AR World Championship 2005
Here a Nokia, there a Nokia, everywhere a Nokia
Susan McKenzie / 13.11.2005
The Finnish powerhouse Nokia Adventure was, for many years, one of the strongest teams in adventure racing. The team, captained by Petri Forsman, won the inaugural Adventure Racing World Championship race in Switzerland in 2001 and, last year, its victory at Explore Sweden guaranteed the team a free entry to this year’s ARWC in New Zealand. Free entry or no free entry, the team formerly known as Nokia Adventure isn’t racing here. Since Sweden, the team has scattered to the winds, and its members have become, in some respects, the most experienced journeymen racers.
The team may not be racing, but its members are out in full force on the West Coast of the Southern Alps. There are no fewer than four former Nokia racers here in New Zealand. Elina Maki-Rautila, who was part of the quartet that won in Switzerland, now calls New Zealand home and is part of the crew (both personally and professionally) for the legendary Kiwi team Balance Vector. Jukka Pinola, who raced both in Switzerland and in Sweden, has once again joined the Spanish/French team Buff Nike ACG (which won the EcoMotion in Brazil just three weeks ago.) Anu Kopra, who raced in Newfoundland in agonizing pain after wrecking her knee on the first day, was a last minute replacement on the Swedish team Cross Sportswear (which won Explore Sweden this year and finished in second place at the AWRC in 2004). Markus Kettunen, who raced in Sweden and in Newfoundland and also took the title of team captain when Forsman wasn’t racing, has found a new Finnish team, Suunto. See All Event Posts
