Norwegian musher wins Iditarod title

NOME -- For the second consecutive year, Iditarod history has been made. The first musher did not arrive in Nome in record time, but for the first time in the 31-year history of the Last Great Race, a musher residing outside the United States was crowned Iditarod champion.

Robert Sorlie, a native of Hurdal, Norway, cruised down Front Street just before 2 a.m.. on Thursday morning to claim the 2003 Iditarod title. Sorlie made the trek from Fairbanks to Nome in 9 days, 15 hours and 47 minutes.

Martin Buser was the last European-born musher to win the race.

Sorlie, the 2002 Iditarod Rookie of the Year, won the title in his second year of competition. Sorlie finished ninth last year.

Surprisingly, Sorlie is not the first musher to accomplish the amazing feat of going from ninth to first in two consecutive races. Doug Swingly placed ninth in the 1998 race and won the title the following year.

Once Sorlie passed under the arch on Front Street in Nome he saluted the fans who stood shoulder to shoulder on the outside of the finish line chute, waved the Norwegian flag and took a hold of the ceremonial bottle of champagne. Sorlie popped the ceremonial bottle of Champagne like a professional, sending the cork over the arch.

When first asked what he was going to do now that he had won the Iditarod, Sorlie gave race fans a bit of his Norwegian wit.

"I'll go to the bar," Sorlie said.

Sorlie was joined under the arch by a group of people that included his wife and Gov. Frank Murkowski.

The 2003 champ accepted a check for $68,571 and keys to a new Dodge truck, his awards for winning the Last Great Race.

Moments later the mild-mannered musher spoke to fans and members of the media with his heavy Norwegian accent. A man of few words, Sorlie paused in between his short answers to take a sip from a Grolsh Amber Ale he had received in a gift basket only moments earlier.

"I am very proud of my dogs," Sorlie said, obviously fatigued after nine hard days on the trail.

Several aspects make the 2003 race unique. The trail started in Fairbanks, rather than Wasilla, and much of the trail traveled through territory new to the sled dog race.

A great percentage of the trail followed the Tanana and Yukon Rivers. The story of the race, aside from the change in route, has been the speed and strategy of Sorlie and his team.

Sorlie gambled early and often in the race and gained a significant lead from the start. The critics questioned his tactics early on, but his strategy paid off in the long run as he led for most of the final seven days of the race.

Sorlie took far less rest than many of the other mushers competing for the top spot, and, according to the Norwegian musher, his team reacted very well to his tactics.

"I think it was good for the dogs," Sorlie said. "They are never afraid of speed."

Sorlie lost the lead just once in the final week of the race. Ramy Brooks took a gamble at Koyuk to try to make a run of his own at the Iditarod title. While Sorlie stopped in Koyuk to bed his dogs down and take a nap of his own, Brooks stayed in Koyuk just long enough to sign in and sign out. Sorlie took nearly a five-hour rest in Koyuk, but stood in second place only temporarily.

Sorlie hit White Mountain early Wednesday morning and took his mandatory eight-hour layover. At approximately 3:45 p.m. Sorlie started the final stretch to Nome. Sorlie passed through Safety, the final checkpoint of the race, at 10:25 p.m.

Sorlie's pace was slowed as he battled snow and wind just miles outside of Nome, but his speed improved the closer he got to the finish.

According to Sorlie a portion of his winnings will go to fund his race efforts, citing the need to cover travel expenses.

"For me to get to Alaska is difficult," Sorlie said.

A firefighter by trade, the 45-year-old musher had few sponsors, said that he will use a portion of his winnings to pay off loans used to fund his efforts.

Sorlie said he will also use part of his cash prize to cover a vacation to somewhere warm, possibly Spain.

Once Sorlie and his team returns to Norway, his dogs will have to be quarantined for four months. Norwiegian law enforces a quarantine for any dog transported from the United States to Norway.

"It is political," Sorlie said. "It is a home quarantine, so that is OK."

Brooks hit front street at 3:37 a.m. Thursday morning to claim second place in the race. Brooks, a resident of Healy, finished just 1 hour and 50 minutes behind Sorlie. Brooks garnered a $60,000 prize.

Jeff King was the only other musher to finish the race in less than 10 days. King hit the infamous arch just after 9 a.m. Thursday to claim third.

Martin Buser was the first Valley musher to hit Nome. Buser, a four-time champ and the 2002 winner, finished the race fourth in 10 days, 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Ken Anderson, Linwood Fiedler, Ramey Smyth, John Baker, Ed Iten and Sonny Lindner rounded out the top ten.