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Nigel Vardy

2025 – A Year in Film…

2025 started off cold, and it was only going to get colder. The Spine Race in January began in bitter cold, with snow on the Pennines, and ended up with star lit nights, and bog. Within days of heading home, producer Dave Hanna and I were on a plane to Alaska, to launch ‘Frostbitten’ at the Talkeetna Ice Festival. To keep the cold theme going, I then joined friends and crossed the Hardangervidda Plateau in Norway. It wasn’t until late April that I finally thawed out..!

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ARFF Berlin International Film Festival…

On Saturday 29th November, film producer Dave Hanna and Sarah Hanna joined Helen and myself as we attended the ARFF Berlin International Film Festival Awards.  The red carpet was rolled out and after press interviews and photographs, we joined the awards ceremony, where ‘Frostbitten’ was awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ prize in the Best Documentary Category.

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Drakensburgs 2025 – An African High…

The last time I travelled with my great friend Sibusiso Vilane, was when we rode the JoBerg2C back in 2019.  I’d just lost my Dad, and struggled to complete the race, but Sibu supported me with great strength, and we enjoyed a few days on Safari to wind down.  COVID then came, shut world travel down, and I still see parts reeling from its aftermath.  Sibu and I had spoken about crossing the central section of the Drakensburgs many times, and after much planning and packing, I set off late in August 2025.

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Another Brick in the Wall…

I recently visited the National Outdoor Expo at the NEC. Besides the sell, sell, sell of many of the stalls, one thing struck a chord. It was Kate Humble speaking about getting youngsters into the outdoors. I grew up outside because of childhood Catarrh, and because my family background was in hillwalking, farming and field sports. Some may think this a privilege, but to me, it was the norm.

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Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 – A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall…

The warm autumn came to a dramatic halt with snow falling in Derbyshire.  Personally I’d have feet of the stuff all winter, but the forecast was for a warming weekend, yet it still set me alight for the Kendal Mountain Festival.  Snow and Ice are my favourite things, and to see the festival under a blanket of the white stuff would be wonderful.  The Lake District escaped the dump however and though initially cold, there was nothing to kick underfoot.

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