
While most of us will be looking out of the window this morning hoping for a little sunshine to brighten the day, Emma Cowell will be also have an eye on the weather forecast as she prepares for a 500km race across the snow and ice of Western Finnmark in Norway.
The London-based 40 year old, from Hertfordshire, will be setting off from Alta with her team of eight Siberian huskies this morning and will expect to finish sometime on Tuesday morning if all goes well.
She will be England’s only entrant in a field of 62 in the Finnmarksløpet FL-500 and takes part in the race for the first time.
The winning musher will be the one who crosses the line in the faster time with their team intact and healthy. Emma fell in love with dog sledding while studying in Alta and has been keen to take part in the race for years.
She usually takes part in races in Britain under the auspices of the British Siberian Husky Racing Association. These are in forests over tracks instead of snow and being pulled in a sled with wheels attached instead of runners.
The first Finnmarksløpet was in 1981 with just three mushers participating, but the race and the sport has been such a massive success, now around 130 entrants cross the start line each year. It has led to the sport becoming the biggest sporting and cultural event in the region and a symbol of Finnmark itself.
On top of that, since 2009 NRK (Norwegian broadcasting Corporation) has screened the race daily, with a massive ratings across the country.
The company Finnmarksløpet AS, which organises the race, has seen worldwide interest towards Norway and Finnmark during the race. The ratings on NRK TV and its own Digital media on the firm’s website amazing increase every year.
The start is from downtown Alta, across western Finnmark to return back to the city centre by Tuesday morning if the weather conditions and tracks are fairly good.
To follow Emma's progress in the race go to www.finnmarkslopet.no
The London-based 40 year old, from Hertfordshire, will be setting off from Alta with her team of eight Siberian huskies this morning and will expect to finish sometime on Tuesday morning if all goes well.
She will be England’s only entrant in a field of 62 in the Finnmarksløpet FL-500 and takes part in the race for the first time.
The winning musher will be the one who crosses the line in the faster time with their team intact and healthy. Emma fell in love with dog sledding while studying in Alta and has been keen to take part in the race for years.
She usually takes part in races in Britain under the auspices of the British Siberian Husky Racing Association. These are in forests over tracks instead of snow and being pulled in a sled with wheels attached instead of runners.
The first Finnmarksløpet was in 1981 with just three mushers participating, but the race and the sport has been such a massive success, now around 130 entrants cross the start line each year. It has led to the sport becoming the biggest sporting and cultural event in the region and a symbol of Finnmark itself.
On top of that, since 2009 NRK (Norwegian broadcasting Corporation) has screened the race daily, with a massive ratings across the country.
The company Finnmarksløpet AS, which organises the race, has seen worldwide interest towards Norway and Finnmark during the race. The ratings on NRK TV and its own Digital media on the firm’s website amazing increase every year.
The start is from downtown Alta, across western Finnmark to return back to the city centre by Tuesday morning if the weather conditions and tracks are fairly good.
To follow Emma's progress in the race go to www.finnmarkslopet.no