It's finally time to kick off the 2022-23 mushing season on the Kuskokwim. At 11am on Saturday, December 17th, 23 teams will take off on a 32 mile journey across the tundra from Bethel to Atmautluak and back as they compete for a purse of $20,000.
This also marks the beginning of the K300 Race Committee's new season-long competition, The Delta Championship Series. The top ten finishers will receive points according to their place which will be tallied with the results of a total of 6 races over the course of the season. Learn more about The Delta Championship Series and review the rules here.
Spectators are encouraged to attend but if driving we ask that you please park on the road and walk on to the lake.
For those who can't be there in person we'll be live-streaming the start and as much of the finish as we can at www.facebook.com/kuskokwim300. We try to get everything but sometimes cold and connectivity make that a challenge.
The Trail:
Racers will start on Charles Family Lake (across the street from H-Marker Lake) and head out on the Atmautluak Trail. The route is very well marked with a combination of K300 markers, tripods and assorted other markers. Mushers will race about 16 miles to a turnaround at the village of Atmautluak then back to Charles Family Lake. While conditions have improved considerably in the last week mushers and fans should expect a fast race.
Race Rules:
1. The race will begin with a mass start at 11am on Charles Family Lake (across the street from H-marker Lake). The K300 truck will mark the start/finish line and teams may choose whatever starting position they like.
2. Eight dog limit.
3. No dropped dogs.
4. General passing rules apply. When any team approaches to within 50 feet of another team, the team behind has the immediate right of way upon demand. The racer ahead must stop their dogs and hold them to the best of their ability for a maximum of one minute or until the other team has passed, whichever occurs first. The passed team must remain behind at least 15 minutes before demanding the trail. The race officials may penalize a team if this rule is violated. “No Man’s Land” will be marked by two K300 stakes about 2 miles from the finish.
5. No pacing by snow machine. There may be an official snow machine pacing the field in the early part of the trail to show all teams the proper trail, and also perhaps at other points on the trail as needed.
6. Mushers must be a current member of the K300 to participate in this race. Membership may be purchased for $100.
7. The race purse is $20,000 distributed as follows:
1……………………………....$2,700
2…………………………..…..$2,450
3………………………………$2,250
4………………………………$2,050
5……………………………....$1,850
6………………………….…..$1,700
7……………………………...$1,450
8…………………………..…$1,250
9…………………………..…$1,050
10…………………………...$900
11…………………………...$750
12…………………………...$600
13…………………………...$450
14………………………..….$300
15…………………………...$250
The Mushers:
Comments