45NRTH Whiteout Race Regulations
GENERAL GUIDELINES
The mandatory pre-race instruction meeting is scheduled before EACH WAVE at the beginning of the race at the Miners Mountain Rally Center.
Each participant must place their race number on the front of his/her bicycle.
POOR CONDITIONS RACE LOCATION
If the conditions of the singletrack race course are unsafe due to weather or other factors, the 45NRTH Whiteout will use its backup race course in the Sagamore Unit.
If the Sagamore Unit is used for the race, then the 30k length becomes 3 laps of the course, the 20k length becomes 2 laps of the course and the 10k becomes 1 lap.
While the Crew’s preference is always for a singletrack course, we must care about the safety of racers and riders above all else. We are the only race in the Great Lakes Fatbike Series to have a back-up race course. This means even with poor conditions, the Whiteout will be ran, just at another location.
RACE START TIMES
- Whiteout 10k Race/Ride (Wave 1) will start at 12:30pm
- Whiteout 30k Elite (Wave 2) will start at 12:35pm
- Whiteout 20k Elite (Wave 3) will start at 12:40pm
- Whiteout 30k Recreational (Wave 4) will start at 12:40pm
- Whiteout 20k Recreational (Wave 5) will start at 12:45pm
TIRE WIDTH
Bicycle tires must be 3.8” or wider (tires will be checked with a gauge if needed).
PLEASE RESPECT OUR CULTURE OF SAFETY
- Eye protection is recommended with a clear, yellow, or polarized vermillion lens.
- Wood decking is within the 30k and 20k race courses, please slow down while crossing.
- A CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL approved helmet is required.
- The chin strap of the helmet must be properly adjusted and snapped.
- The end of your handlebars must have plugs in them.
- Each participant is responsible for the repair, maintenance and safe working order of their own bike.
- Headsets and headphones are not to be worn or carried by participants.
- No glass containers are allowed at the start and finish areas.
- No outside help is allowed.
- If you drop out of the race you must notify a race official.
- If you have registered and checked-in to race, but will not be racing, you must notify a race official.
- Bring along cell phones. Cell phones are best kept near your chest in order to keep the battery from losing power. In the case of an emergency, please call 911.
- On the race course there are signs that denote to slow your speed. Please respect these signs.
- If you experience unsafe trail conditions, or a racer in need of assistance, please alert the race official and/or mountain bike patrol at the nearest walk-out/mountain bike patrol station.
SNOW GROOMED SINGLETRACK INFORMATION AND RULES
- On the snow groomed singletrack the trail is 20”-24” wide. Please stay within the middle of the groomed surface for the best experience. The snow is both soft and deep to the immediate left and right of the groomed footprint.
- If your bike has a mechanical breakdown and is not rideable please walk your bike out to the nearest walk-out/mountain bike patrol station. If you are unsure which walk-out/mountain bike patrol station is the closest, please walk forward. Please avoid walking directly on the trail to avoid damaging the trail for other participants. When racers catch up to you please remove yourself and your entire bike from the trail footprint.
- Passing. If a racer has caught up to you please stop and remove yourself from the trail in order to allow the faster cyclist passage. The approaching racer is to yell “On your left.” As a 20” snow groomed singletrack trail does not allow appropriate space for passing, the slower racer is asked to respect this request.
- As snow is made from nature it is not possible to guarantee it’s solidity throughout an entire race event. Please keep an eye out for deteriorating trail conditions throughout the race. Please alert the race official and/or mountain bike patrol at the nearest walk-out/mountain bike patrol station.
PASSING OPPORTUNITIES
Passing locations are listed in the Athlete Guide, please refer it for description of and location of passing zones.
PENALTY FOR DISREGARDING THE RULES:
- First offense = 2 minutes added to your finished time
- Second offense = 4 minutes added to your finished time
- Third offense or major offense = Disqualification
VEHICLE AND SNOWMOBILE TRAFFIC
- Always be aware of your surroundings and ride safely following all traffic laws and race course signage.
- All roads within the race course are open for traffic so ride defensively as traffic has the right-of-way.
- There will be law enforcement officers and race officials attempting to stop vehicles and snowmobiles for you to pass. Ultimately, you are responsible for your safety and you should look for traffic at every intersection. If a law enforcement officer or race official motions for you to stop, YOU MUST STOP.
TIME RESTRICTIONS/LIMIT
The race is officially ends at 3:00 pm. There will be no race support after 3:00pm. Finish line, walk-out/mountain bike patrol stations, and the race course will be dismantled after 3:00pm. Law enforcement officers, race officials and volunteers will be dismissed from service and no longer working after 3:00pm. All race classes will be followed by a sweep to ensure no participant is left on the designated race course following 3:00pm.
WALK-OUT/MOUNTAIN BIKE PATROL STATIONS
Walk-out points with Mountain Bike Patrols stations are located at the following locations:
- HWY 128/Entry point of the Mahnomen Unit/Overburden Road Trail (30k/20k/10k)
- Easy Street Entrance (30k/20k/10k)
- Miner’s Mountain Rally Center Crossing (30k/20k/10k)
- HWY 30 – Exit of Switchback, Beginning of Drag Line (30k/20k)
- HWY 6 – Exit of Drag Line (30k/20k)
SAG WAGON
The Sag Wagon will be available for racers who have had a mechanical breakdown or are physically unable to continue racing. Racers must get to a designated walk-out point/mountain bike patrol station (See list above) in order for the Sag Wagon to be notified. The Sag Wagon will bring the racer back to their vehicle at the Miner’s Mountain Rally Center.
TOILETS
Toilets are located at the following location along the trail.
- Miner’s Mountain Rally Center (30k/20k/10k)
- Portsmouth Campground (30k/20k)
- Croft Mine Parking Lot (30k)
DAY OF WEATHER CONTINGENCY PLAN
If the weather creates unsafe/unrideable conditions in the winter groomed singletrack portion of the race course on the day of the race, it will be relocated to the Sagamore Unit and delayed one hour. Under the most extreme weather conditions, the race may need to be cancelled. If that happens, registered riders need to know that there is no contingency for registration fee roll-over or refund.
KEEP THE WHITEOUT CLEAN!
Please respect our Land Managers who have provided the race course by helping to keep it clean. Please do not discard energy product wrappers or clothing along the course.
HAVE YOU HUGGED A VOLUNTEER TODAY?
Volunteers are important to this race so be sure to thank them along the way.