News

Ready for Finnmark

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 22:36:22 +0100

Only shorter fun runs on the river this last days before Finnmarksløpet. To morrow we leave for Alta. Hopefully the weather is getting better, the last days the road to Alta has been closed a lot of times over Kvænangsfjellet (mountain pass). I have borrowed three dogs from Mats Petterson in Kiruna, and together with eleven good dogs from us the team feels good. The dogs that travel to Finnmark is Gross, Belmore and Baska from Mats and Gunnar, Kesam, Kaos, Elton, Bård, Kari, Gunn, Herman, Wilma, Kaifa, Pelle and Vosko (reserve dog). Start is Saturday at 11.00 and my goal for the race is to do as good as possible, and hopefully better than last time when I finished just in time for the banquet next saturday.

We hope to come with updates during the race, but on another website.
Check www.undervegs.blogspot.com for updates.

TromsQuest

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 20:19:41 +0100

The last weeks has involved a lot of preparations for Troms Quest and Finnmarksløpet, and some light training trips. Troms Quest was a very good experience, from both views, the musher and the organizer. This year Aslak was race marshal and I got the chance to race, much more relaxing than last year as race marshal...
I got a few answers that was god to get now instead of on Finnmarksløpet. Momba and Elvira that went out of Aslak team on Femund with injuries seems to have got the injuries back, and is not ready to race. I might borrow dogs from Mats Petterson in Kiruna instead. Except the injuries It was a good race, dogs kept a good speed and was happy all the time. First leg was done with Momba riding in the sled most of the time, so it slowed me a little bit and stopped me from getting a good rhythm. Round two felt very good and the team started to feel strong. In the end we came as nr 5 of 6, but what was most important for me was that i felt happy with the team. Now it is time for last packing of food drops for Finnmark and preparations for the trips coming up right after Finnmarksløpet.
Thanks to Arne Øvergård for photo.

Femundsløpet

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:25:37 +0100

Femundsløpet is over and it is time for analyses and thoughts. The positive parts first, we managed to get two teams to the starting line after tough diarrhea three days ahead of race start. All but Elton was fit enough to start. During the race my team was happy and worked steady all the way, and i finished as nr 29 with 8 happy dogs in the team after picking up two teams the last 10 km of the race. Aslak finished with 6 dogs at the place before me. It was a good pice of training before Finnmarksløpet, but I see there is room for improvements... I am not happy with the power/speed in my team on the first two legs. First leg I was among the slowest teams, and the team did not feel like a team, more like a group of individuals walking along in the soft snow. Luckily they got better. In the lead it seemed best with the small girls, Kari, Kaifa and Gunn taking responsibility, they where definitely the best dogs on the team. And I was specially happy to see that Kaifa 1 1/2 year was able to lead the team 3 of 5 legs and that little Kari took responsibility.
Now we will start to prepare for Finnmarksløpet by running bigger teams and get up the speed in soft snow. In two weeks we have Troms Quest as a final test...
In addition to the dogs doing the pulling I also have to mention the fabulous handler team, Lotta, Kjersti and Robert that did a grate job of looking after me and caring for my food, etc. If anybody need a handler training program, call Lotta as she is the expert...

Preparations and struggle

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 16:10:09 +0100

While Espen has spent the last week in the Alps skiing, Aslak has taken care of the dogs and travelled with them to Røros. Yesterday was one of those days he would have liked to forget. Several of the dogs got ill, with diarrhea and throwing up, probably caused by bacterial infection from some food. Two of the dogs, Elton and Vosko, ended up at the vet. At the same time the car broke down, and outside temperatures was -35... Luckily they got help from Gunnhild where they live, and the ill dogs got to stay in the barn.
To day things seems better, car is back on the road and most of the dogs are back on track. Hopefully we have two teams ready on friday...

Supporters

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:15:48 +0100

Most people look at the challenges of the races and think the mushers go trough tough and challenging race days, the truth is a bit different... Of corse the races are big challenges, but the real challenge is to reach the starting line. Going out training in all conditions, spending days and nights away from family when you already has to few hours in the days, and most of all the economical challenges. This is a expensive sport, and it is grate to get support and equipment from some of the best...

Lanullva is back on the market with some of the warmest and best wool clothing available and we are very pleased that they help keeping us warm.

Red Fox helps us with warm, water/wind proof clothing and tent for the training trips.

Gjøvarden is a new company that produces high quality dog harnesses and warming coats. We have got a number of coats to test on the races, and we look forward to do that.

Næringshagen i Målselv has been a good partner for the arrangement of Troms Quest and has also supported the Undervegs dogsled team.

Handlerimport gives good deals on sledding equipment and also provides Tello dog food.

In addition to these commercial supporters friends and family has been helping out a lot. Specially Lena, Aslak, Jean Louis, Lotta, Hans and Hermien, and all other helpers and dog trainers.