Skrevet av: Christina Pettersen, translated by Nicholas Snyder
Dato: 12.03.2009 12:56
It's not just simply to throw yourself out from Finnmarksløpet! The long journey that started in Alta, goes all the way till 1000km-long to Kirkenes and comes back to Alta again. The challanges are coming one after the other and make both the drivers and the dogs tired.
At the checkpoints Neiden, Varangerbotn, Sirma and Levajok the mood's very calm and anbalanced. The most of the drivers that are in the back are taking it easy. They just enjoy the experience on the sledge out in the wilderness together with the dogs. They make sure that at the checkpoints they have a good meal before going back on the track. They take a break every now and then. Fight, self irony and humor are important ingredients to have outside. Just watch the video clip with Arne Liaklev that takes with him a TvNord employee the last three minutes to Kirkenes. There he points out loud that it's not so good to have ambitions to win when you are a bit behind all the others.
Niels Wesphal, the responsible at the checkpoint in Levajok tells that is calm down there today. Some of them rest, while others look like that they want to start again. Everybody is really tired. It's a long race, and we are at day 6. Wesphal thinks that the fight for the first place will be between Haaland and Brennodden. But there's still a piece to go and everything could happen. He adds also that it should be fun if Brennodden wins, since he was so close last year. At the same time it would be " incredibly tough" if Haaland, woman and first time driver, could win.
Anyway, it's important that all the drivers will be seen as winners, emphasizes Wesphal. He also promises that the ones that will come to Levajok, will be respected, and that the last ones, as the first ones, will receive the same treatment.
Photo: Erling Smemo