FL-500: Blowing in the Levajok wind

Elisabeth Edland appears to be defending her lead in the FL-500 race. She started out from Karasjok two minutes ahead of the next team. When arriving at cp Levajok this distance has increased to 36 minutes.

- There were hardly any trails due to the strong wind, she said when signing in to the check point.

Ronny Wingren arriving at cp Levajok as # 2. 
Photo: Steinar Vik

Even though Edland has increased her lead during this leg of the race, there are other fast teams coming up from behind. While Edland spent 5:29 hrs on the leg from Karasjok to Levajok, Hilde Askildt spent 5:23 hrs, Ole Wingren 5:28 and Radek Havrda 5:33 - all faster than Edland. In other words, Askildt has the fastest team at present.

When the mushers arrive at cp Levajok, they have to take out the remainder of the mandatory rest hours before continuing. Each musher is then told when the earliest time is when they may leave. They may, of course, rest longer should they want to.

An unofficial ranking shows that:

1. First musher out will be Elisabeth Edland
2. Havrda can start out 21 minutes behind Edland.
3. Askildt may start three minutes after Havrda.
4. Two minutes after Askildt, Ole Wingren may leave.
5. 18 minutes after Ole Wingren has left, he may be followed by Jørn Sødahl Kvam and Ronny Wingren. 

During the next legs of the race the trail will take the teams across the infamous Gaissa's, the rounded mountain hills. This stretch will separate men from boys on a good day. The weather forecast predicts winds up to gale's force. In other words, the result is far from given yet.

Dogs resting in the hay at cp Levajok.
Photo: Steinar Vik