The trail goes partly through reindeer grazing areas. The dogs must therefore be kept under strict control. The musher is liable for damages caused by his/her team to reindeer’s. On stretches where reindeer’s are present, the drivers needs to be attached to his team/sled with a rope or similar. Participants that are observed with lose dog(s) will be disqualified immediately.

At the Checkpoints it’s tighter supervision, which means no musher/handlers are allowed to walk the dogs loose that are picked out of the race/extra dogs in dog cars without dog leash.

Amundsen race has two classes in the AR350 and AR250:

9-12 dog team. The team should not have more than 12 dogs and not less than 9 at start. At the finish line the team has to have a minimum of 6 dogs.

6-8 dog team. The team can have max. 8 dogs at start and not less than 6 dogs. At the finish line the team has to have a minimum of 5 dogs.

Dogs in the sled are counted in the team.

Amundsen race has one class in the AR180:

6-8 dog team. The team can have max. 8 dogs at start and not less than 6 dogs. At the finish line the team has to have a minimum of 5 dogs.

Dogs in the sled are counted in the team.

Dogs can be dropped only at the checkpoints Ursvattnet, Norråker and Fjällsikten. The musher is responsible for that the dog is being taken care of by their own handler and the veterinary or race Marshall is informed. It is to be noted in the veterinary hand book.

All dogs participating in the competition have to be micro-chipped.

It is prohibited to follow snow-plowed roads other than the stretches of road decided on by the organizer (marked trail). Information in regard to this is given at the musher meeting.

Start interval is 2 minute, unless otherwise determined by the organizer.

Start takes place in starting groups, 12-dog team and 8-dog team. The time for equalization is valid within each starting group.

The driver is obliged to follow the organizers instructions to get from start area and up to start. The driver can receive help to get the team up to the start from the handlers / functionaries.

Be on time at the start area. So within the specified time frame to drive in.

After this time frame, the start area is closed and you can only start after everyone has left. In this case the time alignment will not be adjusted.

The musher is not allowed to get help of any kind during the race.

At checkpoints, the musher is allowed to receive help to steer, brake and keep the team when coming in or leaving the marked areas. Such help is only allowed within the marked areas at the checkpoint.

One (1) handler can stand behind the sled to overview the team when resting. It is not allowed to receive any other kind of assistance/help from third parties on checkpoints. This comprehends all tasks with the dog team under layovers/rest periods. Exception: participants in the race are allowed to help each other.

AR350 has a total mandatory layover of ten (10) hours + equalization time.

A minimum of four (4) hours layover is mandatory in Checkpoint Norråker, for the rest of the manadatory layover the musher is free to split as he/she wishes between checkpoints.

AR180 and AR250 has a total mandatory layover of six (6) hours + equalization time.

A minimum of four (4) hours layover is mandatory in Checkpoint Norråker (AR180) and for the AR250 in Checkpoint Fjällsikten, for the rest of the manadatory layover the musher is free to split as he/she wishes between checkpoints.

The resting periods have to be taken in full minutes. It is the musher’s responsibility to make sure that the whole mandatory layover is taken.

The musher shall personally check out of all checkpoints.

Time alignment will take place at the first mandatory checkpoint (Norråker AR180/AR350 and Fjällsikten AR250). It is the mushers responsibility to ensure that the start time difference is aligned.

The checkpoints are to be considered as control posts in the race. The participant has to personally sign in/out from checkpoints to continue the race.

The musher must wear his/her BIB clearly visible on the trail from start to checkpoint Ursvatnett and from the last checkpoint Norråker till the finish line. The handler for each musher will use his own orange handler vest at all checkpoints.

Checkpoints are provided with a depot (NOT Wilderness Checkpoints). Free access to water and straw.

It is the musher’s responsibility that the handler cleans up after the team and the straw when the team has left the checkpoint. Equipment and trash bags are provided by the organizer.

The last time to pass the checkpoint Norråker for AR350 is Sunday morning February 23 at 07.00.

The last time to pass the checkpoint Fjällsikten for AR250 is Sunday morning February 23 at 07.00.

The last time to pass the checkpoint Norråker for AR180 is Saterday afternoon February 22 at 17.00.

The team must have left the checkpoint by this time. Teams that leave the checkpoint after this time are suspended from the race. The closing time can be extended by the race jury.

There are depots at checkpoints Fjällsikten and Norråker. Depot bags should be marked with the musher’s name and bib number and put in the marked area.

Replacement sleds may not be taken out from the depot and in to the staging area other than when for the purpose of changing the sled in front of the team. Empty sled may be replaced with empty sled once and should be reported to the race judge or race Marshall or checkpoint manager.

Handler is not allowed to put warm water or prepare/mix dog food to leave in depot for the team. The cooler bags is not allowed to contain prepare/mix dog food when musher takes it to the team.

The musher must bring everything taken out from the depot to the staging area. The same goes for equipment and potential waste going from the staging area back to the depot.

It’s allowed for the musher to leave the depot bag packed and closed at the staging pole when leaving the checkpoint 2. It’s NOT allowed for the handler to put gear etc. in the depot bag when it’s placed by the pole. Placing stuff in the depot bag must always happen in the marked depot area.

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 at each checkpoint

Mentioned here is the mandatory equipment which should be carried in the sled during the whole race. It is required that all equipment is functional in order to be approved. The equipment will be checked before start, at checkpoints and at the finish.

• Two (2) snow hooks.
• GPS with Digital Map (View our GPS-Page for more information) ) with the route recorded on it. (the Route/Tracks can be downloaded from the AR webpages shortly before race start) .
• Veterinarian handbook (distributed upon check in)
• Water cooker, pot and fuel capable of heating a minimum of ½ liter per dog. To be carried in the sled for the entire race.
• Matches and enough red spirit or ignition spirits (at least 1 liter). Matches should be in waterproof packaging.
• Magnetic compass
• Snow shovel
• Axe or long knife (min. 20 cm. blade)
• Winter sleeping bag for extreme conditions – suited for minimum -25C
• Extreme Wind bag. Minimum Weight is 1200 grams.
• Or alternatively to extreme wind bag: Tent and regular windbag
• Extreme winter clothing (w / reflectors that are clearly visible in the dark, front and back)
• Extra set of clothing (under and outer clothes, socks and footwear).
• First aid equipment for both driver and dogs.
• Big garbage bags.
• Two light sticks with minimum 6 hours of light or 2 signal pens. To be carried in pocket on person, not in the sled!
• 8 booties/dog from each checkpoint, including those in use.
• Reserve dog food, 500 grams 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 has to have food for min. 24 hours to him/herself. Must consist of at least 500 grams. This has to be carried over the finish.

Clarification regarding the size of the sled: sled and sled bag must be of such a size that it can be a place for a tired / injured dog. The dog must be transported in a safe and secure manner during the period of the stay in sled bag.

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. Sleds can only be replaced once during the race. (Used dog booties, headlamp/batteries, rubbish sack and fuel for the water cooker/primus are excepted from this rule and can if so desired be replaced from depot).

The sled must have reflective markings (minimum 10 cm) on both sides of the handle bar, which should be clearly visible in the dark. There should be reflective markings on the collar of the lead dog (s) or on the neckline between the lead dogs. The musher must at all times also have reflective markings on the front and back of jacket.

At the registration every participant will receive a veterinary handbook. This shall be handled to the veterinarian at the checkpoint in connection with the veterinary checks.

At the finish line, the veterinary handbook shall be returned to the vet checking the team.

It is each participant’s responsibility that the veterinary handbook is signed by the veterinarian at all inspections.

Lost veterinary handbook results in disqualification!

All feeding and care of dogs shall happen outdoors and only be carried out by the musher. Only cold water may be fetched for preparing dog food.

Dogs that start to limp, become injured or ill or for other reasons must be transported
to the next checkpoint/finish line in the sled.

A dog that lies in the sled when the musher arrives at a checkpoint is to be shown for the veterinary. The dog can continue the race if the veterinary allows it.

If a dog dies during the race on the trail between checkpoints, it is to be taken to the next checkpoint or back to the previous checkpoint. The dog is to be transported in the sled and to be covered upon arriving to the checkpoint. The musher shall without delay after checking in notify the race organizer as represented by the race marshal, race director and/or race veterinarian. The musher can only continue the race after obtaining permission to do so by the race marshal, race director and/or race veterinarian. The musher can be disqualified from further participation should it be evident from investigations that the musher is guilty of abuse of the dog or if having in any other way caused the death of the dog. The musher can also be disqualified if he/she at an earlier checkpoint has been told in writing to drop the dog, unless its death was caused by entirely different reasons. If an autopsy of the dog is required, the musher will not be charged.

There shall be a cable in the central tow line.

Swedish Snaps/Hooks or BGB hooks are NOT allowed during the whole race. Not with the tuglines, necklines or at the stake-out in the checkpoint or in the start area.

Swedish Hooks

The Fixlock plastic hook is approved in necklines.

Fixlock Hook

No Man’s Land starts at least 1 km before the finishing line and shall be clearly marked. The trail in this stretch shall be broad enough for dog teams to pass each other.

In this area the “no right of way” applies.
In the “no-right-of-way” finishing zone, no team shall have the right of way over a finishing team.

On other parts of the trail, the IFSS rules for passing teams apply.

Breaking the rules regarding outside assistance can lead to disqualification of the musher.

Littering along the trail may lead to disqualification.

• The musher and handler meetings are mandatory for mushers and handlers. The dates and times for the meetings are published in the program on the website.
• The musher must wear his/her BIB clearly visible on the trail from start to checkpoint Ursvatnett and from the last checkpoint till the finish line. The handler for each musher will use his own orange handler vest at all checkpoints.
• The race organizer can instruct the musher’s to wear promotional materials on clothes or sleds.
• A participant choosing to scratch from the race shall as soon as possible notify the race management and is him/herself responsible for transportation of him/herself, their dogs, equipment and depots from the checkpoints.
• Rescue searches will normally be initiated 24 hours after the last point of contact. Unnecessary stops between the check points should therefore be avoided.
• The musher may sit on the sled.
• There is only a award ceremony / prize money for each of the classes AR350-12, AR350-8 and AR180-8 overall. For each of the 3 classes there will be a first, second and third place.

You can fill in the AR Protest Form online and download / print them with the changes made.

After filling in the form below click on the download arrow and select ‘With your changes’ or you can print it directly from the print sign.