Rewriting long-distance sled dog racing history: How Håvard Okstad and his Siberian huskies conquered Femundløpet 450

Røros, Norway. February 14th, 2025.

The golden morning light rises over Femundløpet’s arrival area as a line of spectators eagerly scans the horizon, their breath freezing in the biting -20°C air. Then, a silhouette emerges.

At 7:12 AM, cheers erupt as Håvard Okstad (29) and his team of Siberian huskies glide across the finish line. They have just won the 450 km long-distance race, not only claiming the World Champion title but also making history as the first-ever Registered Nordic Breed (RNB) team to win any class in Femundløpet.

The second-place team is still more than three hours behind. Over 90 teams powered through the iconic start sign in the heart of Røros, UNESCO World Heritage site, 42 hours earlier. But today, this Siberian team has proven one thing: Alaskan huskies aren’t the only ones capable of standing on top of the podium.

Since Femundløpet’s first edition in 1990, and every year since then, Alaskan huskies have dominated the long-distance mushing scene. Bred for endurance and speed, they have been the go-to choice for races spanning up to 1200 km - Europe’s longest sled dog race.

Siberian huskies, on the other hand, are known for their strength and resilience rather than speed, making them a rare sight at the front of long-distance races. Until today.

Okstad and his team are rewriting the playbook of long-distance mushing, proving that with the right training and strategy, Siberians can challenge for the top spots once again.

“It has never been an option for me to choose between Siberian and Alaskan.”

For Non-stop dogwear’s ambassador, the choice was never in question. His family has always preferred Siberians for their calm attitude and character, firmly believing that they could compete at the highest level. Since 2012, he has had one goal: winning Femundløpet.

“If I’m going to use so much time on dog training and races myself, I want to show that winning is possible”.

Winning a race like Femundløpet is the result of years of relentless training, precise strategy, and  truly believing in the potential of his own dogs.

While genetics play a role, Håvard is the first to admit that training has been the real game-changer for Siberians in recent years. His approach is simple yet effective: minimize stops, build endurance, and make running a habit. But even the best strategy wouldn’t be enough without the deep bond he shares with his 19 dogs. Every run, every mile, built on trust, connection, and the sheer joy of running together.  

Do you train differently than the top Alaskan husky teams?

Håvard Okstad: “I think it’s about the same level as the Alaskans if you compare the amount of training. That’s when I started dreaming of top results at Femund. I started to ask how much my best competitors are training, and I thought, ok, then I need to train the same number of kilometers and hours. I’ve had the same training plan since 2018, with the same method every year, and improved some new elements that I think make the team better for each season.”

And it worked!

Håvard Okstad: “Yes, I believe that our way of training is the right way for my team. I look at the team and the way they are doing so well together; there’s not one dog that’s left behind or one dog that’s going so fast that the other dogs are getting tired. They work so well together, and they do all the training together. I think that’s the key for my team. They work so well together.”

You’ve been resting only what was mandatory to win this race. How do you train to keep stamina?

Håvard Okstad: "I try as much as possible to have it [winning the Femundsløpet 450km] in the back of my head during the autumn and winter training. We want to drive long stretches, 100 to 150 km in one go. I want to train as little stops as possible, so when we’re running, we are running the whole distance.”

So the dogs fully trust you…

Håvard Okstad: “Absolutely. When they are entering checkpoints, they are not “Now we need to rest.” They just want to go further. They know that they’ll get the rest when they need it.”

And this strategy proved right!

Håvard Okstad: “Yes, I know we have even more potential. Alaskans have evolved quite a lot in the past years, but now Siberians are catching up a bit from year to year, and they are more and more capable of competing with Alaskan huskies.”

What do you think this is connected to?

Håvard Okstad: “Both training and breeding. Breeding has been good for many years. But the biggest change is the training. All the teams now train more, and some of them said that since I started to prove it’s possible to do more and more with Siberians. They now know they can train more and better, and see results for their team as well. “

So you’re leading the way…

Håvard Okstad: “To some level yes. I’ve been the first Siberian team since I started racing in 2016, and I see that the difference between me and the other teams has been smaller and smaller each year. It’s a competition there as well.”

Was there a clicking moment during the race when you understood that you could win the gold?

Håvard Okstad: "I was watching the team, they still had energy, the same drive as when we started. When we reached the mandatory rest at Søvollen, I started tracking the other teams. Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour. And I knew they needed the mandatory rest, giving us almost an hour and half lead. Then I kind of realized it was now possible to go the whole way and be first back to Røros.

We kept our speed high. Even with minimal rest, we were one of the fastest teams on every leg. That’s unusual for my team. It was crazy this year."

With Femundløpet 450 now conquered, Okstad already has his sights set on the future.

"Finnmarksløpet 1200 [longest sled dog race in Europe] has always been on my list. But first, I want to go for Femundløpet 650 next year, and see the highest result we can get there. The next goal? Winning both classes. I want to push the limits and make new history."

For now, the team will enjoy some well-earned rest.

"Since moving here last summer, we’ve been looking forward to just exploring. Short training runs, camping trips. Just enjoying the wilderness with the dogs."

Because while the races define the victories, the real journey is in the bond between musher and team.

And for Okstad and his history-making Siberians, the adventure is just beginning.