The K300 Race Committee will hold the annual "Holiday Classic" this Saturday, January 9th. The race will follow the same 50 mile trail as the race last weekend, all Covid Safety protocols are still in effect (see below) and mushers will compete for a purse of $20,000. Once again, mushers must register in advance. To do so please call or text 545-3300 by Friday, January 8th. You are not registered until you have been assigned a bib number.
Spectators are welcome but urged to enjoy the race responsibly. Please practice proper social distancing, stay with vehicle or snow machine whenever possible and wear a face mask if engaging with anyone who is not part of your household.
Trail Details:
The 50 mile race will start at 11 AM on the river, near the entrance to the small boat harbor. From there mushers will head up Straight Slough then upriver on the Kuskokwim to the Gweek River. The trail goes another 15 miles up the Gweek until a turnaround, then racers return to Bethel on the same trail.
Expect a well-marked trail going upriver until after you've passed the Akiachak portage trail. From there, markers are more sporadic but the trail is obvious. The turnaround is very clearly marked.
Basic Race Rules: 1. The race will be a mass start at 11:00 AM on the river near the entrance to the small boat harbor. 2. Eight dog limit. 3. No dropped dogs. 4. General passing rules apply. When any team approaches to within 50 feet of another team, the team behind has the immediate right of way upon demand. The racer ahead must stop their dogs and hold them to the best of their 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 15 minutes before demanding the trail. The race officials may penalize a team if this rule is violated. “No Man’s Land” will be marked by two K300 stakes about a mile from the finish. 5. No pacing by snow machine. There may be a snow machine pacing the field in the early part of the trail to show all teams the proper trail, and also perhaps at other points on the trail as needed. 6. Mushers must be a current member of the K300 to participate in this race. Membership may be purchased for $100. 7. The race purse is $20,000 distributed as follows:
1……………………………....$2,700
2…………………………..…..$2,450
3………………………………$2,250
4………………………………$2,050
5……………………………....$1,850
6………………………….…..$1,700
7……………………………...$1,450
8…………………………..…$1,250
9…………………………..…$1,050
10…………………………...$900
11…………………………...$750
12…………………………...$600
13…………………………...$450
14………………………..….$300
15…………………………...$250
Covid-19 Safety Protocols for 2020-21 Local Races
These policies have been established by the K300 Race Committee in order conduct the 2020-21 race season while limiting the risk of further spreading Covid-19 in YK Delta communities. Compliance is mandatory for all mushers and handlers. The Race Committee may penalize or disqualify any participant who violates these safety policies.
1. REGISTRATION: Please call 545-3300 in the days leading up to the race to register and review these rules. Any musher who shows up at the start line without registering beforehand may be excluded.
2. VILLAGE RESTRICTIONS: Each musher is required to comply with whatever specific travel restrictions may be in place in their home communities at the time of the race. If permission is required to leave the village to race, each musher must get that permission. If traveling to Bethel for essential services is not permitted, participants should not go anywhere other than the start/finish line. If travel for the race is not permitted by their home community, the musher will not be able to participate in the race.
3. HANDLERS: Racers are encouraged to participate without any handlers but we urge all to keep their support crew as small as possible. All handlers must be part of the musher’s household or “bubble” and must also have travel permission from their home village, if required.
4. SOCIAL DISTANCING: In order to maintain social distancing, all mushers and handlers are required to stay with their truck or snow machine at all times while at the start/finish line. There can be no contact between teams. There will be no exceptions to this rule and mushers may be penalized for the misconduct of their support crew.
5. SPECTATORS: We are discouraging spectators from gathering at the start/finish line. Mushers are asked to help us keep spectators to a minimum. Those who do come out to watch the race are urged to stay with their vehicle or snow machine, wear masks and practice proper social distancing.
6. MUSHER ARRIVAL: Teams should arrive at the start line at least 30 minutes before the start time.
7. PARKING: Teams are required to park in marked, designated places at the start/finish line, which will correspond to bib numbers. Race organizers will provide direction as needed.
8. BIBS: Each parking spot will be provided with a race bib which mushers are required to wear during the race. Numbers will be assigned during phone registration.
9. TRAIL DETAILS: Race rules and trail details will be published at www.k300.org and on the K300 Facebook page a day or two before the race.
10. MONEY: Prize money will be distributed by mail a few days after the race. Entry fees will be deducted from prize money. There will be no exchange of cash or checks at the start/finish line.
Photo submitted by David Duman and Sophie Swope