Percy Skijor

Race Overview

  • Distance: 40 miles (64 km)
  • Trail: Down to the Chandindu River and back to Dawson City
  • Warm-up tent available at the turning point. 

    Water will be provided for skiers and dogs.

Race Details

  • Number of Dogs: Maximum four (4), minimum two (2).
  • Number of Teams: The race will be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) teams (maximum two (2) teams per kennel) based on sign-up order. Should the number of teams exceed twenty (20), a waitlist will be maintained. Waitlist teams have priority over late entries.
  • Start: 1:00 am, with a staggered start timed at two (2) minute intervals. 

Registration and Entry Fee

  • Entry Fee: $50. After February 15th, an extra $25.
  • Entry will not be guaranteed until the entry form is complete and the entry fee has been paid in full.
  • With the approval of the Race Marshall, mushers may be substituted up to and including the start of the mushers’ meeting.
  • Withdrawal Policy: If a participant wishes to withdraw from the race after entry is confirmed and before the event, no refunds will be issued.

Prizes

Cash and/or sponsor prizes.

Race Rules

  1. Mandatory Pre-Race Vet Check: There will be no mandatory pre-race vet check. However, we will have a voluntary pre-race vet check, where skijorers can bring their dogs to the vet team to have them looked at, if they have any concerns about their dogs.

  2. Mandatory Mushers' Meeting:
    • The meeting will take place at 6:00 PM sharp at the Dawson Checkpoint, which is the Dawson City Visitor Center, located at the corner of Front Street and King Street. The door is locked at the beginning of the meeting, and there will be a $50 fine for late arrivals, payable before the end of the meeting.
  3. Staging Area:
    • The staging area will be on the lower part of the Ice Bridge on the Yukon River.
    • If Race Officials deems a team unmanageable in the staging area when they need to be brought to the start chute will not be able to start at their designated time. In this case, the team will start last, but will be timed from their initial designated start time.
  4. Race Start:
    • The Percy Skijor race has a timed start at two (2) minute intervals.
    • Teams must leave, within one (1) minute of their start time. If unable to enter the chute at their designated time, the team will start last. 
    • The team must leave within thirty (30) minutes of their designated start time or be disqualified and forfait the entry fee.
    • The time differential will be calculated at the finish line.
  5. Handlers:
    • Handlers are allowed to assist at the start.
  6. Number of Dogs:
    • All skijorers are allowed two (2) dog minimum and four (4) dogs maximum.
    • No loose leaders are permitted.
    • No dogs may be added to a team after the start of the race.
    • Dogs must be in the skijorer’s control at all times.
    • No dog switching is allowed between mushers/skijorers is permitted.
    • All dogs must finish the race.
  7. Treatment of Dogs:
    • There shall be no cruel or inhumane treatment of dogs, as determined by Race Officials.
    • All care and feeding of dogs will be done by the Skijorer only.
    • Only skijorer may assist one another during the race.
    • No outside assistance is allowed during the race, including at the turn around point, unless an emergency is declared and judged so by the Race Marshall.
    • Incidental help at turn around point is permitted.
    • Any pre-existing dog health issues must be identified to the vets prior to the race start. If any issue is not declared before the race and is then noticed during the race, it will be deemed to have occured during the race.
    • Teams vill be assessed by Race Vet and Race Official as necessary.
    • Teams may not be allowed to proceed until cleared by Race Officials.
  8. Mandatory Gear: Every Skijorer vill have in their possession during the entire race the following items :
    • RACE BIB must be worn at the start and finish and must be returned in good condition.
    • Light (Flashlight or headlamp)
    • At least eight (8) booties per dog when departing Dawson
    • Tracking device (provided by race organization)

    Penalty: One hour per missing item added to the Skijorer’s total running time. Teams missing any of these items at the start will not be allowed to leave until they are present.

  9. Recommended Supplies :
    • Adequate amount of food for the skijorer and dogs. Secondary flashlight or headlamp. 
  10. Clearing Trail and Passing
    • Any skijorer setting up for a rest must clear the trail of their dogs and gear. 
    • Slower teams must yield to faster ones, overtaking teams and provide the overtaking team sufficient tiem to untangle if necessary before following.
    • A skijorer being passed is responsible for controlling their dogs to allow for a clean pass. The team passsed cannot pass the overtaking team for a minimum of five (5) minutes.
    • Teams still heading towards the warm up tent must yield the trail to skijorers heading back towards Dawson.
  11. Littering:
    • Absolutely nno littering anywhere along the trail or at the checkpoint.
    • Handlers are required to clean up after teams in the staging area and dispose of waste in designated areas.
  12. Warm-up Tent:
    • A warm up tent will be set up at the mouth of the Chandidu River, where the turn around point will be.
    • Skijorers are responsible for their dogs at all times and the dogs must remain under their control.
    • Loose dogs will result in penalties.
    • There is no mandatory layover to be taken, but teals are allowed to take a rest at the tent for a few hours.
    • A race volunteer will be present until 8pm after which time water and firewood will not be provided.
  13. Sportsmanship:
    • All Skijorers must conduct themselves with civil and sportspersonlike manner for the duration of the event, from the Musher's Meeting through to the end of the Awards Brunch.
  14. No Man's Land:
    • No man's land shall be considered the land between the Moosehide Village (approx. the last three (3) miles) and the finish line.
    • Within the area, trail does not have to be given at the request of the overtaking skijorer.
  15. Finish:
    • An official finish shall be determined by the front of the skis crossing the finish line.
    • Gear will be checked and teams must be cleared by a race official before entering any vehicle.
  16. Penalties:
    • Failure to adhere to any and all the rules will result in penalty. 
    • Race officials will determine suitable penalties. A skijorer my request a penalty review by the Race Marshal.
  17. Appeal:
    • A further appeal can be made to the Appeal Commitee. The decision of the Appeal Committee is final.
    • Any appeal has to be made to the commitee prior to the start of the Awards Brunch
  18. Censure:
    • The Commitee may reject any entries submitted for any reason of past conduct.
  19. Protest:
    • Any observed infraction of there rules may be protested verbally to the next official on the trail. A writter report will also be required within a time frame, as indicated by the Race Official.
  20. Vehicles:
    • If skijorers have vehicles, they must be in the finish line vicinity as indicated at the Musher's Meeting.
  21. Vet Care:
    • Any pre-existing dog health issues must be identified to the vet prior to the race start at the pre-race vet check.
    • If an issue is not declared before the race and is then noticed during the race, it will be deemed to have occured during the race.
    • Teams will be assessed by Race Vets and Race Officials as necessary.
    • Teams may not be allowed to proceed until cleared by Race Officials.
    • Should any vet administered IV fluids or shots be deemed necessary and given at any time to a dog(s) during the race the entire team will be disqualified.

 

On this note, have fun, be safe care well for your dogs and enjoy Yukon Wilderness.
Thank you for participating in the Percy DeWolfe Memorial Race.