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The plan was simple. An elite team comprising some of Norway’s most decorated alpine superstars would embark on a journey across Arctic waters to ascend and ski two of the most sought after peaks in the Lyngen Alps.
In addition to the boat and camera crews, that team would include Aksel Lund Svindal, former two-time Olympic champion in Super-G and Downhill Skiing; Kajsa Vickhoff-Lie, multiple Junior Alpine world champion; and Helene Olafsen, former Snowboard Cross world champion.
While the expertise of the personnel was beyond question, the mission would put some extremely severe demands on the boat. It would have to carry up to nine people and lots of bulky equipment, while battling its way through snowstorms, the tumultuous Barents Sea and weather as cold as minus-25. There’s no shortage of adventure boats on the modern market but the platform selected for the job was Nordkapp’s range-topping Coupé 905 V12.
The Nordkapp Coupé 905 V12
Nordkapp’s most potent SUV
Built around a symmetrical walkaround layout with a central pilothouse, the Coupé 905 V12 uses an open cockpit with modular furniture that can be removed from the deck, making it ideal for load-carrying duties of this kind. The pilothouse is set deep with excellent headroom and great all-round views and, with a sliding aft door and skipper’s side door, movement is easy too.
The huge standard spec would also be a great help. It includes Webasto heating, hot and cold water, a stern anchor and an electric soft top, as well as bow and stern thrusters, a convertible cockpit and a dedicated heads compartment. It also includes a 7.6-litre 600hp V12 Verado outboard for speeds of around 55 knots alongside cruising efficiency in the region of 2 litres per mile at 25 knots.
The first stop lies ahead – a 2,800ft climb followed by a stunning descent
But premium though that fit-out is for most recreational users, this particular job would see it supplemented with some bespoke mission-specific upgrades, including a roof box and tender – items which are not routinely available on the regular boat.
From Tromsø to Klovsteinfjellet
The starting point was Tromsø in Norway, a historic seafaring town 190 nautical miles north of the Arctic Circle. From here, the team would set off by boat toward Nord-Lenangen in the Lyngen Alps, where they would spend the night in preparation for a three-hour ascent to the summit of Klovsteinfjellet.
In the event, the opportunity to free ride through the wilderness on a 2,800ft climb would prove every bit as memorable as the descent down the slope. After all, so much of northern Norway remains inaccessible – and not just in terms of physical remoteness but also in terms of climate challenges.
Aksel, two-time Olympic skiing champion, gets rowing
In poor conditions, this would be classic avalanche terrain but the team’s mountain guide, Finn, was confident that on this particular day, Norway had chosen to show itself at its very best.
Kajsa felt the majesty of that more keenly than anyone. Only a few years earlier, she had shattered her leg during a Super-G World Cup race and was forced to undergo five surgeries and countless hours of brutal rehabilitation to get back on her feet.
Having wondered if she would ever ski again, here she stood, among the snow-covered summits of the Lyngen Alps, next to two fellow alpine legends and the guide who had helped her through her first Randonneuring adventure.
Among puffs of ice crystals glittering in the sunlight, they shredded through thick layers of snow, finishing the last leg of their epic descent with a gentle slalom through a birch forest and back to their trusty boat. Heading back to Nord-Leangen at 45 knots with the heater on, cold drinks in hand, and apres-ski tunes blasting through the sound system, it was a superb end to an unforgettable day of skiing.
This was a life-changing experience for everyone involved
Higher and harder
After a night of celebration beneath the dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis, the next day saw a storm brewing out in the Barents Sea, so the team had to move swiftly. Setting out from the fjord towards Blåtinden, a peak 3,750ft above sea level on Uløya, just east of the Lyngen Alps, the Nordkapp did a great job of cutting through the wind-whipped swells.
Luckily, the team was shielded from the worst of the Barents Sea on this southern leg and with the unloading job going much more smoothly than at Arnøya, everyone got to shore with relative ease. But with building winds and an extra 1,000ft to climb, the ascent would prove much tougher…
Using the same zigzag technique up the mountain, the pro athletes scampered up the slope without the slightest issue but with about 250m of elevation left to climb, the camera crew began to struggle – and with 20kg of camera gear each, you can see why.
Aksel takes the wheel
With the storm still approaching, time was of the essence so Aksel and mountain guide, Michael, who had joined the crew for the second ascent, shared the load – and when the team reached the summit, the views of Norway’s ragged mountaintops piercing the sky were breathtaking. It was another perfect day of fresh powder and, with a short window left before the storm hit, it was another thrilling descent to the foot of the mountain.
Join the adventure
This was a life-changing experience for everyone on the team. Aksel and Helene ticked randonneuring the Lyngen Alps off their bucket list; Kajsa got her first taste of free riding in the Norwegian mountains; and everyone got a fresh perspective on how magical (and how brutal) the Nordic wilderness can be.
It was a trip full of extraordinary people and extraordinary views. And it’s also a tale of an extraordinary boat. The Nordkapp kept the team safe and warm among rough seas and snowstorms. It pushed through punishing sub-zero weather and water temperatures of just 0.5 Celsius. And even after freezing to the dock during the night, it still purred to life instantly when needed.
In every challenge and in every situation, it remained steadfast and reliable – proof, if proof were needed, that in a world with more four-season SUV craft than ever before, not all adventure boats are born equal.
For the full article, complete with a stunning gallery of the mission and a full video detailing the 2025 Nordkapp Arctic Ski Adventure, visit www.nordkapp-boats.com.
