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ÅSNES – The best skis for polar expeditions?
Åsnes is probably the ski manufacturer in the world that has had its skis on the most polar expeditions from the 80s until today. We have supported countless expeditions to Spitsbergen, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, the South and North Pole. The skis have also been used so many times to walk the length of Norway that it is no longer possible to keep count. Experience and testing from expeditions have given us what we today claim are the best mountain skis on the market.
We have collected the most interesting events and expeditions here, so that it should be easy for anyone to find. When we were to collect this information, we had to do a deep dive into Åsnes’ history and double-check everything against reliable sources from the Norwegian Polar Institute and sources outside the country. Therefore, this is not a complete overview, but we think it is interesting for those interested in Norwegian polar history and skiing tradition.
In the 80s and 90s, Åsnes skis were the only skis many expeditioners trusted.
In 2011, the anniversary year of Amundsen. Were several expeditions carried out to the South Pole. The Prime Minister went on Åsnes Ski to the pole point on the occasion of the anniversary.
Lars Monsen
Wilderness and expeditionadventurer
Åsnes Team:
The Telemark riders in Åsnes The team that raced down the underrun at Lillehammer during the opening ceremony of the 1994 Olympics rode on specially designed Åsnes skis while the crown prince lit the fire. You can still find the clip in NRK’s archives (13 minutes into the video).
Per Einar Roth (born 1959) was the team leader of the Åsnes Team and was, together with Åsnes, central to gaining momentum in the telemark environment and the restoration of the telemark race “Galdhøpiggen Ned” in the 80s and 90s
EKSPEDISJONER:
Expedition to the South Pole along Roald Amundsen’s old route – Monica Kristensen Solås.
One of the goals was also to find Amundsen’s tent at the South Pole. This could be exhibited during the Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994. Due to bad weather and storms, she and her colleagues had to turn around at 86 degrees south. During another expedition in 1993, another attempt was made without success.
British Universities East Greenland Expedition – Duncan Bond, Greg Englefield, Jim Lowther, Lewis Jones.
Made British first ascent of Mt Forel via the South Ridge (Used by Roche in 1938). As well as several other peaks. The four-man team also continued into the hitherto relatively unknown area around Switzerland at the Franche Comte glacier. On the way back to the coast, they carried out several Lichenometric surveys in the Tasilaq Valley.
British Trans-Greenland Expedition – Jim Lowther og Nicholas Hulton.
Skiing and parachute-kite. They managed to move 130km in one day using round parachutes as ski sails. 30 days.
Liv Arnesen
– crossed the Greenland ice sheet on skis as the first woman without support.
Per Einar Bakke, Willy Gautvik and Arild Vegrim
– set out on a voyage from Siberia bound for the North Pole. They skied across the Arctic Ocean to Canada’s north coast. The book “100 days over the Arctic Ocean” by Per Einar Bakke describes the journey in detail.
American Women’s Antarctic Expedition (AWE) – Ann Bancroft, Sunniva Sorby, Anne DelVera, Sue Giller.
Made history as the first female team to reach the South Pole without dogs or motorized vehicles. (67 days).
Liv Arnesen
– makes international headlines by becoming the first woman in the world to walk alone without support or supplies to the South Pole. 50 days. 1200 km.
McVitie’s Penguin Polar Relay to the North Pole – Caroline Hamilton.
First all-female expedition (22 women) to the North Pole from Ward Hunt Island, Canada.
Caroline Hamilton w/ more
– the first 5 women to come to the South Pole.
Otto Sverdrup Centennial Expedition
Norwegian-Canadian wintering expedition led by Canadian Graeme Magor to Ellesmere Island to look for traces of Otto Sverdrup’s second Fram expedition.
Arctic Ocean Expedition –Rune Gjeldnes and Torry Larsen.
First crossing of the Arctic Ocean out supplies, from Severnaya Zemlya in Russia via the North Pole and to Cape Discovery in Canada (109 days).
Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen
– They became the first women to cross Antarctica in 2000-01, after a journey of 91 days and 2,747 km.
Mount Mathieson Expedition
The Omega Foundation Solo North Pole – Pen Hadow.
770 km from Ward Hunt Island, Canada to the geographic North Pole in 64 days, becoming the first person to complete the journey alone and without resupply. His book Solo: Alone & Unsupported to the North Pole (by Michael Joseph) tells a lot about the journey.
Tetley South Pole Mission in Support of the Royal Geographical Society – Pen Hadow and Simon Murray
Went to the geographic south pole, 1200km from the Zumberge coast, 120km east of the traditional Hercules Inlet starting point. Murray (63) became the oldest person to reach the South Pole from the continental coast. The expedition raised $450,000 for the Royal Geographical Society (London).
Rune Gjeldnes
– The world’s longest solo ski trip. Crossed Antarctica on skis (4804km, solo, 103 days).
Expedition to the geographical North of Poland
– Craig Mathieson, also brought a 16-year-old boy on the team.
Baffin Babes – Baffin Island (80 days skiing in the Arctic, 1200km).
An NRK documentary was made and the book “Baffin Babes – 80 days skiing in the Arctic” was produced after the trip. The book was nominated for many awards and the documentary was shown at film festivals all over the world.
Ann Bancroft
– crossed Greenland on skis.
Cecilie Skog and Ryan Waters
– First to cross Antarctica without resupply and assistance from Brekner Island, to the South Pole and then to the Ross Sea.
Expedition Thule 2011
–Weisse Konturen (white contours). German expedition to Thule, Greenland.
Project Dronning Maud Land
– Antarctica to walk the Hercules Inlet route from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back alone, a trip that took 57 days to the pole point and 87 days until he was back at the coast (2,270 km).
Mission Nansen
– Aleksander Gamme, Børge Ousland, Erika Gjelsvik (13), Johanne Jerijærvi (13), Elias Damli (13) and Johannes Beivik (12).
Training camp in Svalbard, expedition to the North Pole, and climate information. NRK production.
First Canadian solo expedition to the South Pole without resupply and assistance – Sébastien Lapierre.
Went alone to the South Pole without refreshments and assistance. Started the expedition on 28 November 2016, and arrived at the pole on 9 January 2017 (42 days and 5 hours).
Expedition Astrup 2018
– Harald Dag Jølle, Vegard Ulvang and Ronny Finsås.
40 days, 3000 km, 15 kites and ski sails and 15 kg of chocolate.
In Amundsen’s footsteps to the South Pole – Astrid Furholt, supported by Jan Sverre Sivertsen. Skied the longest part of the original route taken by Roald Amundsen, from the Bay of Whales to the South Pole.
First unassisted solo crossing of Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan
William Byholt. 23 days and 545 km.