KAMCHADAL International Sled Dog Race, March 25-28, 2004
Kamchatka, Russia -October 15,2003
FAIRBANKS, AK ­ The 2004 KAMCHADAL International Sled Dog Race, to be held in the Russian Far East in March 2004, is shaping up to be a significant event. Official Tim White, President of the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS), and renowned race marshal Mark Nordman, of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, as well as many North American mushers, began discussing guidelines for the Russian event at the Alaska Dog Mushers Associations International Sled Dog Symposium held here. They agreed the KAMCHADAL race was a great opportunity for international competitors to mix in unique scenic surroundings and historical circumstances. Mr. Nordman is negotiating his potential involvement in KAMCHADAL as a race marshal. The KAMCHADAL race will give experienced Alaskan, Canadian and European mushers the opportunity to race against local Russian mushers, especially Koryak, Even and Itelmen natives who do not usually possess the means to travel to other events. Participants will be exposed to learning how others operate and live with their dogs. They will get to observe the local sled dogs, oftentimes the only means of transport for local hunters and fishermen in remote parts of Kamchatka. These dogs have inherited the age-long working qualities of a true Siberian sled dog. Displayed at the race will be native mushing gear and techniques, sledding equipment crafted using ancient traditions passed on for generations. One of the race organizers, Sergey Frolov, said the event was also the perfect chance for some mushers to return to the homeland of their Siberian Huskies. The KAMCHADAL race will not differentiate between the different breeds of dogs, everyone will be under the same rules.The KAMCHADAL race has been organized taking the popular Iditarod race in Alaska into consideration. Mr. Frolov said a group charter flight has been organized with Magadan Airlines to take the mushers from Anchorage to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy after the Iditarod. The four-hour flight can accommodate up to 200 dogs and 100 participants. Competitors will have four days for training before the start of the mid-distance KAMCHADAL race and four days at leisure after the race. The KAMCHADAL race will probably be the last race of the season for many U.S. and Canadian mushers. It will extend the race season for European mushers and give European, Russian and North American mushers a chance to compete against each other. The race course takes mushers around five beautiful volcanoes and to the Nalycheva Valley hot springs, where overnight camping will be provided. Approximately 60 percent of the racecourse is inaccessible by road. Mr. Frolov suggested the best way for visitors to view the race was to take a group helicopter flight to the Nalycheva Valley. Being a Stage Race, the KAMCHADAL event will incorporate resting intervals between 11a.m and 6 p.m., when spring slushy snow makes conditions difficult for dog teams and even snowmobiles. However, this will allow the mushers to give their dogs enough repose before the next heats, while they themselves can admire the Kamchatka scenery. During a 24-hour stop on the trail in the Nalycheva Valley the mushers will join the race spectators at the relaxing natural hot springs. Mr. White, a prospective participant in the race, said he was willing to lease his second dog team to other mushers participating in the race. Some of the North American mushers displayed a willingness to lease their dogs to the Europeans in order to lower their costs of transportation. March weather conditions are excellent in Kamchatka. For many mushers and their teams this period spells the ending of another season, when most look forward to relaxing and spending time with family and friends, letting handlers take the racecourse and run new dogs. Participants are also encouraged to bring family members to visit the Russian Far East. The race will be an International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) World Cup/World Championship qualifier, allowing European, Russian and North American mushers to qualify for future Mid Distance major races. The basic race cost for an American musher is U.S. $4,000 breaking down as follows: $200 – Russian invitations and visa support fee; $2,500 - air travel round-trip cost including transportation of musher, an eight-dog team and 150 kg of dry food, sled and other supplies from Anchorage to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy (six- or seven-dog team will have a lower cost); and $1,300 - race entry fee covering transfers, eight nights of accommodation at the KAMCHADAL Lodge and four nights at race camps, three meals a day, kennel facilities (including a separate kitchen for cooking dog food), use of 50 km of groomed trails for training, storage, veterinary service, food drop, straw, administrative costs and two race banquets. Contracted local beef and fish manufacturers can supply additional dog food for an extra moderate fee (bringing unprocessed meats to Russia is not permitted). Handlers and family members traveling to the race will pay for 12 days of all-inclusive service U.S. $2,000 per person. Children under the age of 12 will get a 25% discount. Russian-made Buran snowmobiles can be leased for extra U.S. $600 ea. for the entire 4 days race including fuel and maintenance on the trail. Local Russian handler-guides (with limited English abilities and snowmobile) can be hired to aid mushers on the trail, drive snowmobile, help with dogs and equipment before and during the race, and set up the camps. The handler charge for 12 days of all-inclusive service is $1,600. The entry payment deadline is February 1, 2004. Tentative purse for the 2004 KAMCHADAL race is U.S. $25,000 and will be distributed in the following way: $7,000 for 1st place, $6,000 for 2nd, $5,000 for 3rd, $4,000 for 4th, and $3,000 for 5th. First, second and third place in the heats 1 and 3 will be awarded additional $500, $300, and $200, respectively. A final decision will be made on February 1, 2004.