Finnmarksløpet

thumb|240px|Finnmarksløpet 2006 Finnmarksløpet is a long distance sled dog race organized every year since 1981 in Finnmark, Norway. Finnmarksløpet is the longest sled race in Europe.

== History == The first Finnmarksløpet was hosted in 1981 with only one "open" class and a total of three teams entering the first race. Over the years, the race has experienced substantial growth, both in terms of participants and audience. In 1985, a second "limited" class was introduced. By 1992, the race distance was extended to , with the open class setting a maximum of 12 dogs, while the limited class was restricted to 8-dog and a distance of . In 2000, the open class was expanded further to include up to 14 dogs, and the limited class distance was reduced to . In 2018, the open class was further extended to its current length at , making Finnmarksløpet the longest sled dog race in Europe and the second longest sled race in the world. A junior class open to mushers 14 to 18 years of age has also been added, with a distance of . The 2021 race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, the open class was shortened to due to warm weather and parts of the course not sufficiently freezing.