Dag Aabye
Dag Aabye | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1941 Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Endurance athlete, ultramarathon runner, ski instructor (former), stuntman (former) |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Known for | Participation in Canadian Death Race, pioneering freeskiing |
Dag Aabye (born 1941) is an endurance athlete best known for his participation in the grueling 125-kilometer Canadian Death Race, held every August in Grande Cache, Alberta. This event is infamous for its extreme difficulty, featuring more than 17,000 feet of elevation gain. Aabye is also distinguished by his solitary lifestyle, residing in a refurbished bus near Silverstar Road in British Columbia, Canada. In 2018, directors Justin Pelletier and Adam Maruniak produced the documentary Never Die Easy: The Dag Aabye Story, chronicling his life and athletic pursuits.
Early life
Born in 1941 during the Nazi occupation of Norway, Dag later lived in Argentina before relocating to British Columbia.
During the 1960s, Aabye worked as a ski instructor in the United Kingdom and performed as a stuntman in films, including a background role in the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger. He subsequently settled near Whistler Mountain in Canada, where he earned acclaim for pioneering early ski descents on the mountain—often decades ahead of others. His daring feats included skiing off artificial structures and constructing a ski jump to perform backflips, appearing in several Jim Rice ski films. Pelletier and Maruniak credit him as a pioneer of freeskiing. He has been dubbed "the Father of Free Ride" and "The Last Ski Bum."
Running career
Aabye took up marathon running in his early 30s, completing ten marathons by age 50. Additionally, he competed in cross-country skiing, achieving fourth place within his age category at the 2002 Masters World Cup event in Quebec when he was 61.
At age 62, he entered his inaugural Death Race as its oldest participant. Author Brett Popplewell refers to him as "the world's oldest ultramarathon runner." The Canadian Death Race is an arduous ultramarathon notorious for harsh conditions that can induce hypothermia, extreme fatigue, and hallucinations. Aabye finished his first race in 2003 with a time of 20:58:16; his personal best came in 2005 at 20:56:22. His last completion within the 24-hour limit was in 2009, holding the record for seven finishes. While he later did not complete the full 125-kilometer course, he consistently finished the initial 49 km segment known as the Near Death Marathon. His final attempt occurred in 2016 at age 75.
Aabye credits centenarian marathoner Fauja Singh as a source of inspiration. He regards running as a means to test his boundaries and confront mortality, maintaining an annual mileage of about 8,000 km by pacing himself over extended periods. Reflecting his philosophy, he paraphrases childhood idol Fridtjof Nansen: "If it's difficult, I'll do it right away. If it's impossible, it will take a little longer."
Personal life
Known for his reclusive nature, Aabye lives in a donated school bus on a friend's land near Silverstar Road in Vernon, BC—a location familiar to locals. In 2018, filmmakers Justin Pelletier and Adam Maruniak spent several weeks attempting to reach him before he responded via payphone. Journalist Charlotte Helston also tried for months to establish contact. Avoiding most modern conveniences, he lives without electricity, running water, cellular service, or internet access. He gathers water from a nearby creek, cooks over open flames, and frequently travels to Vernon by public transit or on foot to obtain essentials such as coffee, potatoes, and eggs.
A profile from 2023 highlighted that he spends winters inside his converted bus and summers at a remote mountainside campsite nestled within forested terrain. There, a portable garden shed transported in parts functions as his sleeping quarters halfway up a mountain along a hidden trail about an hour’s hike from the closest highway. In 2017, he intended to eventually reside year-round at this site to safely train on trails he developed nearby.
No longer active as a ski instructor, Aabye subsists on a modest pension. A friend describes him as indifferent toward money aside from necessities like food and occasional beer. Rising daily at 4:30 a.m., he dedicates his time to running, chopping wood, trail maintenance, reading, and consistent training—living an uncomplicated existence.
Aabye was married once and is father to four children.