Pleased to promote FL in Alaska

Dave King who is visiting from the sled-dog community in Alaska is impressed over what he has seen at Finnmarksløpet. - This should fit mushers from North America also, ha says.

Dave King has been both a musher and the Race Marshall of many long-distance races in North America, among them Yukon Quest - a legendary race that stretches 1600 km from canada to Alaska. He also runs his own kennel for Polar dogs. He is in Finnmark because his girlfriend works as a vetenerian for Finnmarksløpet.

- After following the 500 km I see many similarities between Finnmarksløpet and Yukon Quest, both when it comes to the competition itself, nature and people's interest, he says.

- In this sense it is sad that not more mushers from North America have discovered the possibilities here, he continues. The paradox is that very few among the mushers at home are aware of the possibilities in Norway, while many here know what is going on in North America and especially in Alaska, he says. However, of course the curiosity has grown after Norwegian mushers have done so well in the Iditarod over the past years.

King thinks there is great potential for North American participation in Finnmarksløpet. But at the same time it is a huge challenge to get dogs and equipmet over to Norway, both when it comes to logistics and economy. He does point out though that it would be valuable for Finnmarksløpet, for instance by the help of sponsors, to get a few well-known mushers from North America across to this race. That would increase the attention around a race that deserves more attention also in North america, King says.   

Dave King (right) with vetenerians Annette Kriller and Christine Luthi (photo: Reiulf Grønnevik)