Etter et uhell på vei til andre sjekkpunkt, ser Steinar Kristensen seg nødt til å ta ut to nye hunder.
Skrevet av: Erlend R. Strand/Anne-Mette Bjøru (transl.)
Dato: 14.03.2010 08:26
After an accident on his way to the second checkpoint, Steinar Kristensen must take out two more dogs. The first one was taken out of the race at Skoganvarre.
- I soon noticed that one dog had little energy, says Kristensen. - I tried to check whether she had ice in her paws and if this created problems, but I think it must be someting muscular, he continues. Veterinary Kine Jøraholmen confirms stiff muscles in Oda's right shoulder. She is still optimistic and and says that caring well for the dog might be enough. - With 15-20 minutes of massage and some rest she might be ready to go again, she says.
Kine Jøraholmen says that the dogs ahve handles the high speed surprisingly well. - It looks very good. Exceptions occur, but we'll always see that, she continues.
Mushers are very careful keeping dogs in the race that they are uncertain about. Worst case scenario is if a dog must sit in the sled, thus loosing power in th eteam and creating more weight to the rest of the team. - I will most likely leave two dogs here, he says while caring for his dogs. Taking good care of the dogs will be even more important now. - I cannot afford loosing more dogs now, he says.
Kristensen says that he had to leave two lead-dogs at Skoganvarre after they fought each other. - I decided to leave both. Leaving Levajok with only 11 dogs and no lead-dogs, he is a bit pessimistic. However, he still sticks to his goal: - To cross the finish-line!