The K300 Race Committee has rescheduled the annual "Season Opener" for Saturday, January 2nd 11:00 AM with significant modifications in place. While these events are inherently socially distanced and don't tend to draw big crowds, strict safety measures will be enforced for mushers, their handlers and spectators.
Mushers are required to register by Friday 1/1 by calling 545-3300. All mushers must comply with the respective travel restrictions of their home community and get permission for travel if required.
Strict social distancing measures will be in place at the start/finish line and support crews should be kept as small as possible. Spectators are discouraged from gathering at the start/finish. Any who come out for the race are urged to stay with their vehicle or snow machine, wear masks and practice proper social distancing.
A full outline of Covid-19 measures is below, as well as purse information.
Trail details will be announced at a later date but mushers can expect a race of 45-50 miles, starting near the entrance to the Bethel small boat harbor.
The "Holiday Classic" is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, January 9th.
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.
2020 Season Opener Purse Info
$20,000 broken down 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