Approved rates updated October 14, 2026. The same schedule applies to all four qualifiers and the Championship Finals.

1. PURPOSE AND COMMITMENT TO ATHLETES

The athletes, horses and people who travel down the road are the foundation of PRO Skijor. We recognize the commitment it takes to compete across multiple tour stops: preparing and caring for horses, taking time away from work and family, and investing in travel, lodging and competition. The Athlete Travel Support Program reflects our appreciation for that commitment and our desire to build more opportunity for athletes throughout the tour.

PRO Skijor acknowledges the burden of current fuel costs nationwide, particularly the expense of diesel for trucks hauling horses over long distances. Along with lodging, meals and other costs of being on the road, these expenses can make a full season challenging. This program is intended to offset a portion of those costs and make competing a little more feasible. It will not cover every expense, but we hope it provides meaningful help to the athletes and families investing their time and resources in the sport.

We encourage carpooling, shared horse transport and thoughtful coordination from event to event. Combining suitable horses into shared trailers, coordinating available passenger space and planning travel together can help athletes make better use of their resources. These arrangements should always respect trailer capacity, safe transportation and horse welfare. Sharing a rig does not remove each athlete's personal travel expenses, so the program provides one hauling allowance per eligible rig together with individual allowances for the other eligible athletes. The designated hauling athlete's personal support is included in the hauling allowance. We offer this support in good faith and ask everyone to help keep it fair, honest and useful to the competitor community.

PRO Skijor guarantees at least $350,000 in total competitor cash payouts across the 2027 tour, including a minimum guaranteed $300,000 in podium and day-money cash prizes. Added money, sponsorship and other contributions may increase prize payouts above that minimum.

PRO Skijor commits at least $50,000 in funding to the Athlete Travel Support Program. All valid allowances earned under this policy are guaranteed, even if their total exceeds $50,000. The funding commitment is not a promise to distribute $50,000 solely as travel allowances irrespective of valid claims. Unused funding is administered under Section 11.

2. TWO-QUALIFIER ELIGIBILITY

An athlete must personally attend and compete on a registered PRO Card team at two or more distinct 2027 qualifying stops: Bozeman Gallatin Skijor, Boise/Nampa, Denver and Heber City. Registration, payment of entry fees or intent to attend alone does not qualify.

Participation may be with different PRO Card teams. Eligibility follows the individual, not the team's other members. Multiple teams, divisions, runs or competition days at one stop count as one qualifier. A local qualifier counts even when its travel allowance is $0.

Exhibitions and Community Division participation do not count or earn support. Tahoe Finals participation does not substitute for either required qualifier.

3. PAYMENT CATEGORIES AND MILEAGE SCHEDULE

The same mileage brackets apply to qualifiers and the Lake Tahoe Championship Finals. Payments are fixed allowances supporting an event trip, not itemized expense reimbursement. Distances are measured one way; no round-trip multiplier applies.

One-way driving miles	Per rig	Per other eligible athlete
Less than 150	$0	$0
150 to less than 300	$75	$37.50
300 to less than 500	$150	$75
500 to less than 750	$225	$112.50
750 or more	$300	$150

PRO Skijor calculates mileage using Google Maps' recommended practical driving route and applies the same method consistently. Unrounded mileage determines the bracket.

Individual athlete mileage is based on the athlete's verified primary hometown. Hauling mileage is based on the verified permanent home base of the competing horses actually transported, not a distant rider's hometown. Where horses are collected from different locations, use the home base of the eligible competing horse generating the longest direct route to the venue; pickup detours do not add mileage. Only horses actually hauled and used by an eligible athlete in official competition count.

Temporary lodging, optional routes, detours, extra trips and selecting a farther mailing address do not increase an allowance. Travel between tour stops does not change the verified permanent calculation origin. Legitimate changes to a primary residence or horse home base must be disclosed and verified before affecting subsequent events.

4. HORSE-HAULING ALLOWANCE: ONE PAYMENT PER RIG

The horse-hauling allowance is paid once per truck-and-trailer combination per event weekend. Its purpose is to support the expense of transporting competing horses. It is not a payment to every rider, horse owner, passenger or driver.

One horse-hauling payment covers the rig and all eligible competing horses transported in it, regardless of horse count, rider count, teams, divisions or days of competition. Each hauling claim identifies one eligible athlete as the designated hauling athlete. The hauling allowance includes that athlete's individual travel support; that athlete cannot also claim an individual allowance for the same event. Every other eligible athlete may receive their own individual allowance, including riders, skiers and snowboarders carpooling in the same rig. Noncompeting passengers do not receive individual allowances.

The designated recipient must be the person genuinely responsible for the hauling expense. Vehicle ownership, horse ownership and driving alone do not establish entitlement. Shared expenses must be represented by one agreed recipient; private sharing of the allowance does not create additional claims.

The rig must actually transport at least one horse used in an official competition run by an athlete who meets the two-qualifier requirement. That athlete's participation supports the claim, including retroactive support after their second qualifier. A driver or owner who does not compete may receive the allowance only as the authorized expense-paying recipient for the designated hauling athlete. That athlete's individual support remains included in the rig allowance, even when someone else receives the payment. Transporting horses alone does not establish athlete eligibility.

Each rig may generate only one claim per event, and each expense-paying recipient may receive only one hauling allowance per event, even if they operate multiple rigs. Extra trips, substitute drivers, changes of nominated recipient or dividing the same haul among several teams do not multiply payments. Truck and trailer identifiers and linked athlete records will be checked for duplicate claims. Each designated hauling athlete may support only one hauling allowance per event. A hauling recipient may not separately collect an individual athlete allowance for the same event. Any other athlete whose individual allowance is absorbed by that athlete's own hauling claim is not entitled to a second individual allowance as a passenger in another rig.

Paid third-party transport must be disclosed. Only one allowance may be claimed for the eligible haul, by the designated person who actually bears its cost. The carrier and its customer may not both claim. Commercial carrier arrangements and any unusual or disputed shared-cost arrangements require verification before payment.

5. INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE ALLOWANCE

An eligible rider, skier or snowboarder may earn the individual athlete allowance whether traveling alone, carpooling or riding as a passenger in a supported horse-hauling rig, except when that athlete's individual support is already included in a hauling allowance or the athlete receives a hauling allowance. A rider does not receive the higher hauling rate merely because they compete as a rider.

Each athlete may receive only one individual allowance per event, regardless of teams, divisions or roles. Carpooling in an ordinary vehicle or a horse-hauling rig does not eliminate individual eligibility. Individual allowances support each athlete's wider travel costs, including lodging and meals, as well as fuel. Each athlete's allowance follows that athlete's verified hometown mileage, which may differ from the hauling mileage or another passenger's mileage.

An individual may not receive both an individual allowance and a hauling allowance for the same event. The designated hauling athlete cannot obtain a separate individual payment by directing the hauling payment to someone else. Claims must identify the designated hauling athlete and actual expense-paying recipient and accurately disclose shared travel. These records remain consistent for that event; changing names does not create another payment.

6. RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS AND CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

Once an athlete competes at a second distinct qualifier, valid support linked to that athlete becomes payable for both the first and second qualifying stops. Later qualifiers generate additional support. The hauling claim becomes payable when its designated hauling athlete meets the two-qualifier requirement. Other passengers qualify for their individual allowances separately, based on their own participation. Later eligibility of another occupant may release that person's individual allowance, but never creates another hauling payment.

To support a Tahoe Finals hauling claim, the designated hauling athlete must have competed at two or more qualifiers, qualify for the Championship Finals and start an official Finals run. The same mileage schedule and shared-hauling rules apply. Tahoe has no automatic maximum allowance. Each athlete claiming an individual Finals allowance must also meet the two-qualifier requirement, qualify and start an official Finals run. Tahoe Community entries do not generate Finals support.

7. PARTICIPATION AND CANCELLATIONS

Qualifying participation requires starting at least one official eligible competition run on a registered PRO Card team. Check-in alone is insufficient. A started run counts despite a DNF or ordinary competition penalty; eligibility never requires completing an unsafe run. Withdrawal before starting does not count.

For a hauling claim, at least one transported horse must actually be used in the designated hauling athlete's official run. Hauling an unused horse does not establish a claim.

A canceled stop where no official competition begins does not count or generate a standard allowance. If competition starts but is curtailed, athletes who started an eligible official run retain credit and valid linked support. Separate cancellation assistance, if offered, will be announced independently.

8. ENROLLMENT, HOMETOWN AND HAUL VERIFICATION

Athletes enroll once through PRO Skijor's designated travel-support form or registration process, providing their name, contact information, primary residential address, hometown and PRO Card team associations. A hauling claim additionally identifies the expense-paying recipient, truck and trailer, permanent horse home base, transported competition horses, designated hauling athlete and other linked athletes. Shared-travel information must be accurate and updated when arrangements change.

The primary hometown is the location of the athlete's principal residence, not temporary lodging, a mailing-only address or another location selected to increase payment. Horse home bases must describe where the transported competition horses normally reside.

Hometowns and horse home bases will be verified. Rig identifiers and transported horses will be confirmed at check-in. PRO Skijor may request reasonable proof of residence, horse location, actual transport or expense responsibility, including supporting photographs or documents. Routine itemized fuel receipts are not required; discrepancies, third-party hauling and spot checks may require additional evidence. Payment may be held pending verification.

Documented permanent changes will be reviewed for subsequent events. They do not retroactively increase payments for prior events. Competitors may request correction of verified record or mileage errors.

9. GOOD FAITH, FALSE CLAIMS AND REPAYMENT

PRO Skijor offers this program in good faith and expects athletes, owners, transporters and designated recipients to report honestly and act in good faith. This includes residence, horse location, expense responsibility, rig identity, participation and shared-travel arrangements.

If PRO Skijor determines, after reviewing the information and giving the affected person an opportunity to respond, that someone intentionally falsified material information, concealed a duplicate claim or misrepresented a shared haul to obtain or increase support, that person will forfeit all eligibility for the 2027 program. All unpaid claims belonging to that person will be denied; approved payments will be rescinded; and all program payments already received by that person must be repaid within 30 days of written notice. Repayment amounts and the determination's basis will be provided in writing.

An innocent athlete is not automatically disqualified solely because another person falsified a claim. PRO Skijor will determine individual responsibility and correct the affected claim. An inadvertent error promptly disclosed and corrected will be handled by adjusting the allowance and recovering overpayment, rather than automatically treating it as fraud. Duplicate or erroneous payments must be returned.

10. PAYMENT PROCESS AND TIMING

PRO Skijor verifies athlete eligibility, participation, mileage, payment category, shared-travel records, designated hauling athletes and payment recipients before payment. Each individual athlete claim is calculated and paid separately; paying a rig allowance does not automatically establish eligibility for its passengers. Recipients must provide complete payment information and required documentation through the designated process.

Payments are issued within 30 days after all applicable eligibility requirements, event and travel verification, and payment documentation are complete. First and second qualifier support is processed together after the second qualifier; later qualifier and Finals support is processed after the applicable event. Missing documentation or unresolved discrepancies delay payment until resolved.

11. PROGRAM FUNDING AND UNUSED BALANCES

PRO Skijor commits at least $50,000 in program funding and guarantees all valid scheduled allowances, including when total claims exceed that amount. Added funding or sponsorship may allow further support, but no automatic additional payment or season-end supplement is promised.

Unused program funds remain subject to PRO Skijor's discretion and may be added to podium or day-money prizes, distributed as additional athlete support, carried forward or otherwise allocated and accounted for, provided the minimum guaranteed $350,000 in total 2027 competitor cash payouts is satisfied. Internal allocations, retained balances, future-season funding and operating expenses do not count toward that cash-payout guarantee.

If valid travel payments and other 2027 competitor cash payouts would otherwise total less than $350,000, PRO Skijor will distribute the shortfall as additional 2027 prize money or athlete support. PRO Skijor determines the distribution method; no proportional travel supplement is required. Any such distribution will be announced and paid within 60 days after the final scheduled tour event.

12. CONSISTENT ADMINISTRATION

PRO Skijor will retain records supporting eligibility, mileage and claims and administer the policy consistently. Reasonable verification protects the program's resources and the athletes it is intended to support. Administrative clarifications will not reduce valid allowances already earned under the published policy.

13. REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES

The mileages below are illustrative assumptions, not published distances between named locations. Each person must independently meet the eligibility and verification requirements.

Example 1: Four athletes share one truck and trailer. Johnny and Sally are riders; Billy and Susie are skiers. They haul four horses together. All four athletes have competed at two or more qualifiers, and both the verified hauling mileage and each athlete's hometown mileage are at least 750 miles. Johnny bears the hauling expense and is the designated hauling athlete. At least one transported horse is used in Johnny's official run.

Payment: Johnny receives one $300 hauling allowance. Sally, Billy and Susie each receive a $150 individual allowance. Total support for that event is $750. The four horses and two riders do not create another hauling allowance, and Johnny does not also receive $150. Carpooling does not reduce the other three athletes' individual allowances.

Example 2: Johnny and Sally share a rig, haul two horses and both compete. Assume the verified hauling mileage and each person's hometown mileage to Bozeman Gallatin Skijor fall in the 500-to-less-than-750-mile bracket. Johnny bears the hauling expense and is the designated hauling athlete; Sally claims individual support. Both start eligible official runs, but this is their first qualifier.

Payment at that point: Neither has yet earned payment. They then both attend and compete at Heber City, their second qualifier. Assume all applicable mileage for Heber City is less than 150 miles. Heber City earns $0 but establishes each athlete's two-qualifier eligibility. Johnny's $225 hauling allowance and Sally's $112.50 individual allowance for Bozeman Gallatin Skijor become payable retroactively, for a combined $337.50. The second horse does not create another hauling payment. If Sally had not competed at a second qualifier, her individual allowance would remain unpaid; Johnny's eligibility alone would not qualify her.

For comparison, if Johnny and Sally's eligible trip instead fell in the 750-or-more-mile bracket for both categories, their combined support would be $450: one $300 hauling allowance plus Sally's $150 individual allowance.