FEMUNDLØPET RETROSPECT

On wednesday evening we set of to Røros and Femundløpet World Championsship 2011. Just before midnight we arrived to our good friends, Staffan and Ingrid and their adorable son of 6 months, Abel.

After a good night sleep we went to Røros Centre on thursday morning for the big event.

At 12:00 the first team of F600 set out on its 605 km jorney. With one minute interval team after team set out. We helped Erle to get on her way, and everything went smoothly.

At the last minute, my old friend from Svalbard, Arne Liaklev saw his chance. He had traveled to Røros in the last minute, and he did not have any handler to bring his depot out to the track... I see the typical behaviour of an experienced wilderness traveller. Any problem is solved enroute.

Well, Arne hit a tree while overtaking another team. So 1,5 hrs into the race his sled looked more like Santaclaus sleigh. A problem that was solved, simply by Arne adjusting to the new contidions =)

Erles race sadly ended allready at Tufsingdalen. She had a sudden attack of sickness, and had to scratch after such a good start. We feel with her, as we know she is the last to deserve what happened to her.

Arne started as the last team, and the surprise was enormous when he suddenly pulled into *Checkpoint Tufsingdalen as the 2nd fastest team, only one minute slower than the silver fox, Robert Sørlie.

Out of Tufsingdal the confusion was complete. Robert was supposed to start one minute ahead of Arne. But the dogs bit Roberts lines, so he had to stay back to fix it. Nobody seemed to understand that Arne was to start 2nd, and he was way back starting in the middle of 83 teams. Arne only saw one sollution, lifted his anchor and raced through the resting teams. Very bad job of the checkpoint crew. It looked awsome though!

Since Robert had problems, Arne started out as the leader and kept it all the way to Drevsjø.

But the high speed, and deep sugersnow tracks, was hard for Arnes dogs. Soon after leaving Drevdjø, Arne had to take a dog in the sled, and the hills up to Tynset slowed him down. After Tynset Arne descided to take it easy, and focus on making it to the finishline. Long rests, and easy runs, was a good medicine for the dogs. After Tynset all Arnes dogs ran to Røros. 25th place to Arne in his debute Femundløp. Not bad!

It was a thriller between Sigrid Ekran and Robert Sørlie. Sigrid was to hard a match and won the race nicely!

The short race was won by Marianne Skjøthaug from Finnmark.

Respect to theese women!

after