Eighteen-year-old completes toughest Finnmarksløpet distance

Elisabeth Kristensen, an 18-year-old from Alta, made history on Saturday morning by completing the 1200-kilometer Finnmarksløpet, becoming the youngest participant to ever finish the event’s longest distance.

Kristensen crossed the finish line in Alta at 11:49 AM, having completed the grueling 1200-kilometer journey from Alta to Kirkenes and back. She finished in 11th place.

“I feel great, of course,” Kristensen said. “It’s quite an achievement. I hope this can inspire other young people to take the step into larger classes.”

Kristensen grew up with her family’s kennel at Jotka fjellstue and has spent years training and working hard to reach this point. She has already secured three consecutive victories in the junior class for the 200-kilometer race. This year, she took on the 1200-kilometer challenge, one of the toughest dog sled races in the world.

“The biggest difference is the length,” she said. “The junior race is over in one day. Here, you’re out for a week. You have to stay on the trail, take care of the dogs, and take care of yourself. It’s long, but also more intense in a way.”

The journey was not without its challenges. Kristensen described a race with stark contrasts, including spending four to five hours on the ice, waiting for her dogs to resume moving.

“You have to dig deep and find inner strength,” she said. “You question why you’re doing this, you’re cold, and you just want to go home. But you have to keep going.”

Despite the difficulties, Kristensen also had many highlights along the way. She praised her dogs’ performance and the support she received from her team.

“I didn’t really race to compete,” she said. “I wanted a good run, and I got that.”

Kristensen also expressed gratitude for the support system that made her journey easier.

“They’ve been very solid,” she said of her support team. “When I come into the mobile home, everything is arranged. I’m taken care of, and we have a good time. I almost felt like I was at summer camp. It was so nice that I didn’t want to leave.”

When asked about next year’s race, Kristensen said she hasn’t thought about it yet.

“No,” she said. “That’s the simple answer. My mind has been on this race for the past month. I need to savor this moment before thinking about the next project.”

In this year’s Finnmarksløpet, Petter Karlsson won the FL-1200 category, while Cato Myhre took first place in the FL-600. Emma Walseth topped the junior class.

Source: NRK Troms og Finnmark