Skrevet av: Anita Føleide / Translator Elisabeth Suhr Simonsen
Dato: 10.03.2009 05:43
Finnmarksløpet is now halfway through, and the musher's tactics are starting to appear. Roger Dahl have made a bold move, with Trond Ørslien and Nina Skramstad chasing not far behind.
After the 16 hour rest in Tana, Roger Dahl rushed off, going straight through Neiden. He only stopped to change the runner plastic and leave a dog behind. In all he stopped for less than 15 minutes before continuing towards Kirkenes. Here he came in at 1:19 am, meaning that he had only spent 16 hours and 2 minutes on a 215 km distance. This gives him an average speed of 13,44 km/h. We got an explanation for his stunt when he arrived in Kirkenes last night.
Had it in them
-I could see that the dogs had a lot in them. So I rested in Tana so that I could go straigth through Neiden. To if he is following his tactics from his winning year in 2005 on purpose, he smiles. -Of course it was planned, what isn't planned? But it's also gambling at the same time, he points out.
When it comes to the ones chasing behind him, he says they have to stress. -Those who took their 16 hour rest in Tana have to make a move here in Kirkenes. They either have to take a shorter brake here, or gamble on me not holding. But according to himself, both he and his dogs are in such good shape that for them it will be no trouble. -It's dream conditions! You almost can't believe it when you are standing there. And the dogs are running as if it's all they've ever done. It's like they are still just on a traning trip, Dahl explaned while he happily carried on tending to his dogs.
Doesn't bother Ørslien
At 3:30 am, approximately two hours after Roger Dahl, Trond Ørslien came in to the check point in Kirkenes. That Roger Dahl is in front of him doesn't bother Ørslien. He has a different plan. -Roger and I are racing in two different competitions. I'm in it for the cabin, he wants to win the race, Ørslien says wih a smile.
He belives that he could also have pulled off a stunt like that if he had gone for it. -I wanted all my dogs with me, therefore I had to give a little more rest to one of them. The competitors he on the other hand keeps an eye on is Harald Tunheim and Stein Håvard Fjestad. They do also have a chance to win the tempting Saltdals cabin. It is the combined winner of the 1000 km in 2008 and 2009 who gets this.
Skramstad has own tactic
About an hour after Ørlien, Nina Skramstad rushes in to the check point. That Roger Dahl and Trond Ørslien is ahead of her does not change her plan. -I wont change my tactics now, we made our plan two months ago, and I'm going to stick with it.
My dog-team looks good, exept for some sore and swollen ancles. -My plan is to leave with all 14, she says before she gets back to caring for her dogs.