Rules

The race follows IFSS rules with specified supplements.

During Polardistance 2010 the following exception 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 cm in 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.)

The distance of the race is 160 or 300 kilometres and is open for purebred 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, 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). Registration certificate in original has to be shown before start.

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 insurence for himself.

Classes

• Nordic style Open, 1-4 dogs.
• Nome style 6-team A, 4-6 dogs.
• Nome style 6-team B, 4-6 dogs.
• Nome style 8-team A, 5-8 dogs.
• Nome style 8-team B, 5-8 dogs.
• Nome style 12-team A, 8-12 dogs.

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

Start Card
All participants receive a start card. 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.

At one of the checkpoints competitors in the 300 class must take a six hours rest, you can choose if you like to rest at checkpoint number 2, 3 or 4. The 160 classes don’t have a mandatory rest but they have to stop at checkpoint Lövnäsvallen to equal out the time difference from the start.

Assistance

The competitors may not receive any help or assistance, or equipment along the way. Exceptions can come about at checkpoints on the advice and instructions of functionaries, and to avoid injuries. If the sled/pulka/ski/ski stick breaks the musher may receive an empty sled/pulka/ski/ski stick from their handler. The musher has to repack himself and then leave the broken sled/pulka/ski/ski stick to his/hers handler. The switch has to be approved by the race judge, race marshal or the functionary in charge. No other help is allowed during the race.

No handlers or spectators may visit the mushers and their dogs when they are resting.

Any injuries shall be reported to the race management.

Doping

The doping regulations for dogs are accessible at www.skk.se
The doping regulations for human are accessible at www.rf.se
Lack of pedigree in original, or shortage in equipment according to the list will result in a racing ban. The starting fee will not be repaid on these occasions. Please note that all dogs have to be marked with a chip.