Rules

The race follows IFSS rules with specified supplements.

During Polardistans 2012 the following exceptions from the IFSS:s rules 3 Capt. 48.1 and 48.2.1 will be accepted.

The dogs may be harnessed in pairs. A solid shaft shall then be used and the shaft shall reach approx.5 cmin front of the wheel dogs’ shoulder. The shaft may be used all the way to the leader. The end of the shaft shall be constructed in a way that prevents injuries on other dogs. If the shaft only reaches the wheel dogs it is permitted to use a tug line for the dogs in front. (Click on the picture to make it larger.)

All teams in pulka/nordic style must have a break on their pulka, regardless of the size of the team.

The distance of the race is 160 or 300 kilometres and is open for purebred and registrated Alaskan malamute, Greenland dog, Samoyed, and Siberian husky.

All dogs have to be at least two years of age and dogs older than 10 years must have a certificate from a veterinary proving its ability to participate in the race. Exemption is not made for dogs under the age of two. Registration certificate in original, vaccination certificate and insurance for mushers will be checked before start. The dogs has to be registrated and marked with a chip (tattoo in the ear is not accepted).

NB! Lack of pedigree in original, shortage in equipment according to the list with mandatory equipment or that the musher and handler do not attend the musher meeting will result in a racing ban. There is no refund of the start fee in these circumstances.

Vaccination
Participating dogs must be imported according to the Swedish rules for importation of dogs concerning rabies vaccination and deworming against tapeworm (Echinococcus).

Participating foreign dogs shall be vaccinated against canine distemper according to the following rules and regulations:

• Dog (puppy) younger than 12 months shall be vaccinated at lowest ten weeks old.
• Dog older than 12 months shall have been vaccinated when it is one year old and the vaccination after that must not be older than four years.
• If it's the first vacination of the dog or if the dog hasn´t been vaccinated when it was one year old, the vaccination must have been done at least 14 days before the competition.

There may be controls to check that the Swedish rules for importation of dogs and vaccination are obeyed.

Participating dogs are also recommended to be vaccinated against parvovirosis and kennelcough.

Start fee
Start fee shall be paid to:

With the payment and the registration for the race the participator agree to the race rules and that the responsibility to take part is his/her own.

Musher insurance
The musher has to have insurance for himself or a musher pass that has to be shown at the registration.

Classes

• Nordic style, 1-2 dogs                          160 and 300 km
• Nordic style, 3-4 dogs                          160 and 300 km
• Nome style B, 4-8 dogs                        160 km
• Nome style C, 6-8 dogs                        160 km 
• Nome style B, 6-7 dogs                         300 km 
• Nome style B, 8-12 dogs                       300 km
• Nome style C, 8-12 dogs                       300 km

The number of dogs listed in the various classes is the number of dogs that may start. Neither more or less is permitted. I.e. in Nome style B 4-8 dogs you are not allowed to start with fewer than 4 and not more than 8 dogs.

Compulsory equipment
All participants have to bring the compulsory equipment thru the race (see special list).

Start Card
All participants receive a start card at the registration. This card shall be handed over to any functionary at every checkpoint for timing and to be stamped.

Checkpoint

Along the track there will be a number of checkpoints which the participants must pass. Veterinary examinations will also be performed during the race.

Polardistans 300 has a mandatory rest of 6 hours and you can choose if you like to rest at checkpoint Häggingåsvallen, Lillhärdal or Lövnäsvallen.

Polardistans 160 has a mandatory rest of 20 minutes and you can choose if you like to rest at Häggingåsvallen or Lövnäsvallen.

In addition to the mandatory rest there will also be a time to equal out the time difference from the start in both 300 km and160 km.

At every checkpoint there will be water and straw for the musher and dogs and you can also leave an injured or sick dog there.

Musher and handler meeting

The musher meeting is mandatory for both musher and handler.

Handler

The handler can only help the musher at start and finish with his/her dogs. At checkpoint the handler can meet the musher in a marked area around the fire. Dog that is taken out of the competition may be handed to the handler in a marked area at the checkpoint.

Dogs in cars

Dogs that are put in a car, taken inside a house or likewise during the race will be removed from the race.

Help

The volunteers may help steer the team and to avoid injuries. The volunteers will show you a place for a short stop or where teams can take a long rest. Mushers are not allowed to receive some form of assistance during the race except to steer, brake and keep the team at the checkpoint. Help to get the team going is not allowed.

If your sled/toboggan/ski/rod is broken the musher may receive an empty sled/toboggan/ski/rod from the handler. The musher must repackage yourself and then leave the broken sled/toboggan/ski/rod to the handler. The change must be approved by the judge, race marshal of officer responsible.

No other help is allowed during the race.

Injuries to the dogs shall be reported to the race marshal.

Dead dog

If a dog dies during the race between two checkpoints the dog should be transported to the next checkpoint or the checkpoint before. If possible the dog should be transported covered. At checkpoint the race marshal and veterinarian shall be notified. The musher can continue the race if a first inspection shows that the dog has died of causes other than abuse.

Protest

A protest should be filed in writing within one hour after the finish. Protest fee is 100 SEK.

Doping
The doping regulations for dogs are accessible at www.skk.se

The doping regulations for human are accessible at www.rf.se