![Snow-running training](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160314-NorwayIGO-5557.jpg)
IGO Adventures – N60 Challenge, Norway
What a week that was! I have been the photographer as part of the IGO team for a while, so it was incredibly exciting to hit the first event; an adventure race (4 marathons in 4 days – cross-country skiing, fat-biking, ski touring and running) in the hills in the middle of Norway. The company was set-up by Bobby (Viscount Melville) and Sam Browne (who I had met in Nepal about 3 years before) with the aim of providing a significant physical challenge in a short space of time – for those “explorers” who can’t commit 6 months or so to a life-changing challenge.
![The scales around Hemesdal were incredible - greys in colour!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160313-NorwayIGO-4709-830x553.jpg)
And boy – it was a terrific week both in terms of the challenge, and in terms of the weather. We had expected -25 temperatures at this time of year, but a warm spell greeted us, and we didn’t get much below -5 at night. The high temperatures were fantastic for photography, but not so much for the competitors as the snow was soon rather soft – which to ski and mountain bike on was very difficult in certain places. This made the competition even more of a significant effort than it already was….and yet everyone pretty much completed the task. Blisters, sprains, and other injuries were dealt with manfully (or womanfully!) and I was hugely impressed with the spirit and drive of everyone on the teams – mind you, if you have set your sights own this event, you are not really likely to withdraw early unless there was a compelling physical reason to do so.
![Pre-event Training on "fat-bikes"](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160314-NorwayIGO-5444-830x552.jpg)
![Cross-country ski training](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160314-NorwayIGO-5415-830x552.jpg)
![Ski-touring training](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160317-NorwayIGO-7096-830x552.jpg)
Photographing an event as wide-ranging as this leaves considerable challenges. The first challenge was solved by the use of a skidoo which I had for the duration of the competition – this really helped get ahead of the competitors to a decent vantage point for the shoots. The second challenge was a little more tricky, as I needed to capture most elements of each race…. the only way to do this was with a second shooter; and so with about 4 days to go before the event, we brought on board Mark Brightwell. Mark is a mountain leader and adventurer by trade, so he fitted in very well. He has also been on a number of my photographic adventures in the past, and I knew I could work well with him. In fact, it was a marriage made in heaven as well as being good friends, we were able to capture different places, or the same place with different lenses at the same time for a different feel (such as the start and finish points).
![Ski-touring event start](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-5761-830x553.jpg)
![George Bullard with "admirers!"](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-6232-830x552.jpg)
![Abi - up, up, up!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-5825.jpg)
![Finish point for the cross-country ski](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160317-NorwayIGO-7248-830x552.jpg)
!["Barbs" at the 1/4 point of the ski-tour](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-6140-830x552.jpg)
![Rich - raising money for Parkinson's](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-5959-830x552.jpg)
![This part of Norway is beautiful in so many ways!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160314-NorwayIGO-4931-Edit-830x553.jpg)
![The medic was on a skidoo too...good patching-up!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160317-NorwayIGO-7354-Edit-830x553.jpg)
![Fat-biking - tough competition!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160316-NorwayIGO-6519-830x553.jpg)
![Bobby - running; last event!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160318-NorwayIGO-8512-Edit-830x553.jpg)
Technically, it was also great fun, although my lenses and camera bouncing around on a skidoo at 85 km/h was not ideal – some minor repairs in chain! I also took a couple of speed lights for some portrait work, which, with the scenery, was a good opportunity.
!["Barbs"](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-6899-Edit-Edit-2-830x552.jpg)
![Neil - utter star!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-6916-2-830x552.jpg)
![Stuart - tough competitor!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160317-NorwayIGO-Portraits-7602-Edit.jpg)
![Charlie Vernon - Chief Scrutineer (oh, and ex-Para!)](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-6933-830x552.jpg)
![The incredible Fatima - what strength and stamina she has!](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160315-NorwayIGO-6914-2-830x552.jpg)
![Charlie, Mark Brightwell, and me](http://johnnyfenn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/20160317-NorwayIGO-Portraits-7631-Edit-830x552.jpg)
In all, a fantastic week with too many brilliant memories to try to capture here. The pictures, as always, sell the story better than I can!
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