Terrific start to this years race!

At 11.15 am today John Øivind Selmer of Porsgrunn set off with his eight dogs. He was the first to race through the cheering crowd in Alta Centrum.

The rest of the 92 mushers who participate in this spectacular long-distance race, are set off from the starting point with a two minute interval. Ahead of them lie miles and miles of travelling, through the tough terrain of Finnmark, day and night.
It is an exceptional test of endurance. In the following days participants will be pushed to their very limit, mentally as well as physically, before returning to Alta. the 58 racing in the 8-dogclass will have to race 50 long miles before crossing the finish line. Whereas the 34 who sets off with 14 dogs, has to travel twice the distance, before finally returning Friday.

Many veterans
the large number of experienced Mushers, makes this year favorites very hard to find. Still last you should keep an eye on last years 1000-km champion, tore Bjergby. furthermore veterans Trond Ørslien, Ralph Johannessen, Bjørnar Andersen, Harald Tunheim, Roger Dahl an Kjell Brennodden should be given some extra attention in the 1000-km. Also Elisabeth Edland can be considered a dark horse. She’s last years 500km champion and has proven to do the extra effort when it is needed; she is also in the 1000km this year.
On 500 km Veterans such as May-Conny Johansen, Arne Odvar Nilsen and Karl Petter Beldo, all stand strong. Jon Øyvind Selmer, Katy Meier, Jan Vidar Dahle and Stein Are Harder are to consider top of the line as well. Nothing is for sure.

Restart at Sorrisniva
In the following hours Mushers will be making their ways across Altaelva. At Sorrisniva, after one and a half mile, there will be a restart for those participating in the 14-dogsclass. The 8-dog mushers are to pass right through her towards their first checkpoint in Jotka.

The weather is splendid with temperatures around minus 6 degrees. The trails have nice and firm tracks, so conditions so far are close to perfect.