FL-500: Keeps an eye on Marianne

Som handler følger veteran Arne Karlstrøm hundekjører Marianne Skjøthaug rundt i fylket.

Arne Karlstrøm has seen team after team arrive Skoganvarre and as a handler for Lance Ranger he hopes for a good result for him this year. He hopes the same for his wife who has also arrived the check point.

- Marianne is a good musher and she races fast so far, says Karlstrøm, who has raced Finnmarksløpet 21 times.

- It feels different to welcome other mushers, buut I enjoy being a handler for Ranger, he says. The dogs seem healthy and fit and Karlstrøm likes the development in theis years' race. He finds it particularly exciting to follow his wife around the tracks.

- I think that the combination of dogs and Marianne have hit it spot on and then it is fun to follow her from the sideline. Arne is also looking forward to the race in 2012 where he plans to race.

- Even if the role as a handler creates challenges, it is different to be behind the sled and race it safely from start to finish, the veteran says with a smile. - After following both Lance and Marianne during this years' race I think I will long to race again myself.