There may be changes

When this is written most of the info given on this web is for the 2004 race. Although most of the info will be the same for this winter’s race - there may be changes. Some topics have been hot after the 2004 run. At the mandatory evaluation meeting after the 2004 race, focus was set on the length of the time span between the start and the banquet, on the so-called “150% rule” and on the limitation of the number of dogs in a team to 14 in “Open” class.

These topics have all been discussed at the annual meeting in Alta SDRC in May, and the meeting has given its recommendations. ItÂ’s now up to the Trail Committee to make the final decisions.

As the open class trail has been extended, the 7 days between the start and the prize-banquet has shown to be to short to allow other than the fastest teams to reach Alta in decent time before the banquet. The recruiting to the longest race has for years been a concern for the race giving organization, and this time span is considered to be one of the obstacles in the work to get more mushers to go for the longest run.

The “150% rule” is considered to have a similar effect taking into account the way Finnmarksløpet traditionally is run - with slow going and a rest-run schedule normally showing distinct less resting than running. Teams wanting to do a rest-run schedule more comparable to the way it is done in races as Iditarod and Yukon Quest - normally a bit more resting than running - soon gets into trouble in the early part of the race if they should be delayed of one or another reason.

Also the argument for the limitation of the number of dogs to 14 has primarily been recruiting, thinking that the barriers for going the longest trail not only are a concern of attitude but also a one of resources.