Visit Nordfjord celebrates Norwegian mountain pioneer Kristian Bing with an unusual "love letter"

Mountain pioneer Kristian Bing was a skilled and fearless rock climber. In 1894, both he and the famous English alpine explorer William Cecil Slingsby were the first to ever cross the largest glacier on mainland Europe, the Jostedalsbreen glacier, independently from each other. A new and unique film now commemorates Kristian Bing for the achievements he performed especially in the Nordfjord region over 100 years ago.

Visit Nordfjord has now released a short film as a "love letter" to the mountain pioneer who established the groundwork for extreme mountain sports in his Norwegian homeland. The film is based on an event from 1895 when Bing, together with local guide Rasmus Aabrekk from Olden, climbed the extreme glacier fall of the Briksdalsbreen glacier, which is the most famous glacier arm of the Jostedalsbreen. Kristian Bing always challenged nature, but at the same time showed the necessary respect for it.

In the new and unique film viewers meet a new man in a modern era, who challenges nature in the same landscape where Bing reigned many years ago. The man’s name is Morten Knapstad. He is a professional speedrider who seeks to capture the mental and physical strengths Bing must have played with when he made his adventure dreams come true. When Knapstad runs on top of the glacier plateau and flies down the Briksdalsbreen glacier before landing safely in the valley, he feels the proximity to Bing – both his will and his drive to be the first and to master the elements without being foolish. The interaction between nature and man, between the possible and impossible, is the important element for Morten.

"To pay tribute to pioneer Kristian Bing by being the first to fly out of the glacier plateau and down the steep Briksdalsbreen glacier is a fantastic experience - the scenery here is absolutely unique", says Morten Knapstad.

The film is one of several measures to promote the discoveries Bing made in the Nordfjord region. In addition to crossing the Jostedalsbreen glacier in its complete length, he climbed the Briksdalsbreen glacier, discovered the 6,000-year-old rock carvings on the Vingen field and climbed Northern Europe’s highest sea cliff Hornelen. By documenting and commemorating Bing’s achievements the project wants to connect present-day explorers with the pioneers of mountaineering in the area. This first film reflects and seeks answers to what is the motivation for adventurers who are constantly looking for the new and untested. Because Kristian Bing – just like William Cecil Slingsby, who also contributed a lot to Norwegian mountaineering – never stopped exploring nature or its boundaries and their actions from 100 years ago still inspire new generations.

The film is made in collaboration between the destination company Visit Nordfjord, Briksdalsbre Mountain Lodge, Team OneCall, Stryn Municipality, Bremanger Municipality and Stryn Næringssamskipnad (Business Partnership).

About Kristian Bing
Kristian Magdalon Bing was born 1862 in Bergen. In 1895 he founded the Bergen Mountain team (Bergen Fjellmannalag). He was both always eager to explore nature and its limits, but he also wanted to protect it. He was the first to cross the Jostedalsbreen glacier - "Josten på langs" - in 1894, the same time William Cecil Slingsby started the tour from the opposite side of the glacier. In addition to his expeditions, he also made some dicoveries, for example the natural phenomenon now known as "Bing's Pot" (Norw. Bings Gryte). It forms in the glacier by whirlwinds 1607 meters above sea level and can be seen today when people go the tour "Josten på langs". He also named several glacier arms like Odinbre, Lokebre and Torsbre.

Contact persons:
Visit Nordfjord
Marita Lindvik, Manager
Tel. +47 481 48 699
marita@nordfjord.no

Team OneCall
Bjørn Magne Bryn, Manager
Tel. +47 976 04 000
bmb.voss@gmail.com

The video will be released on May 12th at 12 o'clock here.