Finnmarksløpet is today a 1000 kilometers race which runs from the West-Finnmark town of Alta, to the border town of Kirkenes and back to Alta again. The future plan for Finnmarksløpet is to expand the race track with a checkpoint in Russia, and maybe also in Finland.
Today parts of the race track runs along the Norwegian-Russian border. Veterinary regulations make it impossible for the dogs to cross the border without a vaccination program. A race track into Russia would also have to pass the border zone, and thus need a permit from the border authorities to use this area.
Race manager Hans Petter Dalby says to NRK that the race committee is working on how to solve these issues. Dalby believes that maybe within two or three years the race can invite to the first Finnmarksløpet with checkpoints in Russia and Finland.
- Today there are several participants from other countries than Norway. With a track which runs through several countries, it will reflect better on the international dimension of the dog sled race, says Dalby.
