2008/2009 Copper Haul Twister Race Rules!
PASSING RULES
Passing/Repassing
- If another team catches you, that is because they are faster than you. They must have gained at least a minute to catch you.
- The catching team must call “TRAIL” if they desire to pass. You may not hear them, however when you see their leaders coming up alongside you and your sled/skis then you must act as if they had called “TRAIL”, they are coming past.
- You are slower, you are being passed.
- You must give every courtesy to the passing team to allow them to pass cleanly. This may involve use of the brake (sled), snowplowing, or sitting down (skis). The dogs being passed will see the team passing them and become excited, get a burst of energy and try to keep up. As the dog driver of the team being passed it is your responsibility to slow them to let the other team pass. It is unacceptable for the team being passed to continue to run alongside any part of the passing team. You have to let them go past.
- Not yielding when being passed will result in a 10 minute penalty.
Re-passing
- Once you have been passed, you may allow your dogs to speed up as they are naturally now keen to chase. You cannot call “TRAIL” and try to re-pass the team that has just overtaken you until 5 minutes has elapsed. A 5 minute re-passing delay is found in the rules for the Silver Sled (7-100mile races), Carbon Hill (7-30mile races), and the Dash For Cash (4-10 mile races).
- Re-passing within the 5 minute delay time will result in a 10 minute penalty for every occurrence.
- Passing/Re-passing “battles’ are unacceptable - the risk of tangles and dog injury are greatly increased and is unsporting behaviour.
Drafting
- Whether you have just been passed and are now chasing the passing team, or you have caught a team up and want to sit in behind them for a while, this is known as drafting. Drafting is totally acceptable. However, it requires control of leaders by the chasing team.
- Any dog driver that allows its dogs to close up so close that:
- The leaders are in amongst the sled runners, feet and brakes of a sled team, or
- The leaders are in amongst the skis or spiked ski poles of a skijor team, or
- Allows its leaders to wrap their neckline round the legs of a skijorer or musher and “take them out”
Meeting a tangle on the Trail
- If you come across two or more teams tangled together on the trail, here is what to do on the CHT race:
- Wide Trail Situation – The Copper Haul Trail: If there is plenty of packed trail alongside the tangle, and your leaders can pass without having to brush against the tangle, i.e. you can see a wide pathway of packed trail around the tangled teams, you can move forward and pass the tangle.
- Narrow Trail Situation – the loops and side trail. There is to be NO attempts at passing a tangle on these trails. No exceptions!
BIB WEARING
- In the CHT races, bibs must be worn by the dog drivers. Wearing the bib is extremely helpful to the race officials and volunteers. Bibs cannot be tied onto sleds etc. Wear the bib on your person, or you will be disqualified.
General Rules
All rules subject to amendment by Race Marshall at any time
Race Marshall may create new rules for unforeseen circumstances at any time
Race Marshall’s decision is final, there is no appeal.
Please do not embarrass yourself by whining and complaining if you do not like the Race Marshall’s decision.
The Race Committee would like to thank the Silver Sled and Carbon Hill as their rules form the basis of this rule set.
1) No dog drops. Fatigued or injured dogs must be carried to the finish line by the same team they started with.
2) Mandatory Gear: 12 mile CHT; 5km Kids Race
a) Sled teams: sled bag, snow hook, working brake
b) Skijor teams: Skijor belt.
3)Mandatory Gear: 5km Pet/Non-Sled Dog Race
Skijor style belt and line attaching dog to competitor. Exception: kick sleds can have the dog attached to the sled.
4)Any dog abuse results in instant disqualification, and refusal of entry to subsequent League races for the rest of the season
5)Competitors disqualified for dog abuse at other races at any time may be barred from competing in the Yukon Brewing CHT Race League and Race Days. Race Marshall will make decision under advice from Race Committee and Race Vet.
6)12 mile CHT and Kids Race only: Handlers may help a competitor untangle a dog team within the first 100 meters. The team must be moved off the trail and cannot leave within 30 seconds before or after the next team.
7)Any team can accept help from volunteers throughout the race, with no penalties.
Musher must ask for help, otherwise help is to be freely given.
8)Passing Rules: CHT and Kids Race
1)competitor must be within 50 feet of team to demand trail
2)competitor must allow passing team 1 minute to untangle
3)5 minutes must be observed before re-passing.
Passing Rules: 1 dog Race
1)competitor must be within 50 feet of team to demand trail
2)5 minutes must be observed before re-passing.
9)Absolutely no littering, take your, and your dogs’ waste away with you.
10)Protests must be submitted to the Race Marshall within 30 minutes of reaching the finish line. Complaints MUST be in writing.
11)Extreme weather conditions are defined as below –35’C. In this case the Race Marshall shall meet with the Race Committee to decide of the race should be held.
12)The Trail must be followed as marked.
13)If it is necessary to stop, pull off the trail
14) Metal edged skis are prohibited and cannot be used
15)Age of Mushers
12 Mile CHT: 14 years or older
5km Kids race: 6-13 years
1 Pet-dog: 14 years or older
The Committee reserves the right to deny entry to any class to any participant that is deemed too inexperienced to participate safely for that class.
16)Entry Fee, all races $10. Please bring correct change.
17)Disclaimer. Disclaimer must be signed by all competitors and volunteers. Any competitor under 19 years must have their parent or legal guardian sign the disclaimer.
18)Photographs – Any photographs taken during the Race Day may be used in the Copper Haul Twister promotional materials, or by our sponsors.
19)Necklines are mandatory for any paired dogs
19a) Harnesses are mandatory for all dogs
20)Commercial Operators
Any Commercial Operators allowing someone else to run their dogs in the Yukon Brewing CHT League and Race Days for monetary gain must have liability insurance under the Yukon Wilderness Guides Act. Commercial Operators’ insurance policies must include the Yukon Brewing CHT League and Race Days as “an additional insured’ in order for their clients to enter the race/ (Proof is required for entry).
19) No-Man’s Land is from the culverts at the bottom of the slope before the finish line.
21) Sportsmanship and Trail Manners
Everyone will behave in an acceptable manner in terms of sportsmanship, including respect for all dogs, competitors, volunteers, spectators, race officials and the use of proper language. Rude, or inappropriate behavior by any competitor or handler will result in a penalty and/or disqualification and/or refusal of future entry.
22) All competitors must be in good standing with the any sponsor of the league or race days. Competitors with unresolved debts to any of the sponsors will not be allowed entry to the races until the debt is resolved.
23) No competitor, handler, or relative of either is to take a motorised vehicle on the course (Copper Haul road between start line and end turn of the CHT trail) between 8.45am and the end of the races. To do will result in immediate disqualification for the competitor involved.
If relatives wish to act as volunteers on the course they should contact the Race Committee so that such activities can be safely co-ordinated and volunteers stationed appropriately.
24) Outside of, and on, race days, persons being disrespectful or rude to CHT Org volunteers, or bringing the CHT Org races into disrepute, may be refused entry to the CHT Org races. Such persons may not be allowed to handle nor compete, and neither may dog kennels they own or operate, in the CHT Org races. The CHT Org reserves the right to notify any and all other Races and Race Organisations of the ban and it's reason - volunteer abuse.
25) The Race Marshall has the right to create any rule, for any situation, at any time, and backdate the implementation of that rule to 5 minutes before the incident, causing the new rule to be created, occurred.
26) Participation as handler, or competitor, in the CHT explicitly implies you have read, understood with, and agree to adhere to all the rules.
Thank you for your understanding and see you at the races!!!
