K300 and its Unique START

The K300 is a racer’s race – rules are basic, support is generous and common sense is applied whenever it’s needed. 

It’s Unique Start begins by how the starting order is determined.  The mushers actually choose their start number and they do that based on when they paid their entry fee.  So since Ken Anderson signed up first he could pick any start position between 1-21.  He chose 1.  Rohn and Martin were 3^rd and 4^th to get their entry fee in so Rohn chose #4 because that was his start number last year.  Martin chose 20 (Paul Gebhardt had already chosen 21.)   Martin’s reasoning has to do with timing and being able to know exactly where he is in relation to other mushers. 

Teams begin the race by twos.  There are two start chutes so #1 and #2 leave at exactly 6:30 and so on. 

This year Martin and Rohn will actually hook up at Jeff’s house.  Each team will be attached to a snow machine.  It’s about a 3 minute run down to the start line on the river.  They have made the run when they trained here this week.  The sleds will be at the Start Line and they will make a quick stop and switch attachments from snow machine to sled and be gone.   That’s the plan anyway.  Since Martin is starting last he has a bit more play with the timing and hope to almost cruise straight through the Start line.  Rohn will probably get to the start a bit early since he has lots of teams starting after him.

Tomorrow will be to checking and double checking gear, resting and relaxing.