10 March 9:00 FINISHED!!
After a tough stretch with much wind and snow on the mountains Fredrik and the dogs fought themselves to the finish. None of the dogs in the team were used to go in lead after mainleader Ixius had to be dropped in the previous checkpoint. In Jotka the team took an extra rest of an hour, before continuing. The team crossed the finishline at 8:40 hours after a run of 4.37 hours from Jotka to Alta, therewith finishing in 32th. place.

Finnmarkslöpet is achieved, a goal reached! Congratulations Fredrik, Diva, Fjune, Viggo, Billy, Hulken and Goofy!

9 March 20:00
The final stretch of 130 km. to the finish in Alta has started for Fredrik and his 6 remaining dogs. He left Jergul in 29th place at 18:52 hours, only 12 minutes behind nr. 28. Ixius was dropped from the team due to a shoulder problem. We hope Fredrik won't have to drop any more dogs in Jotka!

9 March 13:00
Fredrik arrived in Jergul at 12:49 hours after a very good run of 4.48 hours; faster than many of the other teams who are laying close to him. He will be resting here at least 6 hours as mandatory rest. He is currently in 33. position. Main leader Ixius is troubled by a sore shoulder and it is very doubtful whether Fredrik takes the chance to take him with further. It is still another 80 km. to Jotka and from Jotka to the finish is another 50 km.

9 March 08:00
After a rest of 8.40 hours, Fredrik and his team of 7 dogs went out of Karasjok at 08:00 hours in the morning. Ixius was checked over by a vet and got green light to continue. He was a bit stiff, but otherwise fine. Hannibal on the other hand, was dropped from the team. He didn't want to eat and started to get dehydrated. Fredrik was supposed to rest for 4 hours at Karasjok, but decided to extent it to an 8 hours rest, in the interest of the dogs. He went out in 37. place. In the next checkpoint Jergul the teams have to take a 6 hours mandatory rest. We expect the team arriving at Jergul around 13:30-14:00 hours. So far, Fredrik is still ahead of the other supposedly Siberian Husky team of Dariusz Mortszyn.

8 March 23.30 h.
The team arrived at Karasjok at 23:22 hours after a tough run of 8 hours. They are now in 29. place. Fredrik had to take Ixius in the sled as he started to limp. We hope it will only be a little stiffness, but chances are that he has to leave his mainleader in Karasjok. They will have at least an 4 hour rest or more here.


8 March 15.50 hours
Fredrik has left Levajok at 15.23 hours after a 5,5 hours rest. He still has all 8 dogs in the team and left the checkpoint in 26. position. Next stop is Karasjok, 87 km. from Levajok and more than halfway in the race. It will be getting tough now as dogs are getting more tired...

8 March 10.00 hours
Fredrik reached Levajok at 10.00 hours after a run of 6.56 hours. He is now in 37. place. He is progressing!

8 March 08.00 hours
After a rest of 5 hours, the team left Skoganvarre at 03:03 hrs. in the morning. Fredrik went out as nr. 39, and fifteen minutes after the team of Dariusz Mortszyn who is probably also driving a team of Siberians. It is expected the run to Levajok might take between 7 to 8 hours. Levajok is 88 km. from Skoganvarre and 213 km. in the race. Temperatures are still mild.

7 March 22.00 hours
The team arrived at Skoganvarre at 21.49 hours. Fredrik said the dogs had been running well. All were pulling and all were tacking snacks and drinking well. It took them 4.30 hours and that was less time than expected. They kept an ave. speed of 16 km./h.


7 March 17.20 hours
Fredrik out at 17.19 hours as nr. 42 with all 8 dogs on the team. Next checkpoint is Skoganvarre 70 km. from Jotka and 125 km. in the race. It is expected it will take ca. 5/6 hours to Skoganvarre.


7 March 16.30
Fredrik and the team came in to Jotka at 15.26 hours after a warm run with many climbs. Fredrik is bearing some more kilos on him than Nina, so the dogs are noticing that now too. sorry Fredrik ;-). Still, their averag. speed was 14 km./h, on the run of 53 km. so that was quite ok, considering the warm temperatures and many uphills. He reported that it was a tough run and the dogs got very warm. Fredrik will take a 2 hours rest here before continuing to Skoganvarre 70 km. further on.


7 March
Fredrik and the dogs started out in good mood from Alta. Nina rode the first km. with on the runners as there was a 90 degrees swing just out from the start. There were lots of spectators in the central street of Alta. Fredrik has Billy and Ixius in lead. Main leader Sverre and reserve leader Curry are cheering on the team from home. Sverre was left at home due to high liver values and Curry has a big cut in his foot. The team is made up of Ixius, Billy, Fjune, Diva, Viggo, Hannibal, Goofy and Hulken. Only Goofy has experience of previous Finnmarkslöpets. He finished the 1000 km. Finnmarkslöpet on the team of Karsten Grönås in 2006. This is the first race of more than 150 km. for the team.

We hope to be able to publish some photos of the team later in the race.

14 -15 February
SHAM draget was the last mid-distance race of the season. Nina drove all 10 dogs which are in training for Finnmarkslöpet 500: Arktisk Storm Diva, Fjune, Hannibal, Viggo and Billy, Hulk Håkon and Sverre av Vargevass, Goofy, Nymånens Mercurius and Ixius.
On the first day several dogs had started to get diarrhea and even though they performed well, it would get worse the next day. On day 2, almost the entire team was affected by stomach problems. Nina could hang on to first position, with only a small margine, with 8 dogs who were not themselves.

Efterlyses bilder
Våran kamera pajade, så om ni har tagit bilder på vårt spann enten på SHAM draget eller SM i Gafsele, skulle vi vara takknämlig om ni vil skicka de till fredrik.filander@telia.com. Tack på forhand!


6 - 8 February
Nina and the team won their class in the Unlimited Mid Distance Category at the Swedish Championships in Gafsele. Nina had 8 dogs on the team while her competitors had 12-dog teams. With times of 1:52:53 (day 1) 2:07:10 (day 2) and 1:58:16 (day 3) she earned a 10 minutes overall lead to her closest competitor. Total time: 05:57:49. Tanya became nr. 3 in 4 dog class Juniors with Swatch, Rolex and Tissot av Vargevass and Arktisk Storm Billy.


10-11 January
The local division of the Swedish Polar Dog Club (SPHK NN) held its clubchampionship in Lillholmsjö. Nina was entered for the Mid Distance Limited Class Purebreds and won her class out of 4 entries with a time of:
Day 1: 2.20.50, Day 2: 2.27.21 Total: 4.48.11

Her team had a faster time than some of the Unlimited Mid Distance teams of which among others the present WSA Champion Mid Distance Unlimited.
On the team were: Sverre av Vargevass & Nymånens Ixius lead, Nymånens Mercurius & Hulk Håkon av Vargevass team, Goofy & Arktisk Storm Viggo wheel.

Tanya competed for the first time in 4-dog class Juniors over 10 km. She won her class out of 4 entries and would have placed as nr. 5 out of 20 if she would have ran in the Senior Class. Day 1: 22.07, Day 2 22.33 Total 44.40
On her team were Arktisk Storm Diva & Arktisk Storm Billy in lead, Rolex and Swatch av Vargevass in wheel.


1 October
Fredrik is entered for the 500 km. Finnmarkslöpet in March 2009
Nina will be running the Swedish Championships Middle Distance in Gafsele. She will represent the Swedish National Team in Sled Dog Sport.
See her blogg on the Swedish Sled Dog Association's website, here.

22 September
Arktisk Storm Tindra and Stacey left our kennel for other sled dog teams.

13 September
Siberian Husky Club Specialty Show in Bjursås:
Arktisk Storm Hannibal: 1. pr./CK and placed 5th. in Open Class Males.
Isslottet's Zeb: 1. pr/HP in Veteran Class and is now Swedish Polar dog Champion. (Swedish Working Champion).

Race season 2007/2008

27-29 March, Beaver Trap Trail
2 x 41 km. + 1 x 52 km. Open Class 12 dogs.
Total time: 8.53.30 hours. Entry 3 teams. Place 1.

12/13 March, Polar Distans
140 km., 6 dog class
Total time 10.45 hours. Entry: 15 teams. Place 3.

7-9 March, WSA Championships
3 x 52 km., Mid Distance Limited Class, 6 dogs.
Total time: 8.47.22,3 hours. Entry: 15 teams. Place 3. Bronze medal

3 x 5 km., D2 2 dog class. (Tanya)
Entry: 24 teams, place 19.

16-17 February, SHAM-draget
2 x 42 km. Mid Distance Limited Class, 6 dogs
Total time: 5.35.29 hours. Entry: 6 teams. Place 4. after wrong trail on 2nd day.

Y-junioren
2 x 5 km, 2 dogs
Entry: 4 teams. Place 2.

12/13 January, SPHK Nedre Norra Championship
2 x 46 km. Mid Distance Limited Class, 6 dogs
Total time: 5.30.00 hours. Entry 7 teams. Place 1.

Y-junioren
2 x 5 km, 2 dogs
Entry: 4 teams. Place 4.

Shows

13 September 2008, Swedish Siberian Husky Club Specialty Show
Isslottet's Zeb, 1.pr/HP and nr. 5 in Veteran Class Males. Zeb has herewith become Swedish Working Champion. (3 x 1. prize in sleddog merits and 1.pr in show merits).
Hulk Haakon av Vargevass: 2nd. prize in Working Class Males (was not showing himself).
Arktisk Storm Hannibal: 1.pr/CK and nr. 5 in Open Class Males.
Judge: Sonny Ström, (Working and Open Class), Per Erik Wallin (Veteran Class).


15 September 2007, Swedish Siberian Husky Club Specialty Show
Hulk Haakon av Vargevass - 1 prize, CK. Place 3. in Young Dog Male Class
Arktisk Storm Hannibal - 1 prize, CK. Place 4. in Young Dog Male Class
Judge: Vincent Buoniello, USA