Audi 2010 Annual Report Download - page 34

32
In 2007, Nilson set out on the fi rst zero-
carbon ascent of Everest. The photo was taken
when he reached 8,000 meters.
Audi designers and lightweight
design experts consult with sled
builder Alexander Bierwald from
Acapulka (second from right).
The surface of the ice is thus as coarse
as rough sandpaper. Nilson wants to
exploit this hard ground and use a kite
to pull him along on skis for large sec-
tions of the journey. “The friction factor
of the skis and the sled runners will
be crucial,” Nilson explains in the cold
chamber, “and I’m looking forward to
using the fastest sled ever made. That’s
what I call Vorsprung durch Technik.”
Nilson knows what he’s talking about.
During his fi rst tour, back in 1994 when
he was 23, he paid virtually no atten-
tion to his equipment. The idea came
to him over a beer or three with friends
one evening in a café in Stockholm
while they were discussing their plans
for the summer. “Actually, we always
went to Marbella,” Nilson recalls. But
this had grown boring for him. “Why
don’t we go to Morocco?” he suggested,
but the others just shook their heads.
Nilson decided to go it alone to Africa.
“You’re going to fl y down there on your
own?” his friends asked. “No,” answered
Nilson, “I’m going by bike.” His friends
laughed at the plan, but this only fi red
Nilson’s ambition. They made a bet: The
loser would buy dinner. The very next
day, Nilson bought a bike, a tent and a
map – and off he went. 52 days later he
rang his friends up – from Africa.
The trip was to change Nilson. The
man who had studied journalism and
Modern pioneers
PHOTOS | JOHAN ERNST NILSON; FRANK BAUER/GETTY IMAGES (2)