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Rules

Competition rules for long-distance dog sled races – Šediváčkův long.

Contents

1. Registration

Registration for the race must be submitted within the period set by the race organizer. The organizer may refuse a registration, stating the reason.

2. Rules for the musher

A team must be led throughout the entire race by the musher with whom it started the first leg of the race. In the event of the musher's illness or injury, a change of musher may be permitted only with the consent of the race management. The team may finish the race outside the competition.

The minimum age for a musher is 18 years. An exception may be granted by the race management.

Mushers may take part only if they attended the mushers' meeting specified in the race regulations.

A musher who has been disqualified at one checkpoint may not continue in the race.

3. Rules for the dogs

The race director may, on giving a legitimate reason, refuse a team or an individual dog participation in the race. If the race director is convinced that a team or an individual dog does not meet the requirements, then that dog or team must be withdrawn from the race.

The race management may order that dogs be examined by a recognized veterinarian before the start. The race management may carry out checks at its own discretion throughout the race. Mushers will be informed of this in advance. Any time lost is deducted. If a musher or owner refuses examination of the dogs, the team must be withdrawn from the race.

In a race lasting more than one day, only dogs that were harnessed at the start of the first leg may run. Disqualified dogs may no longer be entered.

Dogs taking part in the race must be at least 18 months old.

4. Diseases

Valid vaccination certificates must be brought for all dogs brought to the race venue, even if they will not be used in the race. Mandatory vaccinations are rabies and parvovirosis. To minimize the risk of infection during the race, dogs should be vaccinated against hepatitis, leptospirosis, distemper and kennel cough.

Dogs and items originating from a kennel where the above diseases have been detected may not be brought to the race venue.

If the race veterinarian detects an infectious disease in a dog present at the venue, the team in question will be disqualified. All dogs belonging to that team must leave the race venue immediately.

5. Marking

In a race consisting of more than one leg, every dog must be marked for identification purposes before the start of the first leg.

6. Classification into classes by team size

Race classes are fundamentally divided into limited classes, an open class, and class S – Scandinavian. The number of dogs in a Scandinavian team is unrestricted; the race director may set a maximum number of dogs.

A team in the limited 3–4 dog class may not have more than 4 or fewer than 3 dogs. A team in the limited 5–8 dog class may not have more than 8 or fewer than 5 dogs. A team in the open class may not have fewer than 8 dogs.

After the start of the race, a musher may reduce the size of their team but may not bring it below the minimum size.

7. Distances, camp

A stage race is a race with multiple stages; it is left to the organizer's discretion to modify the trail according to circumstances.

A mandatory camp should be scheduled between individual stages. Only in exceptional cases should the camp be dispensed with. The camp must be planned so that mushers carry everything necessary for themselves and their dogs on the sled.

The race director is entitled to check that equipment is in proper order before and after a stage. Inspection of a team already prepared at the start must be completed no later than 5 minutes before the start. Other teams must not be delayed.

Dogs must be harnessed individually or in pairs side by side. Each dog must be connected to the central line by a neckline and harness. Where circumstances justify a different method of harnessing, the management may permit or order a different arrangement.

Accepting outside assistance is not permitted. Mushers may help one another.

The race regulations should point out the camp and its particularities. The race director is entitled to refuse permission to start in the event of insufficient equipment.

8. Medications

The list of banned substances and medications is renewed every year and their list is contained in a separate document.

All substances contained on the list of banned drugs are prohibited. Neither injected, orally administered, nor externally applied medications are permitted for a dog if they suppress signs of illness, pain or injury.

If the organizer conducts doping controls, this must be stated in the race regulations. If a doping control is ordered, the musher or owner must be present and must make available a list of all medications administered to the dog or dogs in the previous 72 hours.

If a musher or owner refuses to provide a sample, the team in question will be disqualified. If proof of ingestion of a banned medication is provided for a dog or team, the dog or team may be disqualified. The musher or owner will be heard before a decision is made.

Categories of banned substances:

  • Painkillers
  • Anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids, antiprostaglandins, salicylates/aspirin, steroids)
  • Central nervous system stimulants
  • Cough suppressants
  • Sedatives, anesthetics
  • Diuretics
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Anticholinergic substances
  • Antihistamines

9. Equipment

The type of sled is not restricted. The sled must be sufficiently stable to carry the musher and provide sufficient cargo space for the necessary equipment and one to two dogs. Every sled must be equipped with a solid brake, a bow and a snow anchor. If a musher's sled is destroyed during the race, a spare may be used.

The sled must also carry a bag in which a rebellious dog can be safely secured, or an injured dog safely transported, in addition to any luggage being carried.

A cargo sled or pulka must be connected by two solid tow lines to the harness(es) so that they cannot run into the harnessed dogs; they must be constructed so that the front ends of the runners are not free and cannot endanger the musher or a dog; they must allow the load to be safely secured; and they must be fitted with a line connecting them to the musher during the race.

For a team of three or more dogs, the cargo sled or pulka must be fitted with a brake. Equipment for a Scandinavian pulka team is governed by § 10.

10. Survival equipment

The organizer may require part of the equipment listed below to be carried on the sled. In every case, the organizer must announce this in the race regulations with a precise list of equipment. The recommended equipment is:

  • Sleeping bag, tent or bivy bag, insulating mat/mattress
  • Spare clothing (parka, boots, hat, gloves, socks, etc.)
  • Headlamp, spare batteries, knife, map with the marked trail, compass
  • First-aid kit for the dog, first-aid kit for the person
  • Spare rope, tow rope, neckline, carabiners, spare harnesses, collars
  • Stove, cooking equipment, matches
  • 1 pair of snowshoes with bindings
  • 1 set of booties for each dog
  • Tie-out chain with stakes (stake-out), water, dog food, water bowl
  • Axe or saw
  • Sunglasses – glacier glasses, sunscreen
  • Auxiliary tether 3–5 mm, 3–5 m long
  • Snow shovel (avalanche shovel)
  • Food, thermos with tea
  • Adhesive tape (waterproof)
  • Personal identification documents
  • Spare ski pole (Scandinavian race)

No musher may leave the race or a checkpoint without having the prescribed items of equipment. Inspection is carried out either before or after the race.

11. Other equipment

The organizer sets daily rations for dogs and mushers before the race (e.g. 500 g of dry food or 1 kg of meat) that must be carried along.

Prohibited items of equipment: muzzles, choke collars, whips, bells, whistles.

Every musher receives a starting number from the organizer. The number may be attached to the body or to the sled, and must always be clearly visible. To simplify equipment inspections, the organizer may prescribe a minimum weight in the race regulations, leaving it to the musher to choose which equipment to carry.

In practice, 7 kg per dog has proven effective for both team and pulka races, with maximum weight not to exceed 70 kg. Weight is calculated from the sled (pulka), tow lines (draw bars), harnesses, tow lines, survival equipment, and any additional load. Every musher must arrange any additional load themselves.

12. Inspection

The team and all equipment are subject to inspection and must be approved by the race management, unless a weight limit has been set.

The musher, team and equipment must be available for inspection in the designated area one hour before the planned start time. A team already lined up at the start may no longer be inspected in the five minutes before the start.

Inspection in the start and finish area must not obstruct other teams. At international races, the inspection team is made up of representatives of several nations. Inspection of a team and its equipment may also be carried out at checkpoints along the trail.

13. Rules for the start and finish

Draw

The starting order for the race is determined by draw. The draw takes place before the race; the organizer determines the place and time of the draw. If the organizer allows additional entries, they are added to the end of the starting list.

Races with individual starts

The starting order is determined by draw. The starting order for the second leg is determined by the time of the first leg – the fastest team starts first, the second fastest starts second, and so on. In a race with more than two legs, the starting order is determined by the cumulative time of the previous legs.

Races with paired starts

The starting order is determined by draw, with numbers 1 and 2 starting first, then 3 and 4, and so on. The starting order for the second leg is determined by the time of the first leg – the results list is divided into two groups, and the fastest team of one group starts alongside the fastest team of the slower group, followed by the second-fastest teams of both groups, and so on. In a race with more than two legs, the grouping and starting order are determined by the cumulative time of the previous legs.

Tied times

Teams with the same total time for the entire race are credited with the higher placing. Prizes for the places under consideration are added together and divided equally among the teams concerned.

Start – starting time

Time counting begins at the time set out in the starting list. The sled's bow must be at the starting line. A delayed team must not obstruct other teams. The race director (starter) may allow a delayed team to start between other starts, provided this does not disrupt the planned time interval. A team that fails to clear the starting zone (at least 50 m) must make way for the next team and must not obstruct it under any circumstances.

Assistance in the starting zone

The manner and extent of assistance in the starting zone are determined by the race director and announced before the start of the race. Once a team has left the starting zone, all trail rules apply.

Time-keeping – arrival at the finish

A team's finishing time is measured when the first dog of the team crosses the finish line. A team's overall time is the difference between the official starting time and the finishing time. All delays, such as meals, rest breaks, breaks caused by bad weather, times spent on a poor trail, etc., count toward the leg time.

Time-keeping is stopped during medical checks or checks ordered by the race management – the time lost is deducted from the total time. If a team crosses the finish line without its musher, the time is measured when the musher arrives.

14. Rules for the trail

Completing the race trail

The team and musher must travel the entire race trail set by the organizer. If a team unintentionally leaves the trail, the musher must bring the team back to the point where it left the trail. If this is not possible for the musher and team without significant difficulty, the musher may proceed to the next checkpoint, provided this neither shortens the trail nor skips a checkpoint. The race trail is followed according to its description.

Trail marking rules

  • "Turn right" – a red or orange target-marker on the right side of the trail.
  • "Turn left" – a red or orange target-marker on the left side of the trail.
  • "Straight ahead" – a blue target-marker on the left or right side of the trail.
  • "Caution" – two or more yellow target-markers on both sides of the trail.
  • "No-passing zone" – an information sign reading 800 m.

Under certain circumstances, race directors may use other trail marking systems, such as flags or illuminated signs. In principle, however, the color or meaning should not be changed. Markers indicating trail length are not objectionable.

Conduct on the trail

A musher may ride the sled, kick-step, or run alongside it. In the Scandinavian class, the musher accompanies their team on cross-country skis or touring skis. A musher will be disqualified if they use any means of transport other than their sled during the race.

The musher and team must form a single unit. Two or more teams may not be tied together, except when providing assistance to another musher in an emergency – if this occurs, the trail checkpoints must be informed. A musher must not delay other teams.

A dog that is unable to run must be carried along on the sled. If transport on the sled is not possible for some reason, the musher must end the race early.

Carrying passengers on the sled is not permitted during the race. It is permitted if the race regulations provide for such transport, or if another musher is being carried in an emergency.

Prohibited assistance

No one other than the musher may guide the team. After the start, no dogs may be exchanged between teams. Dogs dropped at checkpoints may, under certain circumstances, be re-harnessed for further legs if permitted by the race director or veterinarian.

No musher may use outside assistance for the full-day supply of their team or themselves. The race director may allow exceptions to this if the assistance is distributed evenly among all teams.

Unattended teams and individual dogs

An unattended team, or an individual dog without a musher, must not delay other teams. A musher must catch up with their runaway team or dog on foot. A runaway team may continue on the trail without risk of penalty, provided the team does not shorten the trail, the musher accepted only permissible assistance, and committed no other breach of the rules.

Permissible assistance from bystanders is limited to stopping and holding an unattended team or individual dog. Anyone may, and should, stop and hold a team or a loose individual dog without a musher.

Right of way

In a double start, priority is given to the team whose lead dog reaches the end of the double starting lane first. A team traveling downhill through a valley always has the right of way. A team that has been disqualified or has withdrawn must give way to all teams still taking part in the race. Within the 800 m zone before the finish, there is no right of way.

Passing

The musher being passed must clear the way by steering their team to the side of the trail. They must slow down or stop if the passing musher requests it. A passed team may not attempt to pass again until 4 minutes or 1.6 km have elapsed, or sooner if both mushers agree.

Campsites

No litter may be left on the trail. Campsites must be cleaned before the team departs. Litter must either be properly disposed of or carried on the sled to a designated location. Campsites on the trail must be set up so that they neither restrict other mushers nor disrupt the course of the race.

Provisions – musher, dogs

The race director designates checkpoints where dog feed, food for mushers, and other necessary items will be prepared. Each musher is responsible for arranging suitable sealed containers themselves. Containers must be labeled with the musher's name (or starting number) and the checkpoint designation where they are to be prepared. In exceptional cases, the organizer may require mushers or their helpers to transport containers to checkpoints themselves – this must, however, be announced in the race regulations.

Checkpoints

Checkpoints are locations along the trail accessible by road from which mushers or teams can be supplied, checked, an injured dog can be dropped off, veterinary assistance can be provided, etc. The organizer is required to establish one checkpoint along the trail if a stage is longer than 50 km. For stages shorter than 50 km, the checkpoints are the start and finish of the stage.

Musher

Mushers who have withdrawn from the race, or who have been disqualified by the race management, must continue in the race to the checkpoint from which they can be transported away. Mushers who become ill during the race, or who sustain an injury and wish to withdraw, must continue to the checkpoint where they will receive assistance and can be transported away.

If a musher is no longer able to reach the next checkpoint, they set up camp, and after the stage has ended the organizer transports them and their team to a location from which they can leave.

Dogs

Dogs that are no longer able to continue in the race must be transported in a bag on the sled and may be left at the next designated checkpoint. The musher takes care of marking the dog, a special chain for the dog, and, under certain circumstances, providing water or feed for a dog left at a checkpoint.

At every checkpoint, care of the dog is provided by the responsible veterinarian (or their representative), who is entrusted by the race management with the care of the race. Representatives of the race management at the checkpoint must be told by the musher what the dog needs and where it should be taken after treatment.

15. Race management

If equipment defects are found that endanger the safety of dogs in a team, the race management, the veterinarian entrusted with the race management, or a person entrusted by the race management, may hold the musher back until the defect has been remedied – this time is not deducted.

The race management is entitled to:

  • Withdraw dogs from a team that appear unable to continue in the race.
  • Withdraw a team from the race if the musher has not harnessed the required minimum number of dogs.
  • Designate helpers who may assist with a team at checkpoints.

16. Responsibility and sportsmanship

Mushers are responsible for the conduct of their dogs and their helpers, as well as for their own conduct at the race venue and on the race trail. Sportsmanship and common sense must prevail.

Mistreatment of a dog, with or without an implement (whip, chain, other objects), is prohibited.

17. Rule violations

Reporting rule violations by race management members

Members of the race management (checkpoint patrols, etc.) report obvious rule violations immediately (by radio) to the race management. The race director decides on the measures to be taken in these cases on their own responsibility.

Reporting rule violations by race participants

Mushers who wish to report a rule violation by another musher must present this orally to an official as quickly as possible after the violation. The oral protest must be followed by a written protest, which must be submitted to the race management within one hour of finishing the leg.

Protests and hearings

Every musher accused of an alleged rule violation may file a protest and request a hearing before the race management. The race management must hear the accused musher.

Disciplinary proceedings

Every violation of these long-distance rules must be punished by the race management, either by an oral reprimand to the musher or by disqualification of the team. Decisions must be announced to the musher and the relevant checkpoint patrols immediately. Disciplinary proceedings after the end of the race must be carried out before the announcement of the winners. For doping controls, it is necessary to wait for the laboratory examination.

Decisions of the race management are final. The race management may impose time penalties in exceptional cases.

Race regulations