ERIK IS FL-JUNIOR CHAMPION!

Erik Loftsgård (17) from Øygardsgrend near Geilo, Buskerud, Norway, came through the Alta finish line at 15.24 on Sunday as the winner of first FL-junior race. He ran with two of his own dogs and four were borrowed. He led from the first checkpoint Jotka, and crossed the finish line to a clear victory through more than 200 kilometers of Finnmarks’ strong winds, rain and snow, in style.

HISTORIC: Erik Loftsgård is the first FL Junior Champion in history. Photo: Kjersti Madeleine Godin

Before starting, he talked about avoiding unnecessary stops and time-wasting, and he achieved it. From the last checkpoint Jotka2 he drove out 27 minutes before the next musher, Helle S. Bjerke. Then followed two other young girls not far behind. All four participants were able to complete the first ever Finnmarksløp junior.

Training dogs themselves

Erik Loft Farm has 13 dogs in the dog yard at home, and he trains them himself. During this year when he entered the Femund Race there was nothing that worked and he says he learnt a lot from it. Here in the Finnmark race he ran well with his lead bitch Izeki being a little older than the rest of his young team.