Finnmarksløpet
Finnmarksløpet is a long distance sled dog race organized every year since 1981 in Finnmark, Norway. Finnmarksløpet is the longest sled race in Europe.
History
The first Finnmarksløpet was hosted in 1981 with only one "open" class and a total of three teams entering the first race. Over the years, the race has experienced substantial growth, both in terms of participants and audience. In 1985, a second "limited" class was introduced. By 1992, the race distance was extended to 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), with the open class setting a maximum of 12 dogs, while the limited class was restricted to 8-dog and a distance of 600 kilometres (370 mi). In 2000, the open class was expanded further to include up to 14 dogs, and the limited class distance was reduced to 500 kilometres (310 mi).[1] In 2018, the open class was further extended to its current length at 1,200 kilometres (750 mi), making Finnmarksløpet the longest sled dog race in Europe and the second longest sled race in the world.[1][2] A junior class open to mushers 14 to 18 years of age has also been added, with a distance of 200 kilometres (120 mi).[1] The 2021 race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] In 2025, the open class was shortened to 1,107 kilometres (688 mi) due to warm weather and parts of the course not sufficiently freezing.[2][4]
Race
All classes begin in Alta before crossing Norway's largest plateau, Finnmarksvidda. The open class proceeds to Kirkenes and then turning back to Alta. The limited class heads to first Kautokeino and then Levajok, a hamlet near Tana before heading back to Alta.[5][6]
Participants in Finnmarksløpet come from all over Europe.[6][2] To participate in the open class, participants must have previously completed the Finnmarksløpet in limited class, Femundløpet, Bergebyløpet N70, Gold Rush Run 501 or another race at least 500 kilometres (310 mi) in length in the past five years.[7] Roger Dahl is the oldest participant, completing the Finnmarksløpet for the 28th time in 2025 at the age of 73.[8] Harsh weather conditions are common on Finnmarksvidda which has a subarctic climate with the coldest winter temperatures in Norway.[9][10]
Open Class
Daily stages, totaling 1243 km
- Stage 1 : Alta – Kautokeino, 168 km
- Stage 2 : Kautokeino – Jergul, 101 km
- Stage 3 : Jergul – Levajok, 122 km
- Stage 4 : Levajok – Tana, 100 km
- Stage 5 : Tana – Neiden, 100 km
- Stage 6 : Neiden – Övre Pasvik, 78 km
- Stage 7 : Övre Pasvik – Kirkenes, 86 km
- Stage 8 : Kirkenes - Neiden, 71 km
- Stage 9 : Neiden – Varangerbotn, 82 km
- Stage 10 : Varangerbotn – Levajok, 70 km
- Stage 11: Levajok – Karasjok, 83 km
- Stage 12: Karasjok – Jotka, 82 km
- Stage 13: Jotka – Alta, 49 km
Winners
| Year | Winning Time | Winner | Home town |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 days 15 hours 41 min | Petter Karlsson | Slussfors |
| 2025 | 6 days 8 hours 38 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 2024 | 7 days 9 hours 30 min | Petter Karlsson | Slussfors |
| 2023 | 6 days 19 hours 35 min | Petter Karlsson | Slussfors |
| 2022 | 6 days 14 hours 44 min | Thomas Wærner | Torpa |
| 2020/2021 | Called off (COVID-19 pandemic) | ||
| 2019 | 6 days 18 hours 38 min | Thomas Wærner | Torpa |
| 2018 | 7 days 2 hours 47 min | Petter Karlsson | Slussfors |
| 2017 | 6 days 9 hours 8 min | Petter Jahnsen | Tufsingdalen |
| 2016 | 6 days 00 hours 3 min | Petter Karlsson | Slussfors, Sweden |
| 2015 | 6 days 03 hours 21 min | Sigrid Ekran | Lomsjødalen |
| 2014 | 5 days 19 hours 16 min | Sigrid Ekran | Lomsjødalen |
| 2013 | 5 days 19 hours 55 min | Thomas Wærner | Torpa |
| 2012 | 6 days 01 hours 40 min | Inger-Marie Haaland | Fagerheim Fjellstugu |
| 2011 | 5 days 09 hours 25 min | Roger Dahl | Alta |
| 2010 | 5 days 09 hours 15 min | Ralph Johannesen | Fagerheim Fjellstugu |
| 2009 | 5 days 06 hours 50 min | Inger-Marie Haaland | Fagerheim Fjellstugu |
| 2008 | 6 days 02 hours 35 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 2007 | 5 days 20 hours 49 min | Tore Bergby | Luksefjell |
| 2006 | 5 days 18 hours 18 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 2005 | 5 days 23 hours 52 min | Roger Dahl | Alta |
| 2004 | 6 days 10 hours 24 min | Bjørnar Andersen | Oslo |
| 2003 | 6 days 3 hours 32 min | Rune Johansen | Alta |
| 2002 | 5 days 5 hours 8 min | Rune Johansen | Alta |
| 2001 | 4 days 20 hours 32 min | Robert Sørlie | Hurdal |
| 2000 | 4 days 19 hours 37 min | Kjetil Backen | Porsgrunn |
| 1999 | 5 days 4 hours 38 min | Robert Sørlie | Hakadal |
| 1998 | 4 days 13 hours 4 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 1997 | 5 days 3 hours 8 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 1996 | 4 days 14 hours 57 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 1995 | 5 days 13 hours 28 min | Robert Sørlie | Hakadal |
| 1994 | 5 days 12 hours 17 min | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1993 | 5 days 13 hours 21 min | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1992 | 5 days 12 hours 5 min | Roger Dahl | Alta |
| 1991 | 4 days 21 hours 57 min | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1990 | 4 days 14 hours 33 min | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1989 | ? | Stein Håvard Fjestad | Stange |
| 1988 | ? | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1987 | ? | Karl Petter Beldo | Alta |
| 1986 | ? | Stein Håvard Fjestad | Stange |
| 1985 | ? | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1984 | ? | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1983 | ? | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1982 | ? | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1981 | ? | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
Limited Class
Daily stages, totalling 609 km
- Stage 1: Alta – Kautokeino, 168 km
- Stage 2: Kautokeino – Jergul, 100 km
- Stage 3: Jergul – Levajok, 127 km
- Stage 4: Levajok – Karasjok, 83 km
- Stage 5: Karasjok – Jotka, 82 km
- Stage 6: Jotka – Alta 49 km
Winners
| Year | Winning Time | Winner | Home town |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 days 21 hours 59 min | Cato Myhre | Lånke |
| 2025 | 2 days 23 hours 46 min | Bjørnar Andersen | Oslo |
| 2024 | 2 days 18 hours 2 min | Ronny Wingren | Socklot |
| 2023 | 2 days 15 hours 33 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 2022 | 2 days 15 hours 46 min | Ronny Wingren | Socklot |
| 2021 | Called off | ||
| 2020 | 2 days 19 hours 34 min | Daniel Haagensen | Tomter |
| 2019 | 2 days 14 hours 23 min | Hanna Lyrek | Alta |
| 2018 | 2 days 17 hours 20 min | Harald Tunheim | Alta |
| 2017 | 2 days 16 hours 47 min | Elisabeth Edland | Nannestad |
| 2016 | 2 days 16 hours 52 min | Ole Sigleif Johansen | Rødberg |
| 2015 | 2 days 4 hours 1 min | Elisabeth Edland | Nannestad |
| 2014 | 2 days 3 hours 51 min | Ronny Wingren | Socklot |
| 2013 | 2 days 3 hours 12 min | Milos Gonda | Spišská Nová Ves |
| 2012 | 2 days 3 hours 59 min | Katy Meier | Slagnäs, Sweden |
| 2011 | 2 days 2 hours 59 min | Elisabeth Edland | Nannestad |
| 2010 | 2 days 2 hours 41 min | Ole Wingren | Nykarleby |
| 2009 | 2 days 3 hours 40 min | Arnt Ola Skjerve | Rennebu |
| 2008 | 2 days 11 hours 27 min | Jan Vidar Dahle | Båtsfjord |
| 2007 | 2 days 7 hours 36 min | Elisabeth Edland | Nannestad |
| 2006 | 2 days 9 hours 3 min | Erle Frantzen | Ulnes |
| 2005 | 2 days 5 hours 26 min | Hilde Askildt | Geilo |
| 2004 | 2 days 3 hours 46 min | Stein Are Harder | Elvenes |
| 2003 | 2 days 3 hours 57 min | Dag Torulf Olsen | Hammerfest |
| 2002 | 2 days 11 hours 26 min | Markus Kyrre Leistad | Alta |
| 2001 | 2 days 13 hours 37 min | Dag Torulf Olsen | Hammerfest |
| 2000 | 2 days 13 hours 49 min | Abner Hykkerud | Alta |
| 1999 | No race held | - | - |
| 1998 | No race held | - | - |
| 1997 | 3 days 13 hours 50 min | Abner Hykkerud | Alta |
| 1996 | 3 days 2 hours 1 min | Rune Johansen | Alta |
| 1995 | 3 days 11 hours 10 min | Eirik Nilsen | Alta |
| 1994 | 3 days 11 hours 42 min | Karl Petter Beldo | Alta |
| 1993 | 4 days 5 hours 40 min | Eirik Nilsen | Alta |
| 1992 | 1 day 20 hours 36 min | Eirik Nilsen | Alta |
| 1991 | 6 days 1 time 12 min | Jan Arne Jakobsen | Lakselv |
| 1990 | 4 days 17hours 26 min | Torgeir Øren | Røros |
| 1989 | ? | Egil Olli | Karasjok |
| 1988 | ? | Arne Oddvar Nilsen | Alta |
| 1987 | ? | Arne Oddvar Nilsen | Alta |
| 1986 | ? | Sven Engholm | Karasjok |
| 1985 | ? | Arne Oddvar Nilsen | Alta |
Junior Class
Daily stages, totalling 198 km
- Stage 1: Alta – Jotka, 49 km
- Stage 2: Jotka – Suossjavre, 47 km
- Stage 3: Suossjavre – Jotka, 53 km
- Stage 4: Jotka – Alta 49 km
Winners
| Year | Winning Time | Winner | Home town | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 day 2 hours 36 min | Emma Walseth | Alta|- | 2025 | 1 day 0 hours 53 min | Elisabeth Kristensen | Alta |
| 2024 | 1 day 0 hours 40 min | Elisabeth Kristensen | Alta | ||||
| 2023 | 1 day 0 hours 41 min | Elisabeth Kristensen | Alta | ||||
| 2022 | 23 hours 46 min | Oda Karlstrøm | |||||
| 2021 | Called off | ||||||
| 2020 | 23 hours 49 min | Espen Burger | Svanvik | ||||
| 2019 | 1 day 0 hours 33 min | Ole Henrik Isaksen Eira | Alta | ||||
| 2018 | 1 day 0 hours 38 min | Ole Henrik Isaksen Eira | Alta | ||||
| 2017 | 1 day 2 hours 11 min | Tuva Almås | Stord | ||||
| 2016 | 1 day 1 hours 22 min | Hanna Lyrek | Alta | ||||
| 2015 | 1 day 0 hours 58 min | Anette Børve Hernes | Eidfjord (village) | ||||
| 2014 | 1 day 3 hours 6 min | Erik Loftsgård | Øygardsgrend |
See also
- Arctic Alps Cup (La Grande Odyssée and Finnmarksløpet)
- Iditarod
- La Grande Odyssée (France and Switzerland)
- List of sled dog races
References
- 1 2 3 "About". Finnmarksløpet (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- 1 2 3 Kjelstad, Thea Heltne (2025-03-14). "Disse kan vinne Finnmarksløpet: – Han er bra sulten i år" [These can win the Finnmarksløpet: – He is very hungry this year]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ Horn, Knut-Sverre (2021-02-19). "Finnmarksløpet 2021 er avlyst på grunn av koronapandemien" [Reacting to the cancellation of the Finnmarksløpet: – The winter holiday in the south has a much greater risk of infection]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ Britto, Bethel (2025-03-09). "Korter ned løpet med 14 mil – vil ha alle i mål på lørdag" [Shortening the race by 140 kilometers – wants everyone to finish on Saturday]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ "The trail – Finnmarksløpet" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- 1 2 Nilsen, Thomas (2025-03-11). "No big climate change disruption for this year's Finnmarksløpet". www.thebarentsobserver.com. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ "Registration – Finnmarksløpet" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
- ↑ Bendixen, André (2025-03-21). "Roger (73) med ny rekord etter sterk innspurt i Finnmarksløpet" [73-year-old sets new record after strong finish in Finnmarksløpet]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
- ↑ "Stasjonsinformasjon" (in Norwegian and English). Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ↑ Larsen, Hanne (2025-03-19). "Uvær: To kjørere fått hjelp ned fra fjellet i Finnmarksløpet" [Snowy weather on the plateau: Two dog sledders have been helped down from the mountain]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
External links
Major annual long-distance sled dog races (mushing) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asia |  | |
| Europe | ||
| North America | ||
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