Elisabeth Kristensen, 18, from Alta, is the youngest participant in the 1200-kilometer distance this year. Very few mushers start the longest version of Finnmarksløpet before they turn 20 years old. This year, two mushers started in what many mushers describe as the ultimate test for both musher and sled dogs.
Elisabeth Kristensen is the daughter of Steinar Kristensen, who has made his mark in Finnmarksløpet for many years. Steinar Kristensen is also with her around the race as a handler. Elisabeth Kristensen broke a barrier when she passed 501 kilometers, the length of Gold Rush Run that qualified her for FL1200.
She has no plans to compete with the favorite field, even though they are in the same class. 'I probably won't see much of their tails,' Elisabeth Kristensen said. The goal is to complete what is described as winter's most beautiful adventure.
'I have no experience with such long races, and I am satisfied if we manage a nice race,' she added. Elisabeth Kristensen will repeat that feat if she finishes. Hanna Lyrek from Alta is the youngest to have completed the distance, which she did as an 18-year-old.
Hennie Fische Pettersen, 19, is also debuting on the longest distance. She represents Drammen Trekkhundklubb and drives dogs from Bergvang farm in Asker. Together with her handler, the 19-year-old has stayed in Pasvik in Eastern Finnmark for a month to be as well prepared as possible for the endurance test.
'I am really looking forward to it. It will be something new and exciting. It might become heavy and tough and such, but you have to take it as it comes,' Hennie Fische Pettersen said.
Already before the start, debutant Hennie Fische Pettersen was served the first challenge when one of the most experienced dogs was injured. Sven-Erik Gullbekk, the young musher's mentor and himself a participant in Finnmarksløpet eight times, described the incident. At the Levajok checkpoint, four new dogs were left behind due to inflammations and similar challenges.
I have driven dogs my whole life and have encountered many challenges that must be solved out on the trail.
According to mentor Gullbekk, the mood and psyche are at the top. 'She is now driving with eight fine dogs and is doing great. She is happy and satisfied as always,' he said.
The experienced musher tells that the newcomer has always had a strong competitive instinct. That the competitors have disappeared into the horizon and that she is among the last in the race does not seem to bother her much. Fische Pettersen is in 13th place.
Together with another first-time musher, Silje Holmen Larsen (34), she is now on her way to the Varangerbotn checkpoint. When they arrive at that checkpoint, the debutants on the distance will have driven 763 of 1139 kilometers. Finnmarksløpet's mushing expert, Ole Sigleif Johansen, says it is impressive that two young female mushers are on the starting line.
Ole Sigleif Johansen highlights that they have set aside many hours in the past year to train the dogs. The friendship between the prominent musher and the completely new one stretches far back. Hennie has been running around in his dog yard since she was a child.
Last year, Gullbekk started in the 1200-kilometer class, but now he is on the sidelines watching while Hennie navigates over the plateau. 'I have noticed a mental shift in her. In the beginning, she wanted to cut the rest breaks, but now she has learned.
She actually stays a bit longer than I advise her to,' Gullbekk observed. Big profiles in mushing sport are on the starting line, including Harald Tunheim, 67, the oldest musher this year, Petter Karlsson (50), Brage Nilsen Jæger (33), and Ola Martinsen (36). Petter Karlsson is considered one of Europe's best long-distance mushers in recent times.
Finnish Eetu Karppinen (28) and Ingvild Gabrielsen (29) are next on the age list after Kristensen and Fische Pettersen. In the 600-kilometer class, Ylva-li Næss has traveled far to participate, coming from the village of Meråker in Trøndelag, where few engage in mushing. Ylva and her sister Ronja (17) have trained the team together and take turns competing with them.
I have never been out on such a long trip before. There are probably many challenges I don't know about yet that I will go through this year.
This time it is Ylva's turn. At such a young age, it is unique to be able to start on the starting line with self-trained dogs. Finnmarksløpet's mushing expert, Ole Sigleif Johansen, thinks it is an impressive achievement.
Young mushers often follow in their parents' footsteps. On the team, Ylva has her sister Ronja Næss (17) and father Øystein Nordahl Næss, who will be her support team during the race. Øyvind introduced the sport to the girls and wanted to give them the opportunity to train the dog team themselves.
Previously, she has only participated in the junior class, but since Ylva has turned 18, she now participates as a senior. This will be her first race as a senior, and she has never driven so far before. 'My expectations are really just to have fun, and take it as a trip.
Just enjoy myself on the trip with the dogs, enjoy the weather. Yes, have fun, simply,' Ylva-li Næss said. A few days before the race start, Ylva takes her dogs to the mandatory veterinary check.
Christina Gomez is one of 19 veterinarians during Finnmarksløpet. During this year's race, veterinarians are particularly attentive to infectious kennel cough. 'It is the same as influenza in humans, and is very contagious.
If one dog gets this, the rest can also get it,' Christina Gomez explained. If a dog has kennel cough, no one in the team can participate. So far, seven mushers have withdrawn from the race due to kennel cough.
The final ranking or completion status of Elisabeth Kristensen and Hennie Fische Pettersen in the race is still pending as the event continues.