Transforming destinations: A discursive approach to tourist destinations and development

This chapter explores the development of Europe’s longest sled dog race, the Finnmark Race, and its significance for winter tourism in North Norway. The Finnmark Race is referred to as a core arena for the development of the dogsledding sport in Norway. The Finnmark Race has since its start been an important knowledge development arena for the sled dog sport. The Finnmark Race was organized for the first time in 1981, by Alta Sled Dog Club, which has been in charge of the race ever since. The idea of holding a sled dog race in Finnmark was developed by Sven Engholm, who later became one of the most reputed mushers in Norway. Sven Engholm is a pioneer, both in dog racing and winter tourism in Finnmark. He bought his first polar dog on his way to Kiruna, and in 1978 started together with Christer Johanson a sled dog race called the Nordic Marathon.