12,000 Racing Skarverennet This Weekend

– We are ready. The track is looking very good, says Øen, and also notes a small change from previous years.

The start is not at the Finsevatnet Lake, but on land.

– The ice is thick enough, but due to the mild fall, there is a water layer between the ice and the snow. We don’t dare to drive out there with the track-machines. The start will therefore be on land, right below the railroad station at Finse, says Øen.

He believes that that might be the permanent start place in the future as well.

Some of top racers: Petter Northug, Ole Einar Bjœrndalen, Frode Andresen, Odd-Bjœrn Hjelmeset and Frode Estil.
Øen notes that 13 time winner Elin Nilsen should get tough competition from Therese Johaug this time. Marit Bjœrgen and Astrid Jacobsen are also hot names.

– This is first of all are race for the masses, but there is still easy to focus on the elite. It should be a great race. Most skiers are starting ahead of the elite class, so they (the elite) have 12000 spectators, says Øen.

Some of the elite skiers will give a training seminar to young skiers on Friday.

Complete startlists and start-times at http://www.langrenn.com/getfile.php/430831.92.qqarcbdust/Deltakere+2007.pdf

FasterSkier.com will report on the results later.

Source: Langrenn.com