Just Before Kick-off
9 a.m. at the Arena. The air is thick with excitement. All the skiers are arriving, their bags are being weighed by the officials and they warm up on the track and meet up in small groups to chat about the race and the weather. Speaking of the weather: it’s overcast, chilly and pretty windy. Not terrible, but not ideal either. 



Frands Eriksen, among friends called Fransi, is from Sisimiut, and he is running Arctic Circle Race for the 4th time.
Why do you keep doing it, Fransi?
“I don’t want to be a couch potato,” Fransi answers. The first 6 years in the history of Artic Circle Race, Fransi was helping out as a volunteer, so he is definitely one of the veterans. His experience tells him that the tracks probably get better and better the further up in the hills they get.



Todd Malzhan from Colorado, USA, is a first timer at Artic Circle Race. Tuesday he arrived at Sisimiut with his wife and children, and 10 minutes before kick-off he is raring to go.
How did the news about Artic Circle Race come all the way to Colorado?
“You know, I saw an add in a skiing magazine several years back, and it has stayed in the back of my mind ever since. This year me and my family decided to go for it,” Todd explains.
The skiing he feels confident about, as he has been skiing ever since he was a child and has been practicing for the race back home. “I feel good, and it’s as simple as that,” he says.



Niels Kieler Jensen is a bit of a story. Born in Sisimiut, Danish, and living in Sweden he has an international air about him. Practicing for the race has been difficult as the snow conditions in Sweden have been very poor this year. Nevertheless Niels was determined to participate in the 10th Arctic Circle Race.
Coming back to Sisimiut also gives him a great opportunity to visit old friends and relive childhood memories. It’s the second time Niels is in ACR, so he says that he knows what lies ahead of him. The tracks and the route do not scare him. “I also think it’s really important to support and take part in these kinds of activities,” Niels says. He definitely looks like he’s enjoying himself already:



Friendly Competition
Peter Sivertsen and Karl Petersen from Nuuk are teasing each other up until the very last minute before kick-off. Karl says that he definitely wants to beat Peter, and Peter sends him a look that says that Karl doesn’t stand a chance. They are in the race for the first time, and they have really enjoyed the friendly and relaxed atmosphere at the dormitory at Knud Rasmussen’s Folk High School with the other skiers from Greenland, Europe, Canada and the States.
Peter is sure that the race is going to be an adventure and he just looks forward to having a good time.



Karl has been practicing his technique and has focused on his rhythm in breathing and movement.



Count Down 3-2-1
The skiers are readying themselves for the 58.6 kilometres lying ahead of them on today’s route. Officials announce in the speakers that the point of no return is at 4 p.m., which means that all skiers must finish at the camp no later than 4 o’clock today, otherwise they’ll be scratched. The skiers are also instructed in taking care of themselves. Parts of the tracks are wet due to the high temperatures, and the skiers should be careful when crossing these wet areas.
But now it’s time. The crowd is yelling out the count-down together with the official. Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four…


And all the 138 skiers are off. The best of luck to everyone!

The runners’ opinions after the race
The first skier to cross the finishing line on the first day of Artic Circle Race was Øystein Slettemark. He ran the 58.6 kilometres at 4 hours and 1 minute, and this time places him 10 minutes in front of number two: Martin Møller.
“Of course I’m happy with the result, but I cannot say I’m too pleased with my own performance,” Øystein says. “My blood sugar went up and down and at certain points – especially in the maze – I was actually dizzy and everything went black a few times,” he continues. Øystein also had cramps in his thighs, and he explains that his legs got very tired because of the snow in the tracks: “Being the first skier in the tracks I was the one to clear the track of the newly fallen snow. In weather situations like this it’s actually easier to run outside the track, but that just really tires your legs,” Øystein says.
Despite the tough 1st day Øystein looks fit for fight:



Mum and Son
Aqqalu Skifte from Maniitsoq is the 6th skier to cross the finishing line, and he thinks that the race went well. Aqqalu has participated all 10 times in the history of Artic Circle Race, but 2 times he has had to quit because of health problems. “The times I’ve completed it has been among the first 10 skiers,” Aqqalu says. His tactics for this year’s race was to take it easy, but he soon felt that he could actually go for a place in top ten. Aqqalu is one of the few skiers we’ve talked to on this first day of the race who says that he feels good and full of energy, and certainly he looks it. Well done, Aqqalu:



Bolethe Skifte, age 55, is Aqqalu’s Mum and also a runner in the race. When she crossed the finishing line Aqqalu was there to great her:



Also Kristian Kristoffersen made good time, and being only 17 years old we expect that a great skiing career lies ahead of the young man from Aasiaat. Kristian came in as number 9. After the race he swiftly changed his wet clothes and hung up his long johns on the clothes-line: 

Point of No Return
6 skiers did not make the 4 o’clock deadline and altogether 12 skiers have had to drop out during this 1st day of ACR. The timekeepers work in pairs to help each other time the skiers and write down the exact time for each skier to cross the finishing line. The time keepers are a cheerful bunch of women who manage to maintain their concentration while having a good time in the camp:



A Difficult Track
Many comment that the track has been particularly tricky this year, partly due to ice and water which have made it next to impossible to find the right coating for the skies, and partly due to the heavy fog. Steen Balle from Sisimiut is a veteran in ACR, but this year he painfully sprained his ankle due to the poor visibility. Despite the injury Steen made a good time and came in as number 15. He had the medics treat his ankle with ice after the race:



Due to the water on the track The Artic Circle Race committee is contemplating moving tomorrow’s track, but the final decision has not yet been made. The track is made at night time, so not until tomorrow morning will the skiers know the exact route that awaits them. Until then we hope that the skiers will have a good and refreshing night’s sleep in their tents in the camp:



Famous First Words
The two friends Jan Erik Bentsen Pedersen and Morten Jørgen Heilmann are speaking their minds the minute they cross the finishing line. “I would be lying if I said it wasn’t hard,” one of them says, and the other one chips in: “I got so happy every time I saw a sign thinking now I’m on the last kilometre!” Both of them seem to be ready to take on another 49 kilometres tomorrow.
Jamie Stirling from Canada arrives in high spirits with a frozen beard and is greeted in the camp by his wife. Jamie heard about ACR from a friend in Vancouver, and he instantly made up his mind to join the race. “I’ve been training very hard. The race is tough, but I’m OK,” Jamie says with a big smile. His time supports his statement, as he came in as a handsome number 19:



Provisional results
Surprisingly Øystein Slettemark is 10 minutes ahead of Martin Møller. The 2 previous times that the two athletes have been in Arctic Circle Race together, Martin has come out faster that Øystein, but perhaps this year’s race will see a change in their balance of power. No doubt the race will be close, and the next two days will be exciting to follow for sure.
The all time favourite among the women is Uiloq Slettemark who has participated in ACR all 10 years of its existence and has won the gold medal almost every year. This year Uiloq is 7 months pregnant and consequently she came in after 6:48 hours and holds a place as number 9 among the women. Uiloq’s pregnancy might mean that Johanne Nivi Mikkelsen will be first lady at the Artic Circle Race’s 10th anniversary. Johanne’s time is 5:19 which gives her a 10-minute lead in front of Niviaq Berthelsen.

Nightfall
The first day is coming to an end. The skiers are resting and getting soothing massages by gentle hands in the massage tent: 



They want to be ready for the race tomorrow. Kick-off is postponed till 1 p.m. due to the Greenlandic Championships in dog sledging. Until then the skiers are in the capable hands of the masseurs:

 

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