Now we write a few words about the Tobacco Trail race last weekend. First, we are super satisfied with our dogs, they ran like expected.
It was very cold that weekend in Kiruna - it´s somehow always cold when we are in Kiruna with our dogs ;). During the start at the Jukkasjarvi Icehotel it was "only" about -18 degrees, but it was blowing a cold wind. The start went well and Jörg started out with 14 eager dogs, Fränk and Didi in lead. That stage was about 60 km in deep and soft snow. It was snowing the whole week before the race and it was not easy for the organization to make a good trail. Jörg came in first in Övre Soppero where he has to stay about 2 hours. He gave the dogs some snacks, ate and drunk a bit self and then he went on to the next nearly 80 km to Saivomuotka. Meanwhile the temperature fall down to about -26. The trail was also soft and deep but the dogs and Jörg managed it in good speed and they came happy into the checkpoint. There the dogs and Jörg got 6 hours rest with thick ManMat-Thermo blankets and warm food for the dogs and a warm car and food for Jörg. He was sleeping there about 3 hours. There temeperature dropped down to -32. Other dogdrivers who had a thermometer on the sleds told us later that it was partly -40 out on the swamps. Good that we invest in proper and warm clothings, so Jörg was not freezing at all during the whole race.
After the 6 hours rest Jörg went off with all 14 dogs and managed it nearly to drive over his doghandler (me-Katy), because he couldn´t stop the strong team or I was too slow, you can choose...
The trail back was much better because of the teams who ran over the trail and because of the coldness. After 2 km (!) Sivtosv began to slow the team down. She blocked the team who wants to run faster. So Jörg stood on the brake to slow the whole team down, he was not in the mood to load her. And it doesn´t matters that much if he had her in the sled or if he brakes the team down. About 15 km before Övre Soppero Jörg had to load Didi. She was limping and didn´t want to run anymore. So he came into Övre Soppero with 13 dogs in front of the sled and Didi sitting in the sled. So for her and Sivtsov the race was for sure over at this point. Pedro was not pulling like usual, Fausto was limping a little bit and Frederico puked a bit under the last stage. So Jörg decided to take them also out of the team. The other 9 dogs where eating well and rested good under their blankets, Jörg like ususal in the warm car.
After 6 hours he went of with his 9 dogs to the last 84 km, Roger Fossöy passed Jörg after about 25 km in good speed with his 13 dogs. Jörg drove his dogs without further problems to Kiruna on a 2nd place :)))
We are very happy how good the dogs run and this was the last really hard test for the dogs before Finnmarkslopet. Next weekend we drive into the mountains to Sandviken. Saltdalens sleddogclub invited us to their meeting :) There we will do one or two longer runs and then we decide who will be in the FL-Team. The mainteam is already sure, only two dogs we are not that sure who will be in the team.
Sorry that I didn´t do some pictures, but the camera died mostly long before Jörg came into the checkpoints. It was too cold! Hopefully it´s a bit warmer under FL that we can present at least a few pictures ;)
And last but not least, Tobacco Trail is always a journey worth. It´s a fantastic race, well organised and everybody is in good mood. So next year Jörg will stay for sure on the starting line - maybe with the free start again?