Note: extra rules for Amundsen DUO at the bottom of the page.

The race is judged according to the IFSS/ESDRA rules. In order to start in Amundsen Race one needs to have a valid race license and the dogs should be ID marked (chipped). Mushers with a Swedish racing license also need to have the 'Green Card'.

Note ESDRA rules for scooter mat and snowhooks:
The sled should be equipped with sufficient brakes, scooter mat, brushbow, two snowhooks as well as sled bag. The scooter mat should be of sufficient size to control the team. The scooter mat should be attached to the sled by a stabile "tipp-upp-system" 

A quick release hook should be used as extra security at the start of the Race. A stake-out chain is to be used in the starting-area of the race.

Mandatory gear
Mentioned here under is the mandatory equipment which should be carried in the sled during the race. It is demanded that all equipment is functional in order to be approved. The equipment will be checked at checkpoints and at the finish.

• Recent maps (1:1.0000) Lantmäteriets maps Z6, Z7, Z8, W1 as well as Norwegian State Map. (Statens Kartverk). Click here for Lantmäteriets Map Shop. Click here for Norska Statens Kartverk.
• Veterinarian handbook (will be distributed upon incheckning)
• Water cooker and pot, capable of heating a minimum of ½ liter per dog. (to be carried in the sled for the entire race).
• Jackets for all the dogs in the team. You need to have as many jackets in the sled as dogs in the team.
• Magnetic compass
• Snow shovel
• Axe or long knife (min. 20 cm. blade)
• Wire or chain of 150 cm. / 4 dogs
• Extreme winter sleeping bag. Should be weighing min. 2500 grams or be functional for temperatures of -35C and below.
• Sleeping mat (min. size 50 cm. x 120 cm.)
• Extreme Survival Bag, min. weight 2 kg. Alternatively: tent + normal windproof bag + cooker with fuel for min. 1 day. (The tent should be shaped in such a way that one can safely have the cooker inside the tent. Cookers from the Norwegian military are not approved.
• Extra set of clothing (under and outer clothes, socks and footwear that retains heat)
• First aid equipment for both driver and dogs.
• Head lamp and batteries + extra batteries
• Light stick/signal flare/emergency light (to be carried in pocket on person)
• Rubbish bag
• Matches
• 4 booties per dog from each checkpoint, including those in use.
• Reserve dog food. 500 grams kibble or 1 kg. meat per dog in the team at start. This food is to be packed, sealed and carried to the finish unopened, regardless the number of dogs dropped in the race.
• The musher needs to have food for min. 1 day to him/herself at finish.

Mandatory gear that is lost or damaged can be taken/replaced from the depot bag. Any replacement of mandatory gear must first be approved by a judge/race marshal/checkpoint official. (Exception: items such as used dog booties, batteries, rubbish sack and fuel for the water cooker/primus can be replaced as necessary). Half a liter of fuel should be in the sled at crossing the finish line.

Team Size/Class
Amundsen Race has only 1 class: 8-12 dog team. The team should not have more than 12 dogs and not less than 8 at start.
At the finish line the team has to have a minimum of 6 dogs.
Dogs can be dropped only at checkpoints.
The musher is responsible for that the dog is being taken care of correctly.
Feeding of dogs: All feeding of dogs should be done outside.

Mandatory lay over
Amundsen race has 3 mandatory lay overs. The first lay over of 3 hours is at checkpoint Ljungdalen, second lay over of 6 hours at checkpoint Tänndalen and final lay over of 4 hours is at the offroad checkpoint of Lövåsen (Grövelsjon).
Participants in Amundsen DUO have 1 hour stop in connection with changing of teams at Tänndalen and also 4 hours obligatory rest in Lövåsen.

Closing of checkpoints:
Checkpoint Ljungdalen closes 10 hours after the first team has left the checkpoint.
Checkpoint Tänndalen closes 18 hours after the first team has left the checkpoint.
Checkpoint Lövåsen closes 20 hours after the first team has left the checkpoint.
Checkpoint Tufsingdalen closes 24 hours after the first team has left the checkpoint.
The race organization remains the right to change/adapt these times.

Checkpoints
Checkpoints can be considered as heats of the race. The musher has to carry the bib nr when arriving at and leaving the checkpoint. Both musher and handler have to carry their bib number while they are in the stake out area.

Checkpoint 1 - Ljungdalen, Sweden. Depot. There will be straw available and cold water. In Ljungdalen is a sleeping room, hostel, restaurant, secretariat

Checkpoint 2 - Hotel Tänndalen, Sweden. Depot. Besides the depot, there is straw and cold water available. In Tänndalen is a sleeping room, cabins, restaurant, secretariat

Checkpoint 3 - Lövåsen (Grövelsjon), Sweden. No depot. There is cold water available and straw. In Lövåsen it is not possible to go indoors and there is no food being sold.

Checkpoint 4 - Tufsingdalen, Norway.  In Tufsingdalen, the musher is only allowed to drop dogs.


There are depots at checkpoint Ljungdalen and Tänndalen.

Depot bags are not being transported by the organizer. It is up to each musher to get the depot bag transported to the depot place in Ljungdalen and Hotel Tänndalen. Depot bags should be marked with the musher's name and bib number.

Extra gear (f.e. clothes, ..) can be left at the checkpoints and is to be picked up by handlers with the exception of checkpoint Lövåsen. In Lövåsen it is not possible to leave extra gear. The race organizer is not being held responsible for transport. The handler can take gear from the car to the musher. This should be layed in the depot and not be given directly to the driver. This goes the same for extra sleds. The sled should be placed in the depot empty and the sled should also be taken to the team empty. Handler or musher are not allowed to have gear or alike in the sled. Empty sled is to be changed for an empty sled. It is not allowed to provide the musher with warm water or mixed dog food.

The handler is obliged to clean up after its musher after the team has left the checkpoint. Equipment and trash bags are provided by the organizer.

Road crossings
It is not allowed for handlers to be at road crossings unless decided otherwise of the organizer. Handler/handler trucks will get the same bib number as its musher. If the handler/handler truck is being observed at road crossings it can lead to disqualification of the musher.

Help/assistance to the team
The musher is not allowed to get help of any kind during the race, with the exception of steering, braking and keeping the team at checkpoints. Help to get the team going is not allowed.

Dogs in car
Dogs which are taken in the car, house or alike are taken out of the race.

Public roads
Mushers are not allowed to use public roads on any part of the trail except where the organizer has marked the trail. Information in regard to this is given at the musher meeting.

Trail Marking
IFSS/ESDRA rules apply to marking of the trail. Click here to read IFSS/ESDRA regulations

Scratching from the race
A musher scratching from the race has to notify the race marshal as soon as possible. The decision to scratch is not being put to force before 5 hours after notification of the race marshal. It is only allowed to scratch at a checkpoint. Mushers who scratch should be packing equipment and/or prepare their departure during these 5 hours. A musher who doesn't report he/she is scratching will not be allowed to start on next year's race.

Littering of the trail, parking area and checkpoints
This is highly forbidden, and should be self-evident and not even necessary to include in the rules, but it has shown on other races in recent years that many mushers do not take any consideration to this point. It leads to negative press for the sports when the general public gets the impression that we are leaving trash during our mushing journey.

Search for lost team
Amundsen race will normally start searching ca. 24 hours after last contact. Therefore one should avoid unnecessary stops between checkpoints.

Reindeerherds
The trail goes through stretches of land where reindeerherds are present, therefore one needs to have control over the dogs at all times. The entrant is liable for damages caused by his/her team to reindeers. On stretches where reindeers are present the drivers needs to be attached to his team/sled with a rope or similar.

Vaccination and anti-doping rules
The dogs should be vaccinated according to Norwegian regulations, but the Swedish anti-doping regulations apply to the race.
As Musher you have by entering the race, committed yourself to follow the present anti-doping regulations concerning both driver (RF´s doping regulations www.rf.se) as well as dogs. (National doping regulations for dogs, www.skk.se , concerning waitingperiod, dispensation possibilities for forbidden substances and methods). Besides, during a transition period, ESDRA's www.esdra.net concerning procedures and disciplinary consequences.

NEW FOR 2010: AMUNDSEN DUO!
Amundsen DUO is a relay race where 2 dogteams and 2 mushers form a team and compete against other Amundsen DUO's. Amundsen DUO is a race in itself with its own classification.

Rules for Amundsen DUO are the same as for Amundsen Race with the following changes:

• Each Duo team consists of 2 mushers who drive each 1 heat:
  heat 1 (Östersund - Tänndalen) alternatively heat 2 (Tänndalen- Röros).
• Mandatory gear, including the sled, can be handed over between the team in checkpoint Tänndalen.
• The team should consist of max 12 and min 8 dogs per team and heat. The dogs are NOT allowed to run both heats.
• 1 hour mandatory stopp in Tänndalen before the second team member leaves.

DUO drivers will be wearing a different colored bib from Amundsen Race drivers.

Masstarten on the ice of the great lake in Östersund and same trail as for Amundsen Race applies to DUO drivers.