Skrevet av: Dag B. Urdal / Britta Pohl (trans.)
Dato: 04.03.2006 16:34
At exactly 12 o'clock today the Finnmarksløpet was opened. The first dogsled-team was passing the mountain shelter in Jotka already shortly after half past three.
However, at the moment it is too early to speculate about the possible way the race will take. But some names as Roger Dahl, Arne Karlstrøm and Harald Tunheim should of course be remembered for the course of 1000 km. All those "Finnmarksløpets-veterans" have reached the first checkpoint after 4 o'clock this afternoon. This is a sign that many mushers want to position themselves highly in the race, before the track leads into the mountains at Skoganvarre.
The distance over 60 km is undergone by wind and weather. However, the weather looks good for the dogsled-teams: That means cold and dry. Head of track Magne Johansen believes that this weather is ideal. According to him, it makes sure that the track is hard and good. It will get exciting in the night, when the temperatures will go down till minus 30 degrees at some places in the Finnmark.
On the distance of 500 km it seems at the moment, as if the women would define the race. Nina Skramstad, Katy Meier and Elisabeth Edland reached the checkpoint already at half past three. All three have it in them to lead the race further on and to get on the podium in the end.