Skrevet av: Tor Mikkelsen/ transl. Elisabeth Simonsen
Dato: 15.03.2012 14:15
Father: Bernt Walseth
Photo: Jørn Losvar
It is not unusual that several people in the same family are mushers, and we often see dog teams starting Finnmarksløpet with mushers who are closely related. This year we especially notice the families Brennodden from Folldal and Walseth from Alta. There is of course an element of competition between places and families. In this case father and son times two; and they have chosen somewhat different strategies for the race.
Son: Kristian Walseth
From the Walseth family, father Bernt and son Kristian are the ones participating. In addition son-in-law Yngve Opgård has caught the musher bug, and started FL-500 this year. We see a musher dynasty in the making. In FL-1000 the Walseth clan has chosen to stick together, and is now on their way to Sirbma. They started out from Varangerbotn together. This is family solidarity.
The Brennoddens have struggled more this year. Father Kjell left Sirbma earlier this morning, but eventually had to realize that the speed was only decreasing, and he never came in to Levajok 2, but chose to scratch. For son Jo Are things haven’t been much better. He came in to Varangerbotn late last night with 6 dogs, and he chose to scratch here.
Father: Kjell Brennodden
Son: Jo Are Brennodden
Walseth versus Brennodden 2-0… for now