including what is in use
Head light and extra batteries
Light stick and signal pen (one have to be on the pocket of the trousers)
Min 40cm wire or chain for dropped dogs, at least one according to the minimum number of dogs in the class. When resting, the entire team should be attached to an assembly main line with wire or chain from the collar.
Reserve food for the dogs for at least 500 grams per dog, packed separately, sealed by the organizer and under normal circumstances to be brought unused to the finish line. If reserve food has to be used, it must be reported to the race officials immediately at the next checkpoint.
Reserve food for the musher at least 500g.
Cooker, minimum 0,5L / dog.
Garbage bag.
Extreme wind bag, min 1,2kg OR alternatively tent and regular windbag.

Depot-sack can include example:

Snow hooks
Coats for the dogs
Blankets
Batteries
Wrist warmers
Ointments and liniments
Booties
Runner plastics
Fuel for cooker

Notes about equipment

GPS: race trail is coming downloadable gpx-file about week before the start.
VET-book: will sent to mushers by e-mail about two weeks before the start of the race, where the dogs information must be completed, this speeds up the VET-check before the race. VET-book must be carried in the sled throughout the race.
Snow showel: must be large enough to dig a weather shelter if necessary.
Axe: have a stem of at least 30cm long.
First aid equipments: must be comprehensive enough that in the case of an accident, the first aid kit contains the necessary wound dressing and treatment supplies.

The dog’s food bowls, ladle, cooler bag, etc. for feeding the dogs must be packed in the sled from the start and must not be taken out of the checkpoint area. The depot bag must not contain ready-made food.

Dead Dog

If a dog dies between checkpoints, the dog must be carried to the next checkpoint or to the last passed checkpoint. The dog must be carried in the sled and be properly covered upon arrival at the checkpoint. After checking in the musher must, as fast as possible, notify the race organizer, the race marshal or the race veterinarian of the death. The musher is only permitted to continue the race if permission is granted by the the race marshal and/or the race veterinarian. The musher may be disqualified from racing if an inspection of the dog determines that the musher has mistreated the dog or otherwise caused the death of the dog. The musher may also be disqualified he/she received written instruction at a previous checkpoint from the race officials to leave the dog behind, unless the death is due to other causes. The musher may also be disqualified if the death is due to dehydration or hypothermia. The musher will not be charged if an autopsy is required.

Protesting

Protests shall be submitted to the race marshal in writing no later than one hour after reaching the finishing line.

The organizer reserves the right to change the rules, all changes will be announced on the competition’s Facebook and Instagram sites, competitors who have already registered will be notified by e-mail.