A former deep sea diver, Ousland made his first expedition in 1986, crossing Greenland with two other explorers. His ascent to international renown, however, came with his legendary trek to the North Pole with lifelong friend and colleague Erling Kagge. This is considered the first “unassisted” expedition to the Arctic – prior attempts had all been made with supply drops. Starting out as a three-man expedition, the third crew member was forced to give up after just one week, leaving the two Norwegians to traverse miles of snow and treacherous ice floes, subsisting only on meager rations of porridge and fat.
Subsequent expeditions solidified Ousland’s position as a pioneer adventurer. 1994-95, he conducted successful solo expeditions to the North Pole and South Pole, and a short few years later he crossed both the Arctic and Antarctic by himself. These feats of strength and willpower won him universal acclaim, and a wealth of material to draw from in his later career as a public speaker.
Less known but equally important is Ousland’s work as a researcher of the Polar Regions. During his expeditions he has collaborated closely with the Norwegian Polar Institute to conduct field research like measuring ice thickness. With Ousland’s extensive experience as an explorer, no one is better equipped to describe first-hand the changes taking place on the far ends of the globe.
Felix Tschudi is the chairman and sole owner of Tschudi Shipping Company AS (TSC), and a champion of the Northeastern Passage, an alternate shipping route from northern Norway through the Bering Strait. Recent developments in logistics and technology has made cargo transport feasible in the High North during select periods of the year, with considerable savings of both time and resources when compared to traditional shipping routes. TSC itself has invested heavily in infrastructure and vessels to meet the challenges of the Arctic sea route. A household name in the shipping sector, Tschudi presents a convincing case for the Northeastern Passage as a shipping route of the future.
Ousland will first hold an open lecture at the Luwan District Youth Activity Center. The event starts at 14:00 and is open to the public. Evening the same day, he will be attending an invitation-only event with Felix Tschudi and Victor Gao.
More information about Ousland’s open lecture
Børge Ousland Official Page