15-year-old Elisabeth Kristensen has previously participated in the children’s Finnmark race, but this is the first time she is participating in the junior class – and is a so-called “rookie”. This did not prevent her from crossing the finish line first on Sunday morning and also becoming world champion in long-distance dog sledding. – Is it possible?! exclaimed the recent winner when she crossed the finish line. The last stage towards the finish in Alta offered some challenges for the recent world champion. With 35 kilometers to go, she had to put one of the dogs in the sled, but in the last part towards the finish all six were back in front of the sled again. – I ran on the dogs’ terms, and when I saw that they were able to keep the pace – then I just had to “gun” on, says Elisabeth after the finish. Elisabeth Kristensen just after finishing in Alta. Photo: Hedvig Nordstrøm / news This year there were nine participants in the Finnmarksløpet junior between the ages of 14 and 17. Elisabeth turned 15 in January and is thus among the youngest in the competition. In the final stage, she received regular updates on how she fared in relation to her competitors. – I have received a message to drive on, so I have run myself and not rested for the last part. This year’s competition for the juniors has not been without excitement, because just behind the winner another reigning champion in the sport was chasing the victory. The Norwegian champion was just behind The girls in tet have had good speed in the team. Elisabeth Kristensen has maintained an average speed of 15.4 km/h, but just behind came a dangerous competitor with almost the same speed. Eline Andrea Andersen is the reigning Norwegian champion in long-distance dog sledding in the junior class after she won the Femundløpet junior in March. Just after first place, Eline kicked the back of the sled and into silver in the world championship. – It’s been the two of us at the top the whole time, the way it went was really fun, says Elisabeth Kristensen. Only seven minutes after Elisabeth Kristensen, reigning Norwegian champion Eline Andrea Andersen drove out from the last checkpoint in the competition. Photo: Finnmarksløpet The 15-year-old from Nannestad already has some experience as a dog runner from both Femundløpet and Gruveløpet, and has been close behind Kristensen. – This was very different to running Femund and other races I have taken part in, but it was fantastic tracks. I’ve had a really good time, says Eline Andrea Andersen shortly after she crossed the finish line together with the lead dogs Roxy and Mars. Touching dad The drivers and the six dogs they each have competed in a 199-kilometre trail from Alta to Jotka, on to Suossjavre – where they turned around and drove the same way back again. The young racers have had temperatures down to minus 35 degrees during the competition, and are driving one of the most weather-exposed stretches in the Finnmark race. Elisabeth Kristensen at the Jotka 1 checkpoint on Saturday. For Elisabeth, it can be extra exciting to drive through this checkpoint, as the dogs belong here on a daily basis. Thus, the dogs may think they are going home to rest. Photo: Jørn Losvar / Finnmarksløpet Lisa Romsdal Kristensen runs Jotka fjellstue and is the mother of Elisabeth Kristensen. Here she greeted the dogs before they and her daughter drove on to Suossjavre on Saturday. Photo: Jørn Losvar / Finnmarksløpet During the race, participants have a wilderness checkpoint at Jotka fjellstue. This means that the drivers have to manage on their own without a handler – a so-called helper during the race. But for Elisabeth and the team, the wilderness checkpoint is like home, because she is the daughter of the caretakers of the mountain lodge. – Elisabeth has driven dogs all her life. She and the other young people are incredibly tough, said mother Lisa Romsdal Kristensen just before her daughter crossed the finish line. Dad and veteran in the sport, Steinar Kristensen – who, by the way, is close to the 1,200-kilometer distance, has had a dog team at Jotka for several years. Dad Steinar Kristensen is first in FL1200 right now, but has laid down to rest on the track between Levajok and Tana while daughter Elisabeth Kristensen fought for the victory in FL junior. He had taken a break in the track to be able to celebrate his daughter’s victory. Photo: Rune Berg / news He sat on the ledge and followed his daughter’s achievements directly. When she crossed the finish line, there was a visibly moved and tight-lipped parent on the trail. – I am very proud. If I were in Alta now, I would have kept her for a very long time, says Steinar Kristensen from the track. Mina Hykkerud from Altaværing has previously participated in the Finnmarksløpet junior and was the only driver in this class this year who knew roughly what the race would require. Photo: Finnmarksløpet Veteran leads to 3rd place Mina Hykkerud is the only veteran in the junior class, and has participated three times previously. The 17-year-old from Alta is the oldest participant in this class this year and has the experienced guide dog Timotei (7) in the team. Only seven minutes behind the local Alta driver, Katinka Houghton (15) from Drammen started from the last checkpoint. Katinka has stayed just behind Mina all the way from Jotka and there may be small margins as to which of them comes first in the track towards the finish in Alta. Ylva-Li Næss at the checkpoint in Suossjavre. The young drivers have been through a bit of a test out in the wilderness with temperatures down to minus 40 degrees. Photo: Øyvind Nordahl Næss / news At the back of the trail are Magnus Bekkos (16) and Ylva-Li Næss (15), followed by Live Qvindesland Grønnevet, who runs with the lead dogs Vega and Widje. The 16-year-old has previously participated in Femundløpet and Gruveløpet this year. Live Qvindesland Grønnevet fires up to be able to heat water for feeding the dogs at checkpoint Jotka 1. Photo: Jørn Losvar / Finnmarksløpet It is the first time she has taken part in a competition in Finnmark. – I want a challenge and a memorable trip with the dogs, Live gave as the reason for wanting to participate. German Eva Hess (16) is the only foreign participant in this class. She is second to last on the course, followed by this year’s youngest participant, Sara Othelie Nyheim Lambela (14).
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Finnmarksløpet Junior 2023–15-year-old Elisabeth Kristensen became world champion – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
