Skrevet av: Trond Anton Andersen/Anne-Mette Bjøru (transl.)
Dato: 15.03.2012 18:22
When Robert Sørlie passed the finish line and won Iditarod in 2005 he said that Kvitsokk - 'Whitesock' - was one of the best dogs he had ever had on his team. He borrowed the dog from Bjørnar Hansen Østigård. Seven years later Bjørnar is one of the volunteers at checkpoint Karasjok. Thursday afternoon he watched Sørlie arrive one hour behind the two in the lead. Kvitsokk was running around him, probably wondering why he was not allowed to partake in the race.
Bjørnar and Kvitsokk. Photo: Trond A. Andersen
Do you think Kvitsokk is cheering for Robert? we ask stupidly. Østigård laughs and says that he suspects so. Maybe not the most correct suspicion, but what is so fascinating is to see this soon-to-be 14 years old wonderful lead-dog's eagerness. Kvitsokk is totally deaf, but for those who do not know his age it is impossible to understand that this athlete is so old. The characteristic white front paws are still full of energy and he still enjoys teasing his son Alopex while they roam around all the people at the checkpoint.
- He is still just as crazy, Bjørnar confirms. – I never thought that he would stay this healthy. We still have him pull, even though it is only on short trips. Kvitsokks heroic effort in Iditarod 2005 resulted in the ”Golden Harness award”, a prize given to the best dog of the race. The Jury consisted of the mushers who made it to the finish line in Nome, Alaska.
Kvitsokk became famous in the whole of Norway when he was presented in the national newspaper VG. Norway's biggest newspaper followed Bjørnar and Kvitsokk through the whole Finnmarksløpet in 2008, which was Kvitsokk's last race.
It makes a musher's heart happy to see such a fantastic athlete still going strong.
Maybe Sørlie will get some barks from the retired dog when he lifts his anchor late Thursday night, heading out to catch the two mushers ahead of him.
Kvitsokk is watching the race. Photo: Trond A. Andersen