Mobile-phones are back

Before the 2005 season the Sled Dog Association decided that the use of mobile-phones during long-distance races should be prohibited. This decision was made on the basis of an ongoing debate about the sports’ uniqueness. However, during this winters’ race it will be possible to use the phone.

From the time of the first long-distance races in Norway in the early 80s, there’s been a debate about how a long-distance race should be. Issues such as how long the race must be in order for it to be called "real" long-distance, should the teams be self-sufficient through the whole race or should depots be allowed, how much work should be done in order to prepare and mark the trail, was it necessary with rules and regulations that made it possible to start the race with dogs with low quality dog-fur and was it necessary to have check-points along the trail where one could receive help. Should the rules and regulations decide the amount of time for rest so that the race consisted of numerous re-starts after every stage or should one have a so-called "Non-stop" race where the clock kept ticking even if a team stopped so that deciding on rest-time became part of the competition etc.

The technological development
With the rapid technological development we face today it will be necessary, also in the future, for the Sled Dog Community to consider the use of new technological aids in connection with how one wants the sport to be. Over the years this "fight over the soul of the sport" has been an extremely engaging element, and different members have changed sides form case to case.

Alta Sled Dog Club’s view on the development within the sport
Alta Sled Dog Club has, together with Finnmarksløpet, always meant that the participants, those taking part in long-distance races, should have an opportunity to take part in the process of creating rules and regulations that emerge from these debates. Finnmarksløpet’s yearly evaluation during the race, started with the aim of giving the organizer Alta Sled Dog Club knowledge about the mushers’ views on the different issues - in order to, in the next step, be able to use it as a starting point when planning future races.

Evaluation after the 2005 race
In the 2005 race-evaluation a large majority of the participants felt that one should allow the use of mobile-phones. Also the opinion among staff and volunteers was clearly positive to the use of mobile-phones.

Safety and the responsibility of the organizers
For the organizers, one of the main arguments for allowing the use of mobile-phones is safety. "The Beldo-storm" was used as an example. In the last part of the race in 1993 the weather changed to full storm, and hurricane. When the bad weather hit, 18 teams were missing and the organizers did only know which check-point they had been to last. After some time the police and volunteers started searching and after 36 hours the last team, with Karl Petter Beldo was found. Luckily none were hurt. In a situation like this the effort that the police and volunteers put in their search could have been reduced if the mushers could make a call about their position and state via a mobile-phone.