Have you read the January 2022 issue of Viking magazine? In it, we cover everything from top Nordic designers, the history of ski jumping and financial resolutions you can make in the new year. Our cover story highlights legendary Norwegian polar explorer Liv Arnesen.
In 1994, Liv made international headlines for being the first woman to ski solo to the South Pole. In her latest book, “Skiing into the Bright Open,” she talks about that experience and the importance of chasing your dreams.
We interviewed Liv in late September for the story. In November, she was photographed by Thomas Ekström exclusively for Viking at her home outside of Oslo. Here are some additional insights and lessons Liv shared during her interview.
Liv on her mental strength:
“I realized that I am mentally strong. I got that from my parents. They said, ‘You can do whatever you want, but you are impatient. You just have to have the patience. If you really want it, it takes time.’ I think I can thank my upbringing a lot.”
What keeps Liv motivated:
“Everything. I had this dream since I was a kid. I read about it when I was 8. We would be on Easter holidays and winter holidays in the mountains. No trees, open white spaces and a lot of wind. I really love bad weather as well as a sunny day. When I feel the wind, I just feel alive. I’ve had that inside, I’ve had that love for it since I was a kid. We would be skiing the whole day and I’d want to go out again. I remember my parents were like, ‘Stay inside, read a book or something.'”
How Liv overcame challenges during her South Pole expedition:
“I went into this terrain with big snow drifts. I got so angry at the snow drifts and my sled because it hit me in the legs. I remember I slept in my sleeping bag, and I was exhausted. I’d been skiing for 10 hours, and I was angry. I said, ‘Well, you can’t go on skiing for 50, 60 days and swearing every day.’ So, I told myself, ‘OK, from tomorrow, you will just think that you are skiing in a gallery of modern art.’ You have to change your mindset.”
What came after Liv’s South Pole expedition:
“‘What is my hobby or focus now?’ I was just thinking about that. I wasn’t thinking about expeditions. I remember I read in my diary that, ‘I will never be going on an expedition again, this has been perfect.’ I had so much energy. When I came back home to my family, they thought I would be exhausted. I had so much energy from fulfilling that childhood dream.”
Liv on becoming a role model for women and girls:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway invited me to go to countries where women don’t have the same rights as we have in Norway. Then I realized I could be a role model. It’s not easy for girls or women to fulfill their dreams, especially in some places in the world. There’s a lot of work to do. We are privileged in Scandinavia and some places in the U.S., but not all over the U.S. It’s important to continue that push that women own their own bodies and they own skills. They can use it as they want.”