The K300 Race Committee's 2021 season continues tomorrow with the February 50. 17 teams have registered for what is shaping up to be a rather snowy race.
Trail Description:
The race will start at 11am Saturday, on the river in Bethel, near the mouth of the Small Boat Harbor. Teams will follow the K300 race trail upriver, then up the Gweek River and on to the Akiachak portage trail. Back on the Kuskokwim, they will continue past Akiachak then loop around the island that's roughly two miles above the village. Making their way back downriver, racers will travel down the small slough across from Akiachak before picking up the main K300 race trail again near the village. From there they will follow the K300 trail back to the finish in Bethel.
Mushers:
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 use this form to register for the race by the 2/25 deadline.
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: Spectators 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. Membership fees will be deducted from prize money if applicable. There will be no exchange of cash or checks at the start/finish line.