My application to a Polar Experience

Alaska 2020

Every year Fjallraven is arranging a Polar event Fjallraven Polardefined by them as an "annual event developed to show that with the right knowledge, equipment and support, anyone can learn to appreciate nature – even in arctic winter conditions". It is actually an outdoor experience during which the 20 lucky winners of the contest will have the opportunity to experience a 300km in the Arctic on a dogsled in April 2023.

I decided to apply and I went through the three Challenges made of three different posts on Instagram (text and video/photos) where I was providing my point of view on each of the following Challenges:

Challenge 1. Why should I be selected

Challenge 2. How do I prepare

Challenge 3. My point of view on sustainability

Below, I report my 3 posts and keep the fingers crossed waiting for the selection of the 20 lucky winners that will take place on November 23rd. 

Challenge 1. I'm an Arctic Winter Ultra Trail passionate, with two participation at the Iditarod Trail Invitational and two at the Rovaniemi Arctic race in both distances 150&300. Ultratrailer (UTMB, Marathon des Sables, Diagonal des Fous). Eight (8) times Finisher in IronMan races one of them being the Extreme Norseman in Norway. 

Rovaniemi, Finland 2019

In a nutshell this is me. Approaching now my 60ies I keep on searching for new challenges and inspirational moments where I can push my limits, skills and passions forward. In cold temperatures and extreme conditions I have learned that you must use imagination and have flexibility to adapt. Nothing is granted, you got surprises continuously and you experience astonishing and unique moments like in no other places. 

Aosta Valley, Italy 2018

Walking into the wild and into the most extreme weather conditions I have learnt to cope with my fears and hopes. But mostly I have learnt the beauty of the world. The possibility of being part of this journey is for me a way to challenge further my way of being.

Challenge 2. Getting closer to such an extreme condition adventure requires a lot of discipline. The preparation is key because the way you train defines success or failure. Preparation must be both physical and mental to get ready to northern territories. Even if it’s difficult to have benchmarking, you must not be scared about contacting people who did it, to understand if there are lessons to learn.

Challenge 2 Video 

Challenge 3. Sustainability  is the most important and challenging goal we all shall focus on. There's no time to lose, there are no shortcuts (like in the  Polar environment!). We have to act now and ask our goverments not to hide behind green washing claims but take serious decisions, now. There's no more time to cheat and lie.  Delay only makes climate action more urgent, a huge acceleration is necessary. Personally, I’m relocating from a crowded and polluted town to a mountain area in Aosta Valley, just under the Mont Blanc 4810m. Here, I can personally experience the glacier melt down and see the meaning of climate changes with the unusual warm temperatures. In these days, rather than commuting by car, I use my MTB and in winter, why not, I use my skis! It’s never stressed enough that you must respect yourself, the others, the environment and must not lose credibility in how you behave and live a more sustainable life! 

 

Challenge 3 Video 

Now, fingers crossed and let's wait for the final list of 20 lucky winners that will be announced on November 23rd