Da vi som noen av de første ankom sjekkpunkt Karasjok sent onsdag kveld, ble vi møtt av noen svært entusiastiske og spente karer som ventet på kjørerne i kafèen på Sárpmi Park.
Skrevet av: Anki Ødegaard/S.M. Arctander (transl.)
Dato: 18.03.2010 16:43
When we as some of the first came to checkpoint Karasjok late Wednesday evening, we were met by some very enthusiastic and exited men who were waiting on the mushers in the café at Sárpmi Park. One of them, John Arne Hathiesen, is the initiator for involving the local people in Karasjok. He is hotel manager at Rica Hotell in Karasjok.
All photos: Ole-Johnny Myhrvold
Mathiesen is very enthusiastic and talks very fast. Mathiesen is from Bergen, but moved to Karasjok two years ago. He was immediately interested in Finnmarksløpet. Soon he began working with Finnmarksløpet Ltd, trying to get them move the checkpoint to “down town” Karasjok. He wanted Sárpmi Park to be the new setting for Finnmarksløet in Karasjok. At Sárpmi Park it is possible to have cultural events next to the checkpoint.
Mathiesen stresses that the previous checkpoint runner, Tormod Svineng, is a valuable support and that he is a key to making the new checkpoint a success.
John Arne Mathiesen goes on saying that he wants to increase the activity level in Karasjok, as well as bring out the sami culture together with Finnmarksløpet. Previous years there have been cultural events one day during Finnmarkløpet, and that used to be the day when FL500 stopped in Karasjok.
This year it has expanded to six days. There will be concerts, dance performance and work shops for pupils among other things. Young sami talents is the focus.
As sponsors Mathiesen has Karasjok County, Sparebank 1, Rica Hotell and Sárpmi Park. Many volunteers have helped it come true. Finnmarksløpet is important for the marketing of Finnmark County. One week with media following the race all around Finnmark is very valuable. One gets to present the county on a very unique way. Places otherwise forgotten can now be revealed for the public in the national media.
Mathiesen hopes that the responses on the new checkpoint will be positive, but is open for improvements. He points out that the desire to make Karasjok an important part of Finnmarksløpet is strong. He hopes that Sárpmi Park quickly will be established as a checkpoint mushers, support and press are looking forward to reach.
We strongly believe that Mathiesen and his team will be able to make that happen.