– I was incredibly happy and very proud when I was told that I have what it takes, says Chris Sommergreen, who won the Sled Patrol with his partner Rasmus Fabricius.
Chris Sommergreen and Rasmus Fabricius won the Sled Patrol 2024. The judges called them, among other things, “the most well-functioning pair of partners”. Collective/DR
– It was a hard road to get there, but I am happy with the experience and that it culminated in us being assessed as the most suitable. I have always sought to constantly improve both physically and mentally.
Defense has shaped Chris
During the program, participants were sent home, and it was hard, because “everyone is cool in their own way”, says Chris Sommergreen about the camaraderie.
– You get incredibly close to people in a very short time, because you can’t just take a break from each other.
If 31-year-old Chris Sommergreen has to point to his greatest advantage in the Sled Patrol, it is that he is rounded up by the Armed Forces.
– I was 21 years old when I started in the military, where I was a permanent employee for seven years, he says, who as part of the Engineer Regiment in Skive has been deployed to Iraq, Kosovo and Ukraine, among other things.
– It is my time there that has shaped me as a person, you could say that I am a product of the Armed Forces. I could use that in the Sled Patrol, where many of the other participants were stressed about not knowing the next step. Not knowing what awaited.
He has emphasized that you must always be more observant when you face new trials than at home in everyday life.
– On the trip I could use my routine – you act based on what comes. You must always be sharp and aware of the dangers that may arise, says Chris Sommergreen.
Chris Sommergreen himself calls a long trip with a dog sled across the ice in Northeast Greenland the greatest experience. Collective/DR
– In Greenland, for example, whether there are cracks or fissures in the terrain. How the weather develops and how the sled dogs feel – they are absolutely decisive for how things go.
Great experiences
Chris Sommergreen himself calls a long trip with a dog sled across the ice in Northeast Greenland the greatest experience.
– We were two participants who had to work as a team together with the dogs on a trip where the nature around us played a really big role, he says.
– And one of the hardest things was the survival trip. We were dropped off far out in the snowdrifts and had to dig a snow cave ourselves that could keep us warm and protected.
– It was hard on several parameters, we were exhausted, tired and hungry.
Loves Greenland
These are just some of the hardships that the participants in DR’s documentary series were exposed to, but that has not deterred Chris Sommergreen, who has previously had two trips to the Defense Forces’ stations in Greenland.
– I fell in love with the country there.
And it doesn’t stop here, because after filming for Sled Patrol, Chris Sommergreen has already been back twice.
Chris Sommergreen is considering whether he should apply for admission to the Sled Patrol Sirius. Photo: Henrik Bo
– I have worked as a safety and first aid officer in a gold mine in southern Greenland, says he, who was born and raised in Hjørring and now lives in Aalborg.
The outdoors is his fuel
And even though there is a long way to the magnificent and sometimes harsh nature in Greenland, the outdoors is still an important focal point for his everyday life in Aalborg’s west city, where Chris Sommergreen both lives and has an allotment garden.
– I love the outdoors, and I often look towards the water. It can be both lakes, the sea and the swimming pool. It gives a very special calm, so I relax more in life, says Chris Sommergreen.
He is both a coastal lifeguard and has been a lifeguard in Aalborg’s popular outdoor swimming pool, Vestre Fjordpark, for a few seasons.
Vestbyen in Aalborg is Chris Sommergreen’s home. This is where he both lives and has an allotment garden. Photo: Henrik Bo
And then he is also a winter bather and a member of the local club, the Isbjørnen.
Considering applying for admission
As Greenland gets under his skin, the Sirius patrol also takes up more and more space.
– I have always thought that Sled Patrol Sirius has been an exciting and interesting place to come to, says Chris Sommergreen, who is currently attached to Air Station Aalborg as a soldier of the Reserve.
– It has always appealed to me a lot to experience the harsh, Greenlandic nature in the way where you have close cooperation with your dogs and at the same time get to use your physical body.
He has also seriously considered several times whether he should try to become part of Sirius.
– But I haven’t made a final decision yet, the entrance exam isn’t until next year in September, says Chris Sommergreen.
– But I keep my physical shape up, so I can handle it if I decide to try.
It is not only here at home that Chris Sommergreen ends up in the water. In connection with the Sled Patrol, the participants were also in Iceland. And that meant, among other things, an ice bath. Collective/DR
It is the second season of the Sled Patrol, which has just ended – and both times a participant from North Jutland has reached the top, last year Mia Irving won.
2024-11-21 20:08:00
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How does the experience of working with trained dogs and in extreme environments enhance personal growth and adventure for participants in the program?
Thinking about it and will be preparing myself for the challenges that lie ahead. The more I learn about the program, the more I feel drawn to it.”
His passion for adventure, coupled with his love for the outdoors, makes him an ideal candidate, but he recognizes the commitment and dedication that the Sled Patrol Sirius demands.
– The thought of working in such an extreme environment, alongside trained dogs and fellow patrol members, is both exciting and daunting, he shares. “I want to make sure I’m fully ready both physically and mentally before taking this step.”
Ultimately, Chris Sommergreen’s journey is fueled by his love for nature and exploration, as well as a desire to serve in a unique and challenging position. As he contemplates his future, he is determined to follow his heart and embrace every opportunity that awaits him.
– No matter what happens, I’ll always cherish my time spent in Greenland and the incredible experiences I’ve had there,” he concludes. “It’s a part of me now.”
