Skrevet av: Tor Mikkelsen/ transl. Elisabeth Simonsen
Dato: 11.03.2013 16:40
After having started out in 10th place at the first passing at checkpoint Jotka, things have only improved for Milos Gonda (35) from Slovakia in this year’s FL-500. At Skoganvarre he came in as number 6, then he was nr 5, nr 4, and since Jergul he has been in the lead. His speed has varied from 12,6 km/h to an impressive 18 km/h.
Milos Gonda crossing the finish line in Alta Photo: Tor Mikkelsen
Milos Gonda crossed the finish line to cheers from the crowd and Vangeli’s “Concuest of Paradise” on the speakers. Here he was greeted by proud handler and girlfriend Gaynor Leeper.
Milos Gonda and some of his important leaders. Photo: Rune Paulsen
He is listed as a rookie in the start lists, but he is no rookie in the dog sled racing sport. This win was the result of long term and systematic work. The Slovak lives in Kiruna in Sweden and makes a living being a professional musher/tour guide. As a “warm up” and training before FL-500 he has taken part in La Grande Odyssee in the Alps and Pasvik Trail with impressive wins and second places. He tells us he has been planning to be part of Finnmarksløpet for a long time, but firstly he wanted to have enough knowledge and experience to “make the right decisions during the race”. This was important to be able to complete the race satisfactory for both himself and the dogs.
Finnmakslopet.no can only conclude that he has “made the right decisions during the race” and congratulates Milos Gonda on his well-earned victory.
Eline Lihagen (29), veteran in FL and part of the musher scene in Mathinsdalen in Alta, is from today the Norwegian Champion 2013 in long distance Sled Dog Racing. She finished as number two and is the best Norwegian contender with her lead dogs Fuji and Ylva, and good help from frisky Tell. From a modest 17th place at the first passing at Jotka, she has passed many good teams and been in both fifth and second place. After Karasjok it has been a nerve racking duel with Katy Meier over the 3rd place. Over the plains from Jergul they have taken turns being in 3rd an 4th place, and started gaining on Finnish Ole Wingren in 2nd place. Wingren eventually came to a stop on the Alta River, leaving Lihagen and Meier fighting for second place.
Finnmarkslopet.no can once again determine that girl power is part of dominating the race. We are quite proud of that, and can congratulate Norwegian Champion Eline Lihagen with a well-earned title.
