Levajok

While we are giving the puppies Fido and Bård their first run in front of he sled here at home (see photo) Aslak has reached Levajok.

He did a fine leg over the mountains, not the fastest, but not to far behind the leaders. The original plan was to rest for some hours in the mountains, but cold weather and ok trail conditions made him push on. There will be more rest on Levajok instead, if this was a smart move will remain to see... Sara from Arne Liaklev got a sore shoulder after two hours and had to ride in the sled most of the leg, she is most likely out of the race. It was also a question about a couple of other sore shoulders and it remains to see what the next seven hours of rest on Levajok will do. Next leg starting in the evening will be 110 km to Skippagura and the plan is to rest for some hours half way. This will bring them to Skippagura Monday morning if everything goes according to the plan.

The front runners has now left Levajok with Brennodden, Tunheim and Ørslien first. Bergby was first in, but with very little rest in Skoganvarre he rested a little longer in Levajok, the question is if it is enough. Ralph Johannesen and Elisabet Edland is resting longer and moving fast than the front and it will be interesting to see if this will give results, maybe we will see some new strategies this year...

Just waiting for a rapport from Skoganvarre before going to sleep. Aslak seem to have moved well, resting 20 min on the trail gives a ok time on the leg. Inga was having problems with Ravna up to Joatka, but seems to have got up the steam over to Skoganvarre. I am still waiting for more inside information from her to...

The start of this years big event for mushers and dogs is just hours away and Alta is the place to be, not here at home where I am in front of my Mac...
I have tried to get some rumors and behind the scenes info from the teams in Alta. Inga and Aslak from the neighborhood is ready, and most of all wondering about which runners to use. Is the weather going to be warm or cold to morrow?

About the potential winning teams, there are a lot of favorites this year. On the 500 km Katy Mayer is mentioned as one of the main favorites, but there are a lot of other strong teams. Among my personal favorites are May-Conny Johansen, Svein Sødal Kvam, Jon Øyvind Selmer, Geir Wik, Kjetil Haugersveen and Jan Vidar Dale, but there are also many other strong teams.

On 1000 km I will keep a special eye to the teams of Aslak, our training friend in Kiruna, Mats Peterson, and Stein Johnsen from Norreisa, but none of these are (sad to say) very big favorites to win the race. Rumors from Alta is saying that both Kjell Brennodden and Ralph Johannesen has strong teams this year. Stein Håvard Fjestad has a strong team to, and him self is in top shape to having lost 20 kg since last year... Other favorites is of course Harald Tunheim, Bjørnar Andersen and Tore Bergby. It will also be very interesting to see how Elisabeth Edland will do. She has dominated the 8 dog class the last years with her fast mid distance dogs, how will this bee on the 1000 km? The forecast says warm temperatures and ok weather the next week and this will favor her team, maybe we will have the first woman winning 1000 km this year?

Espen Prestbakmo reporting from the kitchen table in Målselv

The 1000km team almost ready

STING, sitting here in the snow is the experienced man of the team. He has started at Finnmarksløpet four times before and finished FM 500 and 1000 with me in 2002 and 2005
TRANGIA has finnished fm 1000 with me and started two times with Aslak at fm 500
DØNNING has finished fm 1000 with me and fm 500 with Aslak.
MOMBA, ELTON AND KAOS has finished fm 500 with me last year.
GUNNAR, VOSKO and KESAM was at Aslaks fm 500 team last year.
TUTTA and SMIRRE are newcomers this year. Smirre migh stay home as he have had some injure problems early in the season. In addition on the team is three dogs from Arne Liaklev PUMA, SARA and CHILLI.
Elvira got a shoulder injure last weak and is not starting, Sunda has become epileptic and is a bit to risky to use, and Skare decided to join his father, Faun, running at the forewer dreamteam of Leonard Seppala.

Getting closer to Finnmarksløpet

I have not made to many rapports from this years dog training, but I must admit that Aslak has done most of the training. He is now ready for the 1000 km Finnmarkslopet, starting 8. March.
I will stay home checking the uppdates at Internet and try to give some rapports from the trail to this blog and to the f2.no wesite from neighbour Inga that is going for the 500km.

Puppies

The next generation of the team arrived in the beginning of october...

Film work

Last year september and october was hard work taking part in the film Far North. I had dogs that took part as actors and apart to taking care of the dogs I worked with logistics and was cast for two weeks. Now the results are comming, the film had premiere at the filmfestival in Venezia in August. Here is a video telling more about Far North: