19 teams are registered for tomorrow's Holiday Classic, a 50 mile race on the Kuskokwim River. Despite today's storm and warm temps, the K300 Race Committee has decided to go ahead with the race, eyeing even warmer temps forecast for Sunday and Monday.
The start time has been changed from 11am to 12 noon. This will allow our trail breakers a little more time to do their work and more time for village teams to make their way to Bethel.
The race will begin near the mouth of the small boat harbor in Bethel. Mushers will travel up Straight Slough, continue upriver on the Kuskokwim and then the Gweek. The trail is heavily marked as far as the Akiachak Portage but as the race trail continues further up the Gweek markers are placed less frequently. At the 25 mile mark racers will travel around a well marked loop and head back to the finish on the same trail. Race Rules below.
We urge spectators to practice social distancing. In compliance with the City of Bethel's mask mandate, if gathered with people who are not part of your household and social distancing is not possible, masks are required.
Full vaccination against Covid-19 is required for all mushers, handlers and race personnel.
Race Rules:
1. The race will be a mass start at Noon on the Kuskokwim River near the mouth of the small boat harbor in Bethel.
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 an official 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.
