Finnmarksløpet

Established in 1981 by the Alta sled dog club, Finnmarksløpet stands as an annual long-distance sled dog race held in Norway and has gained international recognition as a premier event in the sport. In 2021, the race faced cancellation due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.The race features three distinct categories: Limited class (600 km) with a maximum of 8 dogs, primarily navigating the Finnmark Plateau; Open class (1200 km) allowing up to 14 dogs, spanning the expanse of Finnmark county from Alta to Kirkenes and back; and the Junior class (205 km), introduced in 2014, with a limit of six dogs. Notably, both the Limited and Open class races commence and conclude in Alta.The inaugural 1981 race showcased a single class, later expanding to two categories in 1985—Limited class with 6 dogs and Open class. Subsequent modifications in 1992 included limiting the Open class to 12 dogs over an extended 1000 km route and the Limited class to 8 dogs covering 600 km. In 2000, the Open class increased to 14 dogs, while the Limited class saw a reduction to 500 km. Significantly, the 2003 route adjustment directed the Open class (FL1000) via Tana to Kirkenes and back to Alta, contributing to the race's heightened popularity.Subsequent years witnessed pivotal developments, including the inception of FL-Junior in 2014 and the addition of the Ellentjern checkpoint in 2015, extending the race to 1100 km. Notably, in 2018, the Open class was further extended to 1200 km. The Open class route, covering 1200 km with various stages from Alta to Kirkenes and back, has seen notable victors, including Petter Karlsson in 2023, Thomas Wærner in 2022 and 2019, and Sigrid Ekran in 2015 and 2014.<ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnmarksl%C3%B8pet#/media/File:Finnmarksloepet.JPG">Finnmarksløpet 2006</a> (CC 3.0)</li><li><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Finnmarksl%C3%B8pet.jpg">Finnmarksløpet </a>(CC 3.0)</li><li><a href="https://www.finnmarkslopet.no/home-trail/">Trail map</a></li></ul>

Finnmarksløpet

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