Skrevet av: Elisabeth Bergquist
Dato: 11.03.2016 09:34
Petter Karlsson started out as number 13 from Alta, came in as number 5 to Jotka1 and has been in the lead of the pack ever since. Even though many mushers were able to fight for the lead, Karlsson has been in the lead from Kirkenes. When Ronny Frydenlund came in first to Sirbma Karlsson was quick to get back as number one.
Photo: Davina Muller
After having crossed the finish line, he was asked when he realized this would go his way? – It was not until I came up the hill over here by the University, right before the pedestrian street toward the finish line, he explained.
Karlsson was touched when he talked about how important it was for him to win. – This is something I have worked toward for so many years! I did not think it was possible to win this year, he said.
– I saw that I had a good team when I took the 16-hour rest in Neidan, but I also know how things are with long distance sled dog racing. Many things can go wrong along the way, and I did not feel sure until toward the end.
Petter Karlsson and the lead dog Kokos. Photo: Davina Muller
On the way from Karasjok to Alta, Karlsson made a record time to Jotka when he went through the check-point without stopping, except to sign in and out. Our expert Trond Ørslien meant this was the freshest and also fastest team through Jotka of all times. – It was simply an impressive sight, said Ørslien. – They looked like they had just come out of the star, rather than being toward the end of the race. It is hats off to Karlsson!
Karlsson came into Alta today to a controlled win – about an hour before next team.
A happy winner crosses the finish line at 11:51 after 6 days on the tracks. Photo: Tine Sköll Johansen
Petter Karlsson was the only in the lead who went straight through check-point Sirbma withoug a break. – Yes, it felt good to go straight through Sirbma, he said. – But I had forgotten how tough it is to do this! Karlsson said he has always ‘struggled’ with his lead dogs.
– I have had many of these dogs for many years, but I have never been able to make the leaders prove their quality, he says. But this year it all came together. Particularly he commanded the little bitch Kokos, who was alone as a lead dog across the finish line.
Karlsson lives in Slussfors north in Sweden, and has participated in FL-1000 twice before. In addition he as a long career with good merits in mid distance sled dog racing, before he transitioned into long distance. In Sweden he and his wife Angela run a kennel offering tourist sled dog trips. In his Finnmark Race debut in 2014, he came in as number 16, the next year he came in as number 7. This year he won, on his third attempt! This is very impressive.
Going out of Jotka Friday morning. Photo: Steinar Vik
In his mushers profile Karlsson said a key motivation factor for winning this year’s race was a bet with Arnt Ola Skjerve.
– A few years ago, when he was number 2 in the Finnmark Race, he sold a few dogs afterwards. I called him, because I needed to some more lead dogs. “But I don’t want any rubbish!” he said to Skjerve, "because I am going to win the Finnmark Race!” Skjerve laughed, and said that if a Swede were to win the Finnmark Race, he would eat his parkas.
Perhaps Skjerve regrets saying this today.
On his way to check-point Varangerbotn. Photo: Davina Muller
The winner gets a number of prizes: NOK 70.000, a night in a suite in Scandic Alta for himself and his wife, a glass sculpture form Arctic Glasstudio, dog food from Labb, a knife from Sparebank1 Nord-Norge, a number of dog products from AxaEco, and not least: an ATV from Polaris worth NOK 110.000. Karlsson really wanted this: – At an earlier check-point I said to Kenneth Nilsen "I hope this will go my way"! – Yes, said Kenneth, – Then it will be wroom wroom. And this I said to myself several times to myself during the race; this can be wroom wroom!
We congratulate Petter Karlsson with this victory in this year’s victory in the Finnmark Race and look forward to celebrating him at the banquet at Scandic Alta Saturday evening!