• Portable music players requiring earphones are not permitted while racing.
• Outside assistance not permitted during the race
• Race numbers must be worn on the front outer garment and must be visible at all times.
• Pets and pacers are not permitted on the course.
• Littering may result in disqualification.
• Poor sportsmanship may result in disqualification.
• Racers must notify race officials if they drop out of the race.*
• Stay on designated trails.
• The timing of the PQ SS event begins at the start of the race and officially ends when the team crosses the finish line. Each team is required to stay together for the entire race. If a team is found separated on the course, it can be judged “unofficial” or fined a time penalty. You must remain within visual/verbal distance from your teammates at all times (50 ft).
• The ranking of the race is determined by the PQ SS jury after any penalties and bonuses have been awarded. The official team to complete the course and cross the finish line in the shortest time minus any penalties is declared the winner. Only complete teams are considered “official.”
• A racer may lodge a protest anytime during a race event; the protest must be in writing and turned in to race officials at the start/finish line no later than 1 (one) hour after the official race finish. All protests must have team name & #.
• The course contains checkpoints (CPs). Each team’s passport must be signed by a race official at each CP. It is the competitors’ responsibility to ensure they have their passport signed and returned to them before continuing to the next CP.
• Time limits have been established for each section of the race. Teams who do not make the designated cut-off time will not be allowed to continue. Cut-off times will be announced during the race brief.
• Competitors are responsible for their equipment, food, and drinks while racing. They are also responsible for their transportation to and from the race.
• All athletes and volunteers must complete a medical waiver and must be cleared, in writing, by a physician if they have any medical conditions or abnormalities. They must also inform the PQ Medical Team of any illness or injury that occurs during or in conjunction with the event.
• Mandatory gear items may be spot-checked on the course at any time.
• Competitors and volunteers authorize photography, filming or sound recording, as well as the use of such items/productions for informational, advertising, or promotional purposes.
• PQ reserves the right to refuse an application from any team or competitor.

• Disqualification From Competition
  - Use of GPS
  - More than one hour late at the starting line
  - Exceeding the deadline for any section or CP
  - Missed mandatory checkpoint or reaching mandatory CPs out of order
  - Disobeying instructions from a race official
  - Disobeying instructions not to advance
  - Abandoning a team member outside the checkpoints
  - Unauthorized road/trail travel**
  - Not portaging at mandatory rapids/portage sections
  - Open fires
  - Non-assistance to a person in danger
  - Not wearing or improperly wearing a life jacket on the swim and/or paddle
  - Not wearing or improperly wearing a helmet while on the bike or paddling in moving water
  - Not wearing or improperly wearing a helmet on the ropes sections
  - Possession and/or use of a weapon
  - Sabotage
  - Use of an unauthorized means of transport
  - Violation over the identity of a competitor or change of a team member during race
  - Littering (2nd offense)
  - Removing/altering a trail sign or marking

• One -Hour Penalty
  - Intervention by the Organization for assistance on course
  - Loss of passport or map
  - Helmets and life jackets damaged or otherwise not in conformity with required standards
  - Littering, disrespect for the environment (throwing of any waste that is not biodegradable or abandoning equipment). First offense.
  - Dispersed team
  - Not wearing bib/race number over clothing (except life vest)
  - Missing item of safety equipment or mandatory equipment that is not in good order

* If for any reason a team member is unable to finish the race, you must inform the race management at the start /finish area. Your leaving the race course MUST be verified by a race official. Unless you are seriously injured, you will most likely have to ride YOUR BIKES/HIKE OR FIND AN ALTERNATE WAY back to the start/finish line. The nature of this adventure race does not permit us to pick up racers who have decided not to finish.

**You may not travel on unauthorized roads, as noted in the passport. Anytime there is a specific road/trail to follow, you are required to do so. In some cases you can decide your route, but in the cases where we list road/trail numbers, you will be required to use that route.

Race management reserves the right to award bonuses and penalties throughout the race. We also reserve the right to add bonus time to teams who have aided others in distress, and assess time penalties for infractions not mentioned on this list.