Info 2010
Instructions for Participants of Finlandia-hiihto 2010
The 37th Finlandia-hiihto will take place using classical technique on Saturday, February 27th, 2010. The races are 50 km and 32 km. On Sunday, February 28th, 2010 will take place 50 km and 20 km free style skiing. The start and finish will be at the Lahti Ski Stadium.
RACE OFFICE
The Race Office is at the indoor track in the Stadium Grand Stand. It is open on Friday Feb 26th at 10.00-20.00, Saturday Feb 27th at 07.00-18.00 and Sunday Feb 28th at 08.00 – 17.00.
The participants must prove their identity, preferably by showing the confirmation letter to get the number bib package. The phone numbers of the Race Office are +358 3 8168670 and +358 3 8168671.
THE NUMBER BIB PACKAGE
Get your number bib package from the Race Office by presenting your confirmation letter or proving your identity. The package includes:
* Your individual number bib, which you may keep as a souvenir after the race
* Your personal time card attached to the number bib. DO NOT remove your time card!
* Two official ski stickers for your race skies. They should be attached to your skies when they are warm and dry.
* Lunch coupon
* Personal codes for photographing
* ChampionChip transponder
TRANSPONDER / CHIP
The timing of the 2010 Finlandia-hiihto is based on transponder technique provided by ChampionChip. Attach the chip to your RIGHT ankle. The Chip will be automatically activated in the start area. PLEASE DO NOT forget to return the chip after the race. Skiers will be charged 50 € for unreturned chips.
START, CL 50 km at 09:00
The 50 km race starts at Lahti Ski Stadium. There will be a wave start in groups at 10 min intervals. The long race (50 km) starts at 09:00. The groups start in the following order: 9.00 (1-500), 9.10 (501-1000), 9.20 (1001-1750), 9.30 (1751-2500), 9.40 (2501-3250), 9.50 (3251-3500, 6500-6800).
The skiers are requested to arrive at the Gate approximately 20 min prior to their start. The skiers must wait for the start in two waiting areas just outside the Gate. The groups are allowed to enter the Stadium area 20 minutes prior to their start and to final Start area 10 minutes prior to their start.
START, CL 32 km at 10:20
The shorter race in classical technique starts at 10:20 from Lahti Ski Stadium. There will be wave start in 750 skier groups at 10 min intervals. The skiers are requested to arrive at the stadium 20 min prior to their start. The skiers wait for the start just outside the start area.
START, FREE 50 km at 10:00
The 50 km race starts at 10:00 from Lahti Ski Stadium. There will be wave start in 500 skier groups at 10 min intervals. The skiers are requested to arrive at the stadium 20 min prior to their start. The skiers wait for the start just outside the start area.
START, FREE 20 km at 11:15
The 20 km race starts at 11:00 from Lahti Ski Stadium. The skiers are requested to arrive at the stadium 20 min prior to their start. The skiers wait for the start just outside the start area.
WEARING THE NUMBER BIB
Please put your number bib with the attached time card on Your back side. The card will be removed by officials at the finish.
STARTING PROCEDURE
Extra clothing and personal equipment and belongings should be put to the sack. You can leave the sack to the equipment storage located in the Lahti Fair Center. Even though the storage is guarded all the time, do not put any valuable things – such as money or watches – to the sack! Remember to wear your personal transponder when arriving at the start area! The skiers must wear their number bibs when entering the waiting area. Any skier who fails to follow the instructions given by the officials at the start area can be disqualified. Any skier trying a false start or trying to start in a too early starting group can be removed from the track and disqualified.
We ask the skiers to remain calm in the start area and to be careful in the first climb. If your ski or ski pole breaks in the start or the first climb, there is a ski replacement point under the ski jumps, just 500 metres from the stadium. Please do not turn back, it may cause danger both to you and other skiers!
THE COURSE
There are six service and refreshment stations along the 50 km course, three along the 32 km course and two along the 20 km course. The service stations are: Messilä*, Hälvälä, Orinkarkaus, Työtjärvi, Heinsuo* and Tapanila* (* 32km). Ski waxing service and first aid will be available at all stations.
All of the stations serve Gatorade sport drink and water, and various other food and beverage supplies from blueberry soup to beer depending on the station.
There will be transportation service to the finish area for the skiers who wish to discontinue. Also urgent messages can be forwarded to the Race Office.
FINISH
The final kilometres of the Finlandia-hiihto follow the World Ski Championship tracks. The final descent to the stadium is relatively steep and twisting. Please be careful! A special Finlandia-hiihto medal will be given to you at the finish.
PICKING UP YOUR EQUIPMENT SACK
You can pick up your equipment sack from the Equipment Storage in the Lahti Fair Center. You can get the sack only by showing your number bib. If somebody else wants to pick up the sack for you, he/she must have your number bib to receive it.
WARM MEAL
A complimentary meal will be served in front of the Stadium, inside the Grand Tent. You find the lunch coupon from your number bib package. Meal consists of meat soap, bread, juice and coffee.
SAUNA AND SHOWERS
There are saunas for women at the Lahti Swimming Hall in Saturday, just 150 metres from the Sports Centre and Sunday in Lahden Suurhalli, between race office (Jari-sauna). For men at the Ski Jump Grand Stand building. Mineral water and beer will be available in the saunas and is included in Your participation fee. Showers are available one floor down from Race Office.
NATIONALITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS
Every year about 600 to 700 foreign skiers take part in Finlandia-hiihto. The nationality of the participants can be seen from the little flags on the number bibs. You can get the flag stickers from the info stand in the race office.
FINLANDIA EXPO (26.-28.2.2010)
There is Intersport Winter Sport Exhibition in the Grand Tent. There are shops and stands of our partner sport events in the Finlandia-Expo.
INFORMATION AND NEW REGISTRATIONS
If your address or other important information changes, please inform to the Race Office info desk or Finlandia-hiihto office. Address updating is for free, but we will charge 10 € fee for changing any other details.
Your starting number is personal. A skier who starts with somebody else’s number without changing the name in the Race Office will be disqualified. We will charge 10 € for changing the participant’s name.
SKI AND SKI POLE REPLACEMENT
There will be replacement skies and ski pole service 500 metres after the start and at all Service Stations. If you break your ski or ski pole you can get a replacement. The replacement equipment must be returned to the Race Office after the race. A skier who fails to return the replacement equipments will be charged for it.
WAXING SERVICE
Startex, our official partner, will provide Waxing Service at all stations. However, the skiers are adviced to bring the wax they are experienced to use and to carry some spare wax in a waist bag.
There is also a separate waxing service the skiers can use before the start. Note that you will be charged for this service! You can find the waxing service at the Grand Tent.
SERVICE STATIONS
Saturday 27.2.2010
| Station | open | close |
| Messilä | 8.30 | 13.30 |
| Hälvälä | 9.00 | 14.00 |
| Orinkarkaus | 9.30 | 15.00 |
| Työtjärvi | 9.30 | 16.00 |
| Heinsuo | 10.00 | 16.30 |
| Tapanila | 10.00 | 17.00 |
| Finish | 18.00 | |
Sunday 28.2.2010
| Station | open | close |
| Messilä | 9.30 | 14.00 |
| Hälvälä | 9.30 | 13.30 |
| Orinkarkaus | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| Työtjärvi | 10.00 | 15.00 |
| Heinsuo | 10.00 | 15.30 |
| Tapanila | 11.00 | 16.30 |
| Finish | 17.00 |
DISCONTINUATION
If the skier decides to discontinue the race, he/she must immediately inform the officials of the nearest service station and give away the participation card from the number bib or some another proof of identity. A skier who has not arrived Service Station before closing time (see the schedule) will be obliged to discontinue the race for security reasons. A skier who arrives to the finish after time limit (on Saturday 18.00 and on Sunday 17.00) will be considered nonfinisher and will not be included in the result list.
If exhaustion overcomes you while skiing, try to rest a while and then continue to the next service station, where you can officially discontinue and later be transported to Lahti. A sledge patrol with a snowmobile will follow all skiers and – if necessary – transport the stricken skiers to the Finish Area.
DISQUALIFICATION
The organizers reserve the right to disqualify skier and remove him from the track if he fails to follow the regulations of Finlandia-hiihto or the organizers’ specific instructions.
FIRST AID
First aid is available at all Service Stations. Please do not risk with your health if you feel exhausted.
Seriously ill or injured skiers will be transported to the nearest hospital. If you notice an accident or someone who needs help, please inform the Finlandia-hiihto officials about it!
General emergency number is 112.
PRIZES AND PRIZEGIVING CEREMONIES
Every skier completing the race within the given time limit will receive “Finlandia–hiihto” medal and later an official diploma will be sent by mail.
In classical 50 km race six best male and three best female athletes will be awarded by money prizes. Prize categories: 1. 1000 €, 2. 600 €, 3. 400 €, (4. 200 €, 5. 150, 6. 100 €.) Male athletes (placed 7.-10.) and female athletes (placed 4.-6.) will be awarded by special prize.
In 32 and 20 km race three best male and female athletes will be awarded by special prize.
In free 50 km race three best male and female athletes will be awarded by money prizes: Prize categories: 1. 600 €, 2. 400 €, 3. 200 €
The prize giving ceremonies (50 km) will take place at the stadium, approximately at 13:00 in Saturday and 14:00 in Sunday.
TEAM COMPETITON
Team competition will be raced in both 50 km distances. There must be at least four participants in the team. Winner will be informated later.
RESULTS
There will be display boards in the Race Office on which the results will be continually posted on the race day. Unofficial results can also be found from the Internet at www.finlandiahiihto.fi. The official result list will be mailed to all participants in May 2010.
LOST AND FOUND
The Lost and Found Point will be located in the Race Office info.
RACE CANCELLATION
If the race must be cancelled because of some force major reasons or especially difficult circumstances, the organizers reserve the right to keep 50 % of the entry fee to cover the already existing costs and the expenses caused by returning the fees. A skier who cancels his entry is not entitled for refund entry fee. Except for those participants whose have cancelled their registration before 31st December, 2009 – we will refund 50% of entry fee. To skier, who cancels his registration because of illness, will be refunded 50 % of the entry fee against the medical certificate after the race. In this case the compensation of the entry fee can be taken into account when paying for the next year’s race.
INSURANCE
Every participant is insured against accident by organiser (Pohjola-group). Ask for details from the Race Office.
JURY
The Jury of Finlandia-hiihto consists of FIS Technical Delegate, FIS Assistant Technical Delegate and Chief of Competition.
PROTESTS
Written protests (concerning 20 best competitors) must be delivered within half an hour after the winner has finished the race (The protest fee according the rules of FIS is the value of CHF 100 or equivalent value). Protests concerning other skiers must be made within half (1/2) an hour after the last skier has finished the race.
DOPING TEST
The Finnish Anti-Doping Committee has the right to make a doping test to skiers.
OTHER RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS
· The technique will be only classical in Saturday 50 and 32 kilometres and free in Sunday 50 and 20 kilometres.
· The track on the left is recommended to be used only for overtaking.
· A skier is not entitled to demand another skier to give way
· The changing of both skies during the race is not allowed, but one broken ski can be replaced (the racers of elite group).
· When crossing roads, the skiers must follow the traffic instructions given by the officials.
· Participants can’t cover or remove any advertising placed by the organizers
· The skiers participate in the race at their own risk.
· The organizers can use the addresses of the participants for direct mail advertising.
· The organizers have the right to use all photographs and audio/video material taken during the Finlandia-hiihto for the purposes they decide without compensation.
WORLDLOPPET
Finlandia-hiihto is one of the fourteen long distance cross country skiing events which together form Worldloppet (later WL). Any skier who has finished ten competitions (one of them must be skid overseas) can receive the title of Worldloppet Master. The results shall be written in the official WL-passport. To receive the WL-master diploma and gold-plated medal the skier must send WL-passport to WL-central office (Italy) for checking until May 1, 2010. There will be a Worldloppet stand in the Race Office, where the skier can buy passports and get the stamp for accepted skiing. The passport costs 30 euros, be aware that we have a limited supply of them. Information of other WL-races can also be found at the WL-stand.
PHOTOGRAPHING
All skiers will be individually photographed by Disc-dim. You can view and order the pictures via internet www.kuvatilaus.fi
All rights to changes reserved.
