Finnmarksløpet 2006 has started!

The first team headed for the mountains at precisely 12 noon today. Finnmarksløpet 2006 has started! The first team passed Jotka already at 15:40 going nice and fast.

It is too early to speculate about the results this soon in the race but veterans such as Roger Dahl, Arne Karlstrøm and Harald Tunheim in the 1000 km race all arrived Jotka shortly after 4 pm. It seems like they all want to get a nice position before heading into the mountains towards Skoganvarre.

Fast tracks

This leg which is about 60 kilometers long is normally very harsh when it comes to weather and winds. However, so far the weather forecast promises good weather for mushers and dogs - meaning cold and dry conditions. According to trail breaker Magne Johansen the conditions are ideal with cold weather and good, hard tracks. The thriller will be the temperature at night when it might sink to below minus 30 some places.

It looks as if the girls are going to dominate 500 km race. Nina Skramstad, Katy Meier and Elisabeth Edland passed the checkpoint before 4 pm. All of them are very experienced mushers who may keep going fast all the way to the finish line.