Episodes (Norway 2015)

Episode guide, 71° nord (Norway) 2015

Photos : TV Norge

Episode 1

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Day 1

Of the almost 2000 applicants, 30 were selected for the final casting. The selection of the 12 participant was done on two different sites near Kleivstua in Buskerud. They were tested on physical and psychic strength, ability to co-operate, and outdoor life experience. Based on the results from these tests, one team from each site has been selected, consisting of 3 women and 3 men each.

Team Lindesnes consists of Stian, Line, Tommy, Sandra, Magnus and Hilde, whereas the participants in Team Nordkapp are Eirik, Yngvar, Kaya, Otaner, Sigrid and Anne.

The two teams meet for the first time at Lindesnes.

They are transported to two different sites near Kragerø, where find kayaks and are informed that they shall paddle to the island Jomfruland, to camp. Team Lindesnes on the southern end of the island, Team Nordkapp on the northern end. This part is just a warm-up, the competition will first start the next morning.

Sandra has previously had an accident, near to drown, so she is still afraid of the water. And at first in the kayak she is stressed.

On the other team, Otaner and Kaya have problem with the rudder of the kayak. But both teams reach Jomfruland safely in the evening.

Their first assignment is simple: To guess the ages of each of the participants on the other team, and add these together to a sum. The team with the guessed sum closest to the truth, can choose it the want to start one hour before the other on the competition the next day, or one hour after.

When the two teams get in touch by phone, they first inform the others about their preferences, if they should be the winners of the game. And both teams will prefer to start first.

For most of the guesses, they are a few years from the actual age. Team Lindesnes guesses that Anne (40) is only 28, but guessing the others some years too old, they have a total of 192, against the actual 186. That's only 6 years wrong. Team Nordkapp is generally closer for most of their guesses, but saying 35 for Magnus (25) makes their total 185, whereas fact is 168. 17 years wrong, makes Team Lindesnes the winning team, and they will start first at the competition.

Day 2

The team starting first will have to wait one hour at the end. This is done to avoid that the two teams just follow each other, instead of making their own orientation.

The first leg is to paddle from Jomfruland to Gomøy. Then they shall walk, but the more than 100 meters over Langårsund to Langøy they have to swim. At Langøy they must rapell down to the mines, and then continue to the finish at Tjeholmen.

Sandra was not comfortable with the paddle the day before, but now seems to enjoy it. Also the participants at Team Nordkapp feel that they have more control of the boats. And they all enjoy the nature and beautiful weather.

After the paddle, Team Nordkapp is only 40 minutes behind, and has by this a lead of 20 minutes.

The swim cross Langårsund is done in wet suits, with the baggage packed in water tight bags, and the water holds only 6 degrees. But Team Lindesnes makes the crossing in only 8 minutes. At the same time Sigrid at Team Nordkapp makes a bad step, and hurts her foot. To not loose time, Otaner chooses to carry her on his back.

Yngvar is responsible for the map and the orientation, but Otaner tries to help. However, this help seems only to make frustration for Yngvar. This, and Sigrid's accident, makes them loose 15 minutes on the walk, and they reach Langårsund 55 minutes after Team Lindesnes, meaning that their lead is reduced to only 5 minutes. And after the crossing, it is still close between the teams.

The work in the old mines at Langøy, with a history back to 1640, ended in 1966. One of the biggest mines is "Grevinne Wedel", and it's here the participant shall rapell down about 70 meters. The mine is getting more and more narrow as they get closer to the bottom. Sandra is first, and gets really exited by the experience. Line is next, and as she is a little claustrophobic, she is more frightened.

Reaching the mines, Team Nordkapp is now 1 hour 4 minutes behind, meaning that Team Lindesnes now has a small lead. Otaner takes it slowly and controlled down, whereas Eirik is much faster.

Meanwhile Team Lindesnes reaches Langøykilen. There they have available one canoe for the crossing to Tjeholmen. At most two participants can be in the canoe at same time. Sandra and Tommy first carry all the backpacks. Hilde thinks that this not the best use of their resources, as they have people that more capable of paddling. But they all reach the finish, and think they couldn't done anything better.

Sigrid is afraid of heights, and the rapell is a challenge for her. But inspired but the rest of her team down in the mine, she also reaches the bottom, and they can continue the final leg against the finish. For the paddling they choose to let Yngvar do all the legs, as he is the only one that is experienced. Team Lindesnes, waiting at the finish line, is getting worried, but hopes that Yngvar will get too tired. Team Nordkapp gets an advantage, by being told how much time they have left. And Yngvar paddles as a hero, and by 2 minutes, they are the winners, and safe for this time. The other team has to prepare for an internal competition the next day.

Day 3

Whereas Team Nordkapp has a relaxed day, starting with a cold bath, Team Lindesnes is up two and two in a balance competition. Standing on a balance beam with numbers hanging in a rope above, they shall pick the number that Tom tells them. Line wins against Stian, Magnus beats Sandra, and Tommy beats Hilde. Stian was much better than Sandra and Hilde, and is the lucky looser. So the final event is Sandra against Hilde. Sandra wins by 5 to 1, and Hilde must fight for her life in the series in the next program. She is still motivated to continue closer to her home, up north in Alta.