Skrevet av: Karl E.Steffesen, Translator: Melanie K. Clegg
Dato: 16.01.2007 08:40
When the deadline for registration was reached on 1 December, a total of 114 mushers from 9 countries had registered for the race that starts from Alta town centre on 10 March. Amongst the areas represented are Catalonia, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom.
- Compared to the same time last year, there were 97 mushers registered, so I can safely say that 2007 will be a record year for us. Right now, we are the world’s biggest sled-dog race. And since there is always room for late-entrants, I am reasonably sure that more is yet to come, comments a very satisfied Hanne Rosenberg i Finnmarksløpet AS.
More challenges
The greater the number of participants, the greater the attention attracted by the race. This helps to bring in the money, but it also creates more challenges.
- It is true that the increasing interest in Finnmarksløpet has a good effect, both for us and for other businesses in Finnmark. It becomes more attractive to be one of our partners, and we are, of course, grateful for this. However, a larger number of participants and the increased attention means that it is more demanding for us as organisers, especially in terms of logistics and support. It remains important for us to retain the spirit of voluntary work that is the trademark of Finnmarksløpet. We only employ personnel in terms of administrative work. The race will still be run as a volunteer-organised race, insists Rosenberg.
Status symbol
Despite the ever-increasing number of participants over the past years, Rosenberg admits that both she and her staff were unsure of what they could expect after last year’s tough race.
- It was very tough last year. It was extremely cold and many mushers had to give up underway. We wondered if this would deter folk from entering this year’s race. Fortunately, it looks as if last year’s extreme weather has actually sparked interest in participating in the race. Finnmarksløpet is possibly the world’s most extreme sled-dog, says Rosenberg, who has had this assertion confirmed by one, not completely unknown, musher.
- Robert Sørlie has participated in both Finnmarksløpet and the Iditarod. Even though the Iditarod is longer, Sørlie regards Finnmarksløpet as the more extreme race because of the trail and the ever-changing weather. To have on your sitting room wall the slab of slate that confirms you as a finisher in Finnmarksløpet - that is a real staus symbol, tells Hanne Rosenberg.