Skrevet av: Tor Mikkelsen/Mina Sveen / transl. Pål Bleka
Dato: 16.03.2012 14:32
Inger-Marie Haaland (50) arrived in Alta at 2.06 PM and won her second FL-1000.
She is a great ambassador to the sport, always smiling. This was also visible when she crossed the finish line in Alta today, with the dog team that proved to be fastest, also on the last leg.
This year she started with a modest 8th place when she passed Jotka. Then she picked up the pace to Skoganvarre where she arrived first. Then she calmed down, used time across the Gaissene and arrived in Levajok 1 as number seven. After this she increased her speed and was fifth in to Tana and fourth in to Neiden 1. Then she shocked everybody in Kirkenes where she arrived as the third team before she continued directly to Neiden 2. She rested there and let Sørlie and Tunheim stay in front to Varangerbotn where she arrived third. After this she has stayed in front, except when she arrived in Karasjok together with Tunheim that passed her when she had problems on the Tana River.
Inger-Marie Haaland has a clear philosophy so that her efforts will give optimal results; stay positive, and keep it fun. It will stay fun if you can keep up the attitude even when things don’t look too bright. She tries to focus on what’s fun, and enjoys singing or doing a little dance routine for the dogs. She can also have a power nap together with the dogs, and let things happen in due course. And it seems to work! However, we have a feeling that she is a bit more goal-oriented than the impression she likes to give.
She shocked the dog sled racing community by driving straight through Kirkenes. No one has tried this before. Right after this her handler Ralph Johannesen asked the press centre over the phone; – Well, did you enjoy the show?
We have the answer now;
YES, WE ENJOYED THE SHOW!
We congratulate this years FL-champion Inger-Marie Haaland!