The mandatory rest increases in the 1000 km

The Finnmarkslopet Trail Committeee has decided to increase the mandatory rest time from 12 hours to 16 hours in the 1000 km race - open class from the 2005 anniversary race and on. Together with the mandatory 8 hours rest in Karasjok, the Finnmarkslopet race now require a mandatory rest in harmony with other longdistance dog sled races, such as the Iditarod race in Alaska.

After last years race, the Finnmarkslopet Trail Committee has received suggestions from participants about possibilities of improving the track and on increasing the rest time. As a result from these suggestions, changes have been done in the East-Finnmark track.

The mandatory rest time for each team in the 1000 km race has until now been 12 plus 8 hours, where it was obligatory to take the last 8 hours in Karasjok before driving to the finish line in Alta.

Finnmarkslopet Trail Committee has now decided to increase the 12 hours mandatory rest to 16 hours. This means that from now on, there are two mandatory rests, one of 16 hours and one of 8 hours, where, as before, it is mandatory to take the 8 hour rest in Karasjok before driving to the finish line in Alta.

It was decided two years ago not to include the third mandatory rest, which will remain unchanged. - The opinion of The Trail Committeeis is that it is up to each participant to decide how much rest his/her team needs - when it has to rest and how much. It is an important element to restrain this in the competition. Former experience has also shown that participants are aware of this, says Marit Honerød Hoveid, leader of The Trail Committee.

The board beliefs that by increasing the longest mandatory rest time from 12 to 16 hours supplies enough time for dogs and drivers to regain their strenghts.