Rules & Regulations

1. 38. TARTU MARATON (38.TM) belongs to the 2009 calendar of international long distance ski race series Worldloppet (WL), International Ski Federation (FIS) and Estonian long distance ski race series Estoloppet (EL).

2. 38. TM is organized by Club Tartu Maraton (the Organizing Committee of 38. Tartu Maraton is confirmed by the Council of Club Tartu Maraton), in co-operation with the sponsors and supporters.

3. 38. TM will be organized according to the cross-country long distance skiing race rules of the Estonian Ski Association and FIS, current Rules & Regulations, the official program of the competition and according to the decisions made by the Council and Board of Club Tartu Maraton.

4. FIS Marathon Cup is organized according to the 38.TM FMC rules.

5. 38. TARTU MARATON takes place on Sunday, February 15th 2009.
    63 km mass start at 9:00 at Ski Stadium of Tehvandi Sports Center, in Otepää.
    31 km mass start at 12:00 at Arula crossroad (8th km of Otepää-Puka road)
    31 km race belongs to the WL short race calendar (stamp for the short race), but is not a competition. The results will be published in alphabetical order, without ranking.
    Finish is in Elva Shooting Range

6. There is 7 service points (SP) on the 63 km course: 1. Matu 12km, 2. Ande 23km, 3. Kuutse 32km, 4. Peebu 39km, 5. Palu 46,6km, 6. Hellenurme 53,5km and 7. coffee point 59,2km.

7. There is 3 intermediate sprints on the 63 km race: Matu 12km, Kuutse 32km ja Palu 46,6km

8. There is 4 service points on the 31 km course: 1.Peebu -7 km, 2.Palu-14,6km, 3.Hellenurme -21,5 km and 4. coffee point 27,2km.

9. Control times of SP’s:
        I SP     closing time  11:00
        II SP     closing time   12:30
        III SP     closing time   14:00
        IV SP     closing time   15:00
        V SP     closing time   16:30
        VI SP     closing time   17:30
        finish     closing time   19:00
Not passing the service points before control time, leads to disqualification. These skiers will be taken to the finish area by bus.

10. Only classical technique is permitted, which is checked along the whole course. Using wrong technique leads to disqualification. This bases upon the protocols and video recordings done by technique control which will be looked through before publishing the official results on February 20th 2009.

11. Participation is on your own responsibility.

12. Age limit: all skiers born in 1994 or earlier (in 1996 or earlier on the 31 km race) who have trained enough for the race are allowed to participate.
With trainer’s permission, younger skiers can also participate on the 63 km race.
Younger skiers can participate in the 31 km race with parents, on their responsibility.

13. Age groups:
    Women: N17 (birth years 1994-92), N20 (91-89), N21 (88-75), N35 (74-70) N40 (69-65), N45 (64-60), N50 (59-55), N55 (54-50), N60 (49-45), N65 (44 and earlier);
    Men: M17 (94-92), M20 (91-89), M21 (88-75), M35 (74-70), M40 (69-65), M45 (64-60), M50 (59-55), M55 (54-50), M60 (49-45), M65 (44-40), M70 (39-35), M75 (34 and earlier).

14. 63 km start groups:
        Elite group    1 – 100
        I group          101 – 200
        II group          201 – 300
        III group         301 – 500
        IV group        501 – 700
        V group        701 – 1000
        VI group       1001 – 1500
        VII group       1501 – 2000
        VIII group       2001 – 2500 
        IX group        2501 – 3000
        X group        3001 – …

The results of Tartu Maraton 2007 (coef 1) or 2006 (coef 1,2) and other Worldloppet races will be taken into consideration for disposing the start numbers (not guaranteeing the same start numbers) of 63 km only during registration up to 12.12.2008 and only if the according data is preformed on their entry forms.

Skiers not participated in 2007 or 2006, will get start numbers to the last start groups in the order of the registration. Elite group is made of FIS Marathon Cup competitors (skiers with FIS CC License only) + top 30 in 2007 Tartu Maraton. Every skier must enter the start gate according to his start number. NB! Starting from the wrong passage will lead to disqualification!

The start numbers for 31 km race are in the order of registration, without start groups.

15. Registration takes place in Internet on Club Tartu Maraton’s web site www.tartumaraton.ee (up to February 13th at 17:00) and in the race office (up to February 14th at 17:00) in Tartu Song Festival Arena, Laulupeo Ave 25 (phone +372 7 421 644, fax +372 7 422 536) or in other places approved by the organizers and announced by the press.

16. Entry fees:                              63km                              31km
Before 12.12.08                      450 EEK/ 29 EUR         300 EEK/ 19 EUR
13.12.08–09.02.09                  600 EEK/ 38 EUR         400 EEK/ 26 EUR
10.02.09–14.02.09                  900 EEK/ 58 EUR         600 EEK/ 38 EUR
NO registration in the morning of the race day (15.02.2009)!

Skiers registered for the cancelled race in 2008 have special prices: 63km – 300 EEK / 19 EUR and 31km 185 EEK / 12 EUR. These prices are valid only in the first entry wave, up to December 12th 2008.

17. In case of giving up the participation, entry fee will not be refunded.

18. If the race is cancelled due to force majeure (circumstances not depending on the organizers), the entry fees will not be refunded.

19. Re-registration takes place only in the race office (or by written application sent before 17:00 on February 14th). There will be no re-registration on the day of the race.
Re- registration costs 100 EEK + difference of the participation fees of distances.

20. The handout of start materials takes place on February 13th and 14th at 9:00-19:00 in the race office at Tartu Song Festival Arena and on February 15th in start area: for 63 km in Otepää at 7:00-8:30 and for 31km in Arula at 10:00-11:30.

21. Start fee includes: prepared ski track; starting; time keeping (only in case of correctly attached time keeping chip during all the race); result in the results list (on short race in alphabetical order); service and catering in the SP-s and finish; awarding; diploma with name, time (31 km) and placing (63km); medal; luggage transport from start to finish; medical service if necessary; transport of abandoned skiers and silver and gold pins according to the statute.
Starting package consists of number bib, information booklet, marking stickers for the skis, luggage card, medical service card, plastic bag for clothes, food stamp, souvenir pin, and time keeping chip.

22. Marking of skis is obligatory! Marking stickers must be attached to dry skis. Exchange of only one ski is permitted during the race. Exchange of both skis will lead to disqualification.

23. To get a result, your 38.TM bib must be visible from your front and back during the entire race.

24. To get a result the time keeping chip must be correctly attached to your right ankle (up to 20 cm from the ground) from start to finish. After exiting the finish corridor, hand the chip to the organizer. The participant is responsible for the chip from the moment start number is handed out until it is handed over in the finish. In case of losing or not returning the chip, penalty 470 EEK (30 EUR) will follow and Club Tartu Maraton issues the bill.

25. More specified information about time keeping system will be published two weeks before the race, at the latest, on the Internet homepage and in the participants booklet (included to the start package).

26. Unofficial results will be constantly updated on the information board in the finish area and on the Internet website http://www.tartumaraton.ee by February 16th at 9:00. The Official results will be issued by February 20th at 17:00 on the Internet website http://www.tartumaraton.ee, and the results magazine will be issued in one month.

27. There are shuttle buses to the start from Tartu and Elva and from Elva to start areas; the bus ticket for a day costs 25 EEK (can be bought on the race day from the bus).

28. Parking in Otepää is free, cars are directed to the parking lots in the order of fulfill. Parking in Elva costs 50 EEK, for buses with more that 10 seats it is free.

29. Medical aid is organized by Estonian Disaster Relief Team. The medical workers on skis and by snow-scooters with medical equipment will follow the race all the way. The medical staff is wearing Red Cross on their backs. There are ambulances in the start, in the finish and in all SP-s. If you see someone in trouble on the track, please try to help and let the organizers know immediately or call 112!

30. 12 first men and 6 women will be awarded with Tartu Maraton medals, cups and awards at the prize-giving ceremony at 14.00. 6 best men and 6 best women of FMC competition will be awarded with monetary prizes by FMC Rules. There will be special prizes, raffle prizes and cups for age group winners of 63km.

31. Due to force majeure the organizer could be forced to change or shorten the course, or cancel the race. The Organizing Committee will make the final decision at least on Monday, 09.02.2009, which will be forwarded to mass media. In exceptional circumstances the Jury has a right to make changes concerning the race until 3 hours before the start (FIS Article 388.1.3) to secure safety of the participants.

32. All protests concerning race results and breaking the Rules etc must be brought up to Jury as follows:
      • Concerning first 100 finishers during 1 hour after first 100 participants have finished
      • Concerning all the others, up to closing time of the finish
        The cost of a protest (except of these concerning race results) is 500 EEK, which will be refunded only when the protest has been met. The protests concerning unofficial results can be brought up until 18.02.2009 by 17:00 to the Race Office in Club Tartu Maraton.

33. All protests concerning the organization will be solved by the Jury: 1. FIS Technical Delegate (chairman), 2. Estonian Ski Association Technical Delegate, 3. Race Director.

34. Other unforeseen cases will be solved by the Organizing Committee.