"In such moments, values shift": "Mountain rescue" star embarks on an adventure into the eternal ice - Sebastian Ströbel ventures into the Arctic's frozen wilds in Terra X's bold new documentary

"Moments Like These Shift Your Priorities": Mountain Rescue Star Embarks on Arctic Adventure

For many, the Arctic remains a "blind spot"—just as it long was for Sebastian Ströbel. The Mountain Rescue star thrives on adventure in the wild, and for a two-part Terra X documentary, he traveled to the region around the North Pole in search of answers about life in the ice.

Endless ice, snow, and polar bears—most people's first thoughts about the Arctic don't go much further. But the region surrounding the North Pole has far more to offer, as actor and adventurer Sebastian Ströbel (48) sets out to prove. In his two-part documentary Sebastian Ströbel: My Arctic (written and directed by David Enge, both episodes available from Monday, December 1, at 10:00 AM in the media library), the hero of ZDF's Mountain Rescue series follows the trails of Indigenous peoples, polar researchers, and natural wonders. How do people manage to survive—and even thrive—there, and what challenges do they face today? Ströbel is determined to find out. Even for him, the Arctic was long "a blind spot," as he admitted in an interview with teleschau.

In the first episode, "Fragile Paradise," the father of two embarks on an expedition through one of Earth's harshest regions: crossing frozen lakes in remote southeastern Greenland and venturing by dogsled into polar bear territory. Alongside hunter Salo Kunuk, the vegetarian—who aims to convey "a real sense of the people, their culture, and their concerns"—even joins a seal hunt, learning how the Inuit must redefine their way of life amid rapid change. In the village of Tinit, he meets Max, an emigrant from Marseille who, as the local schoolteacher, plays a key role in preserving traditional culture. The documentary explores whether and how ancient knowledge can be carried into the present.

From theory to practice: Ströbel and geographer Laura Schmidt find themselves in a life-threatening whiteout during their research trip to Austria's Sermilik Station. "The more extreme the environment, the clearer and simpler your thoughts become," the 48-year-old reflected in his conversation with teleschau. On-site, one thing is clear: polar research demands everything. Despite the tireless efforts of physicist Andreas Trügler and glaciologist Wolfgang Schöner from the University of Graz, bringing the station online after a year remains a grueling battle against nature. "It's about seeing the whole picture: science, history, culture, ecology—it all belongs together," Ströbel emphasized.

"I Became Quieter, Clearer—and Deeply Grateful"

In the second episode, "Under the Spell of Polar Night" (airing on ZDF on Tuesday, December 30, at 10:15 PM), the actor plunges into the endless night of Svalbard. Leading scientists from around the world are drawn to this remote island in the Arctic Ocean—not just for its three sunless months, but because it is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, making it a coveted research hub. "I share what I've experienced without preaching. Because when you truly understand something, you naturally develop more empathy—and with it, a sense of responsibility," Ströbel noted in the interview. Climate change, too, plays a central role in the documentary.

Alongside polar photographers, hunters, physicists, and glaciologists, Ströbel also shadows climate researchers and engineers like Wenceslas Marie-Sainte from the atmospheric observatory. Together, they attempt to launch a weather balloon destined for the stratosphere—but the harsh conditions test them all.

The film doesn't just reach dizzying heights—it also plunges into uncharted depths, brilliantly captured by cinematographer Jan Hendrik Eming. In the icy waters of the polar sea, the stakes are high: Strobel and a team of researchers put specialized protective suits to the test, designed to guard against life-threatening cold injuries like frostbite and unconsciousness. But does the drysuit truly deliver on its promises? "What fascinates me about extremes isn't the danger itself, but the strength and energy they demand," the athlete—whom many might call a "wild man"—told teleschau, defending his appetite for risk and adventure.

"The most unforgettable moments were the encounters with people who live in perfect harmony with nature—whether the Inuit in Greenland or the Sámi in northern Norway," Strobel reflected on filming in the Arctic. Their way of seeing the world, he said, revealed how easily people lose perspective in everyday life. "It made me realize how arrogant we can be in our urban, Western comfort. Moments like those shift your values. I became quieter, clearer—and deeply, deeply grateful."

"Sebastian Ströbel: My Arctic" – Thu, Dec 25 – ZDF: 7:15 PM