This is the greatest accomplishment of this young and talented musher, who discovered mushing when she was studying arctic wildlife in Alaska.
Last year, Sigrid Ekran, already showed the quality of her team by taking the 3rd place on La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc behind Radek Havrda and.. Robert Sorlie. Then, she took the 3rd place again in the Femundlopet 600 behind... Robert Sorlie and Ralph Johannessen.
Robert Sorlie, who recovered from his thigh wounded during the first stage of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc 2010, was willing to keep his title on the Femundlopet but two women were faster than him this year. A smile on his face, he joked on the finish line: "now, I will be a supporter of separated classes for the women!"

In fact, Mushing is one of the only sport where men and women compete in the same classes. If there were still people believing that women cannot outclass men, Sigrid and Inger-Marie Haaland gave them the most beautiful proof.
We hope sincerely that Sigrid will be back soon on La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc and maybe Inger-Marie will join her ? Emil, Radek, Petter and the others will have to struggle even harder then.
It will be really interesting to follow this year's Finnmarkslopet 1000 as Sigrid Ekran, Femundlopet 2010 champion, and Inger-Marie Haaland, Finnmarkslopet 2009 champion, have signed up. Men may be willing to get a revenge...
The LGO mushers have had various fates on the Femundlopet.
On the 600, congatulations to Jean-Philippe Pontier who grabbed a great 21st place in his firts attempt. He arrived a few minutes ahead of Per Olav Gausereide, the 2010 LGO Rookie of the Year. We don't know yet if he was riding his brand new BEWE sled.

Here are the complet results of the LGO mushers:
1 Sigrid Ekran
3 Robert Sorlie
21 Jean-Philippe Pontier
22 Per Olav Gausereide
30 Lars Hoffman (He is at the present time between the last checkpoint and Roros)
31 Catherine Mathis (She is at the present time resting at the last checkpoint before Roros)
Have withdrawn: Jack-Gérard Gaspard (340 km), Barbara Inauen (410 km), Daniele Rao (510 km)

On the Femundlopet 400, Arnt Ola Skjerve almost kept his title. He arrived 23 minutes behind the winner Svein Sødahl Kvam. Congratulations to Arnt Ola for a great race.
Congratulations also to Daniel Juillaguet, a Femundlopet veteran, who took the 26th place and especially to Erik Martinez, 2nd in the Trophée Haute Maurienne 2010 (the small LGO), who finished at the 46th in his first attempt with his siberian husky team.
Here are the complete results of the LGO mushers:
2 Arnt Ola Skjerve
26 Daniel Juillaguet
46 Erik Martinez
48 Thomas Verin (Ketil Reitan's french handler)
Have scratched: Radek Havrda (205 km), Salva Luque (205 km)
Congratulations to all the mushers and the dogs, finishers or not.
Photos: Arbeidets Rett, Stéphanie Prades, Helmut Dietz
Elisabeth Edland has run the race with the sled that his husband won when he was Rookie of the Year of La Grande Odyssée savoie Mont Blanc....
read more...In a top-level competition, Mr Femundlopet has once again been the fastest. The LGO mushers have done great....
read more...After a great La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc, a few teams have headed north to Norway to run the Femundlopet...
read more...During the closing banquet of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc 2012, the special awards have been unveiled....
read more...Videos from the trail and mostly from the arrivals...
read more...The Czech musher can finally release his happyness....
read more...If Gonda has been the fastest to reach the polar base,Pontier is strong on this last part of the race as he takes the 2nd place, 7 seconds away from Gonda only....
read more...Roar Wolden representing Troll Mushing has arrived with a brand new Troll Cart....
read more...Despite a wrong trail he was the only to take, the Swiss wins the race for the second time since 2010....
read more...After the great 7th stage ran by Luque, the French was afraid to loose his third place. This 8th stage would be a key moment....
read more...The Spanish has taken quickly the lead of the stage and dug a gap on his main competitors....
read more...The mass start of Bessans is one of most amazing time of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc....
read more...The Spanish has posted the fastest time of the stage and get closer to the podium....
read more...Monday, January 16th, 2012 Departure to Bessans at 3:20 pm Arrived at Bremans at 7:30 pm...
read more...Arrival of Jimmy Pettersson who takes the 5th place of the stage....
read more...From the polar base and from the start of the stage 7b of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc and the stage 1b of the trophée Haute Maurienne Vanoise...
read more...If Havrda is in the driver seat for the victory, behind everything remains possible for three teams....
read more...
Norway [31 years old]Finisher : 2009
Sponsors :
Prize list :
La Grande Odyssée 2009 (3)
Femundlopet 600 Champion: 2010, 2011
Finnmarkslopet 2011 (2)
Iditarod 2007 (20) Rookie of the year
Iditarod 2008 (24)
Femundlopet 600 2009 (3)
Finnmarkslopet 1000 2009 (8)
Biography :
Sigrid went to Alaska to study biology. She handled for Susan Butcher. In 2007, she ran her first Iditarod and got Rookie of the year. She also took part in Will Steger Expedition in the arctic the same year.
Norway [43 years old]Finisher : 2010
Sponsors :
Prize list :
Scandream Finland 1999 2
Pirena Spain 2001 2
ESDRA EC Hamar 2007 1
IFSS WC Italy 2008 3
Alpentrail 2008 4
Biography :
Along with his wife Elisabeth Edland, Per Olav runs a successful kennel. Since 1992 Per Olav participates in Norwegian competitions and since 1998 in international competitions. This year will be his first participation in La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc.
Czech Republic [38 years old]Finisher : 2010, 2009, 2008
Sponsors : HUMI OUTDOOR - EURO HUSKY - VETERINÁR S.R.O.
Prize list :
LGO 2011 (13) non finisher
LGO 2010 (2)
LGO 2009 CHAMPION
LGO 2008 (4)
Trophée Grande Odyssée 2007 CHAMPION
Biography :
La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is Radek's main goal. He won the race in 2009 in front of Robert Sorlie. He is one of the main favorite's of the 2012 edition.
Switzerland [41 years old]Finisher : 2010, 2009
Sponsors : Swiss Natural, Virbac, Energizer, GLA-WEL, Scurion, Simex Trading, Lowa, Black Diamond, Mountain Hardwear, Trade Net
Prize list :
Finnmarkslopet 500 2008 DNF
LGO 2009 (11)
LGO 2010 (10)
Biography :
A doctor, Barbara runs with her husband Emil a kennel of 40 alaskan huskies. Originally living in Switzerland, they have moved to Norway to get better training conditionsand to get closer from the main long-distance teams. Barbara has been a handler for Emil for years. 3 years ago, she started to race. She's running the yearling team of Team Swiss.
France [45 years old]Finisher : 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005
Sponsors : EUKANUBA - ENERGIZER - NUTRYLIS
Prize list :
LGO 2011 (5), LGO 2010 (11)
LGO 2009 (8), LGO 2008 (6),
LGO 2006 (6), LGO 2005 (11)
Trophée Haute Maurienne 2007 (7)
Finnmarkslopet 500 2003 (16)
Finnmarkslopet 500 2004 (27)
Femundlopet 2007 (26)
Femundlopet 2008 (28)
Biography :
A physiotherapist, Daniel is one of the best french long distance musher. He entered La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc since his first edition.
Spain [43 years old]Finisher : 2010, 2009
Sponsors : CANUN
Prize list :
LGO 2010 (12)
LGO 2009 (10)
Pirena 2006 (3)
Pirena 2004 (3)
Biography :
After being a succesful mid-distance musher, Salva has decided to give La Grande Odyssee Savoie Mont Blanc a try in 2009 and 2010. He's back in 2011 to try to do better.
France [47 years old]Finisher :
Sponsors : Proplan Ville de Digne les Bains L’enseignerie de Digne les Bains
Prize list :
Trophée Haute Maurienne 2011 (6)
Femundlopet 400 2010 (46)
Trophée Haute Maurienne 2010 (2)
Sédivackuv Long 2009 (1)
Alpentrail 2008 (3)
Biography :
Erik runs a successful siberian husky mid-distance kennel. He is now moving to Long Distance. He will be running the Trophée Haute Maurienne Vanoise for the 2nd time. He got a great 21nd place last year.
France [56 years old]Finisher : 2008
Sponsors : Royal Canin
Prize list :
Biography :
She takes care of the dogs, litters and so... She was practicing windsurfing during more than 10 years before to be involved with sleddogs in 1990. She races in 8 dogs class, she is French champion in this class. She likes cinema (very good movies), Thierry used to say"intellectual movies"!! She is graduated from University but no use to practice mushing !!!
France [38 years old]Finisher : 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006
Sponsors : ROYAL CANIN - VETO ONLINE - DERMOSCENT - Conseil général du Tarn - ANTIPODE - ANTIDOTE
Prize list :
LGO 2011 (3)
LGO 2010 (6)
LGO 2009 (6)
LGO 2008 (8)
LGO 2006 (8)
Amundsen race 2010 (4)
Femundlopet 600 2010 (21)
Champion de France 2004 mi-distance en illimité (12 chiens).
Trophée Haute Maurienne Vanoise 2007 (2)
Biography :
Jean-Philippe is at the present time the best french musher. He has moved to Norway to improve his training conditions. He has taken a great third place in 2011.
Italy [49 years old]Finisher : 2010, 2009
Sponsors :
Prize list :
Biography :
Daniele is back after a convincing try in the 2009 race. If you're a careful watcher you might have noticed that he runs La Grande Odyssée savoie Mont-Blanc in sneakers! He's back so that means that he has nort already freeze his toes!
Norway [51 years old]Finisher : 2011, 2009, 2008
Sponsors : UnoX, Royal Canin Norway, Roros Hotell, Rorosbanken, Canada Goose
Prize list :
Arctic Alps Cup 2011 CHAMPION
LGO 2008 (3), LGO 2009 (7), LGO 2011 (4)
Finnmarkslopet 1000 2011 (11)
Yukon Quest 1989
Iditarod 1991, 1992 (10), 1993, 1994
Hope Nadezhda 1991
Femundlopet 2008 (2e), 2009 (7e)
Finnmarkslopet 2006 (12e), 2007 (11e) 2010 (7)
Biography :
Ketil is the only one musher who has run the 4 greatest races in the world: the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest, the Finnmarkslopet and La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc.
Norway [29 years old]Finisher : 2010
Sponsors :
Prize list :
Finnmarkslopet 500 2008 (3) Rookie of the Year
Gausdal Maraton 2009 - Champion
Femundlopet 400 2009 - Champion
Finnmarkslopet 500 2009 - Champion
Biography :
Arnt Ola is a much talented young musher from Norway. His 2008-2009 racing season has been impressive with 3 victories in major races. We'll have to watch him on this year's La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc and not only for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Norway [54 years old]Finisher : 2009
Sponsors : Eukanuba, Macrogard, intervet, Vi Sees..., Vom Og Hundemat, Princeton Tec., Seleverkstedet, Brynje, Lowe Alpine, Kamik, OT Sleden, MR
Prize list :
La Grande Odyssée 2009: (2)
Femundlopet champion: 1996 2000 2002 2005 2007 2009
Finnmarkslopet champion: 1999 2001
Iditarod Champion: 2003, 2005
Biography :
Robert is the most famous musher in the world. After winning all the major races in Europe, he ran the Iditarod in 2002 and took the 9th place and the rookie of the year award. He came back the following year and won. And 2 years later, he won again. His way to run his dogs slower but really longer has inspired many other great mushers. Robert has taken the 2nd place and the rookie of the year award in his first La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc in 2009.