One of the most important resources for Finnmarkløpet is the more than 500 volunteers who each year help with the many tasks that must be done to carry out the event.
As a volunteer in Finnmarksløpet, you will have a fantastic experience and you will contribute to the implementation of “the winter’s most beautiful adventure”. As a volunteer, you can choose between several different tasks.
Below you will find some information about the different tasks you can choose from. If you have questions about being a volunteer for Finnmarksløpet, contact Mailene Skjølås at
tel. 938 43 684 or mailene@finnmarkslopet.no
Checkpoints
Here you can choose the place in Finnmark that suits you best. You must arrange your own transport to the checkpoint you choose to be at. As a volunteer at a checkpoint, you’ll work many hours outside, both day and night, often under extreme temperatures and weather conditions. You work under the checkpoint manager who sets up rosters and distributes the various tasks.
As volunteers at a checkpoint, the tasks include rigging up and down the checkpoint, facilitating for the mushers and dogs participating in the competition, registering incoming and outgoing times from the teams and helping them in and out of the checkpoint.
Below you can read about the different checkpoints you can choose from.
Checkpoint Masi
Is open from Friday, March 6th, to Sunday, March 8th.
The volunteers sleep on mattresses and sleeping pads on the floor of the scholl located at the checkpoint. You must bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad.
Checkpoint Jergul
Is open from Friday, March 6 to Monday, March 9.
The volunteers sleep in a small cabin and in a lavvu/gamme with wood heating. You must bring your own winter sleeping bag and sleeping pad.
Checkpoint Levajok
Is open from Thursday, March 5 to Tuesday, March 10.
The volunteers sleep in cabins at the checkpoint. You must bring a sleeping bag.
Checkpoint Karasjok
Is open from Sunday, March 8, to Saturday, March 14, but it is possible to volunteer at the checkpoint only for part of that time.Volunteers sleep on mattresses and sleeping pads in a dormitory. You must bring a sleeping pad and sleeping bag.
Checkpoint Tana
Is open from Saturday, March 7, to Tuesday, March 10.
Volunteers sleep on mattresses in a dormitory. You must bring a sleeping pad and sleeping bag.
Checkpoint Neiden
Is open from Sunday, March 8, to Wednesday, March 11.Volunteers sleep in cabins at the checkpoint. You must bring a sleeping bag.
Checkpoint Kirkenes
Is open from Sunday, March 8, to Tuesday, March 10.
Volunteers sleep in a dormitory. You must bring a sleeping bag and sleeping pad.
Checkpoint Varangerbotn
Is open from Tuesday, March 10, to Friday, March 13.
Volunteers sleep in a dormitory. You must bring a sleeping pad and sleeping bag.
Checkpoint Jotka
Is open from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 15.
The checkpoint is located in the wilderness without road access, so the volunteers must be transported in by snowmobile.
At the checkpoint, the volunteers sleep in a cabin at the checkpoint. You must bring your own sleeping bag.
Checkpoint Suossjavri
Is open from Saturday, March 7 to Sunday, March 8.
The volunteers sleep in a cabin at the checkpoint. You must bring your own sleeping bag.
Registration, Alta
As a volunteer on the registration, you will be responsible for registering one of the tasks the participants must perform before they can start in the race. These tasks are, for example, registering chip lists, weighing spare food for the dogs or accepting payment for the license. Registration takes place in the center of Alta on Wednesday 4 March and Thursday 5 March.
Arena – start and finish, Alta
As a volunteer at the arena, you can contribute with rigging the week before the race starts. Audience stands, advertising fences, sound and lights will be set up. After the last musher has driven out, the arena is converted into a finish arena. As a volunteer at the arena, you can also contribute to security in the start/finish area or at road passes. The work at the arena will take place between 2 and 16 March.
The Secretariat in Alta
Has the central function as the coordination center for the race. The secretariat is staffed 24/7 from the first participant starts until the last one finishes. The volunteers in the secretariat have the main responsibility for registering incoming and outgoing times from all checkpoints, and for the quality assurance of these in the results service. At all finishes, the secretariat must make sure to take in numberplates and GPS from the participants, perform chip check of all dogs, and hand out rookie plates. If the TD is not present, the secretariat also performs a sled check.
FL shop in Alta
Operates a sales and information cabin at the start/finish area. This volunteer task involves selling the race’s sales items and informing tourists and the public about the event.
Banquets in Alta
As a volunteer at the banquets, you will be responsible for ticket control at the entrance to the banquets. The banquets take place at Scandic Hotel Alta on Thursday 5 March, Wednesday 11 March and Saturday 14 March.
Road guards at Aronnes, Alta
As a road guard at Aronnes, you are responsible for guarding where the trail crosses the road on the way to the finish line in Alta. The finish takes place on Sunday 8 March for the junior class and from Tuesday 10 March and throughout the week until Sunday 15 March for FL 600 and FL 1200.
Clean-up, Alta
The clean-up of the arena in Alta will take place on Sunday 15 March. Advertising material and barrier fences will be removed on this day.
Special fields
Trail breaking, safety/signage, media/distribution/photo, race managers, TD and veterinarians: In these fields, you must have special expertise to participate. Veterinarians contact Chief Veterinarian Arild Jøssund directly – post@racevets.org
All volunteers must have their own insurance. Contact Mailene Skjølås tel. +47 93843 684 if you have any questions regarding insurance.
As a volunteer for Finnmarksløpet, you will receive a certificate of competence, which you can retrieve through the registration portal.