FINNMARKSLØPET 2011

Veteranene tok de gjeveste plassene på toppen av seierspallene i Finnmarksløpet. Elisabeth Edland vant FL-500 og ble Norgesmester i langdistanse hundekjøring 8-spann, mens Roger Dahl vant FL-1000 og er Norgesmester i langdisatanse hundekjøring, åpen klasse.

This years Finnmarksløp has given us everything. Drama, close race, natural wonders, tactics, incredible two- and fourlegged athletes, moving moments, great sportmanship, splendid care for the dogs, smiles, laughter and tears. Finnmarksløpet 2011 had it all.

In the end we have two worthy winners at the top of the podium. Elisabeth Edland and Roger Dahl were victorious in one class each but had hard competition all the way to the finish line.

HIGH LEVEL

Elisabeth Edland won over a record high number of participants and won Finnmarksløpet 500. The fight for the win against Marianne Skjøthaug was even and tough. But Edland was the strongest and crossed the goal line 40 minutes before Skjøthaug. 

After the women in the lead, the men followed. The German Bernd Helmich got 3rd place in front of Jørn Sødahl Kvam. The last one still got the bronze medal in the Norwegian Championship. After these four the mushers arrived quickly. The level of the racers has never been as high in the FL-500 before. A total of 28 mushers crossed the finish line within seven hours. Very impressive.

Best rookie is also a woman: Eline Lihagen (photo) from Alta/Hov ended up number 14 in her first Finnmarksløp. Last man to finish and "Last man standing", is young Mikael Jacobsen from Hasvik at Sørøya, an island north of Alta - also he participated for the first time.

TOUGH DUELS

Roger Dahl was, as expected part of the group in the lead from the very beginning of FL-1000. He got hard competition from the first meter from both Ralph Johannessen and Robert Sørlie. Both these hoped for victory and to win the Saltdalshytta - cabin - worth NOK 500 000. Also other mushers wanted to fight for the win. One of them, Ketil Reitan took the lead towards Kirkenes. Unfortunately he took the wrong track and had to turn around after approx 20 km and therefore lost his chance to win the race. 

Gorm Engen and Sigrid Ekran closed in from behind. Up the long Tana river Ekran had the fastest team. In to Karasjok she was number two and she never gave up that place. Robert Sørlie held on to his cabin-dream for a long time, but towards the end he had no chance and had to hope for the others to get in trouble. However, Roger Dahl kept his distance to all the others. At the finish he was 50 minutes ahead of Sigrid Ekran. Sørlie ended number three, but did not win the cabin. Roger Dahl won it after getting the best average result in the two last races.

Rookie of the year in FL-1000 was Thomas Wærner (photo), while  "Last man standing" was Thomas Andresen arriving in Alta saturday afternoon.

FOUR-LEGGED WINNERS

Finnmarksløpet consists of so many more winners than those who can climb on the podium. The biggest heros of the race are with no doubt the 1032 dogs. well traied and well behaved, with powers and abilities to do the incredible. The dogs impress us every year with their stamina, joy for running and patience. 

However, also the two-legged do impress. Finnmarksløpet is a physical and psychological test that cannot be compared to hardly anything else in sports. Not all of the teams made it to the finish line, as they thought first and foremost of the dogs and themselves. Also those are winners. We cannot imagine how much work is behind every single starting team in Finnmarksløpet.

Respect!