FL-1000: Nerves lead to accident

Birgitte Næss Wærner thinks her accident at Mush Synnfjell earlier this year contributed to her having a rather unpleasant meeting with a tree stump on the first day of the FL-1000 race.

- I suddenly froze in a downhill part of the trail and hit a tree stump so hard that the line underneath the sled tore off, just like that, she says upon arriving at Skoganvarre. Both dogs and musher appear to be fine and without injuries after the incident. Birgitte arrived at the check point together with numerous other teams, like pearls on a string.

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Birgitte Næss Wærner and her dogs are reunited on their way to Jotka. 
Photo: Mads S. Pettersen

A few neck lines were chewn as the incident happened and the dog team ran off while Birgitte was left behind and alone on the trail. Thanks to fellow competitors who gave her a ride and also got hold of her dog team, Birgitte was reunited with her dogs a bit later. The sled appears to have taken quite a beating, however, and the front end of it is rather uneven. She will have it replaced before mushing on from Jotka to Levajok.

- I need to check it thoroughly and see how badly damaged it is. I like riding this particular sled, so I'd like to keep using it in this race if possible, she says. She says she will also miss her sled seat if she has to replace the sled, as the backup sled does not have that kind of comfort available.
 
Despite lines tearing off, dogs running off and an unevenly adjusted sled, her smile and optimism are still in place. - Yes, all is otherwise well, if one disregards those things, is Birgitte's final comment - so far!