Q&A


MEET THE ADVENTURER


Skier Stian Hagen looks back at his adrenalin-fuelled career and shares his tips for budding expeditionists


I WAS TAKEN OUT


IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE I COULD WALK. I grew up in Oslo and my father worked for the Norwegian Alpine Club, so I was always


out in the peaks. I was actually carried to the summit of Norway’s second highest mountain before I was a year old. We had a big collection of mountain adventure books at home, too, and I remember reading books about polar crossings and climbing mountains as a kid. I even have memories of using a carpet in the living room as a dog sled, filling it up with canned food from the pantry and pretending to go to the North Pole.


I NEVER PLANNED TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL SKIER. IT JUST KIND OF HAPPENED. In the early 1990s, very few people could make a living from skiing, especially in Europe. I went to Chamonix for a season when I was 18 and somehow I’m still here 25 years later.


THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY STANDOUT ADVENTURES IN MY CAREER. I’ve always been drawn to trips where I can combine my


passion for the sea with my passion for skiing. I once sailed from Bodø in Norway across the Arctic Ocean to Jan Mayen, a tiny volcanic isle between Iceland and the North Pole. We landed on the island in a dinghy, then climbed to the peak before skiing back down. It turned out that this was the highest unclimbed point in Norwegian territory, although I didn’t find out until years later.


MORE RECENTLY, I SAILED TO ANTARCTICA. Aſter setting off from Ushuaia on the southern tip of South America, we crossed the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula and sailed around the region for three weeks, climbing peaks and skiing. It was my favourite trip of all time, and I’d love to go back. Antarctica is a truly special place.


THE WORST THING IS LOSING FRIENDS IN THE MOUNTAINS. When you’ve been in the game as long as I have, it’s unavoidable. There have been times when I’ve thought about quitting and living a normal life, but I always seem to find a reason to keep doing what I love.


I HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS NOW, WHICH IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. As a result, I’m now even


more careful than I was in the past. Being away for long periods of time gets harder and harder, but luckily I live in a place where adventures are right outside the door. I have a black book of ideas for future expeditions, some of which I’ll probably never get to do — but I can always dream.


IT’S HARD TO SAY WHAT ADVENTURES WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. There’s a lot that has been done already, so I think the way forward is to do it in better style and with less impact on the environment.


THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I DID IN MY CAREER WAS GETTING MY EDUCATION AS A MOUNTAIN GUIDE. It’s the number one reason I’ve been able to do what I do for as long as I have; I knew I’d be able to do something I’m passionate about as soon as any sponsorship deal ended. Train hard, but remember that life goes on aſterwards. I have a lot of friends who struggle with injuries sustained in their younger years. Life is long, so make sure to plan for the future.


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