His life before the TV show, “Ice Road Truckers” Alex Debogorski changed into born on 4 August 1953 in Berwyn, Alberta, to Stanley and Irene Debogorski who met in London for the duration of World War II. His father became a Polish Red Beret, a paratrooper for the Polish Parachute Brigade, while his English mom become a college student at that point. His Catholic parents immigrated to Canada after the battle, and settled in a small farming community. He’s the oldest of 5 siblings, with Greg, Simone, Richard and Mark.
Life wasn’t clean for Alex as they have been negative, residing in a small log cabin within the woods despite the fact that they enjoyed the fundamental necessities of life. The clothes given to him as a infant have been often for practical motives, which had been to keep someone heat from the bloodless, however were never fashionable.
He didn’t actually have proper jogging shoes, so he might in many instances journey at some point of gym class or whilst the floors were slippery. Since he changed into large for his age at that point, some youngsters bullied him for being special and clumsy; they could spit on him and snort at him in particular every time he would do things out of the container, on the grounds that he grew up on a farm.
When he were given older, his length and his revel in in living on a farm had turn out to be a bonus whilst he joined the Canadian Air Cadets. He without problems received a bush survival path, completing first most of the cadets as he changed into skilled to construct a fire, use the ax, and pores and skin animals early on in life.
Alex attended the University of Alberta, however dropped out after a yr because he married his youth sweetheart, Louise, on the age of nineteen in 1972 and have become a father to their eldest toddler, Shielo. To make ends meet, he worked atypical jobs, as a taxi driving force, coal miner, oil rigger, and bouncer at a membership – he had his nostril damaged several instances.
Alex additionally frolicked prospecting for diamonds and gold just like a number of the humans from his native land. As a Catholic, he changed into a lay minister, and might do voluntary paintings in prisons.
He in no way concept that his life was approximately to change, the day he volunteered his services whilst a person requested for a truck motive force even as he changed into operating in a tire store.
He just thought of the cash he would earn, even though he didn’t have any experience driving whatever heavier than a vehicle. At the time he were given into truck riding, more than one drivers might die every yr, however it didn’t faze him. It changed into an everyday possibility for ice street truckers – some people could even guess on who wouldn’t come domestic after a experience. He stated he also pushed things to the restrict, and did a few unstable jobs however survived all of it, when some of his colleagues who did comparable jobs had died.
His Life as a fact-TV superstar In 2016, Original Productions went searching out expert ice truckers who would celebrity in the new truth TV show that they would be producing for History Channel, known as “Ice Road Truckers.”
It was the equal people who were at the back of some other hit fact TV series, “Deadliest Catch,” aired on Discovery Channel. The production group said that many from the trucking network and other locals that they interviewed endorsed Alex because the excellent person for the TV show so they tried seeking out him.
However, at that point he became stuck on a boat for almost per week because of a massive storm that exceeded over the Great Slave Lake. Fortunately, the manufacturers’ hobby become already piqued, and that they waited for his go back. He was the remaining man or woman to be interviewed, but after speaking to him, they without delay knew that they’d a chain.
For the primary season of the display, Alex together with 5 other truck drivers traversed the icy roads in some of the coldest locations inside the world – Canada’s Northwest Territories and the Alaskan region. They were continually pressed for time, as they delivered items to the maximum remoted communities on a constrained time frame. During their trips, that they had encountered a lot of the standard boundaries, each man-made and herbal calamities,.
When the teaser of the display got here out, it caught everyone’s interest, and when an episode changed into aired, it received a devoted following now not simplest regionally but across the world. The TV display’s choicest set the report for maximum-regarded original telecast in cable TV records at that time.
People were hooked as they watched the drivers navigate their heavy equipment over the ice roads and frozen waterways, wondering if the ice become thick enough to hold them up. Among all of the truck drivers in the show, Alex changed into considered one of the most exciting, as he in no way ran out of testimonies about his lifestyles on and stale the street. He’s tough and smart, however with a whole lot of heart, and his presence on the display somehow brought balance. The collection had all types of drama, however Alex’s personality stored everything grounded.
He misses his privacy Documentary-fact-styled TV shows are pretty exceptional from a scripted show, because the digicam group could be everywhere, documenting all that’s taking place day in and day out.
Alex wasn’t annoyed by means of them because he became aware that it’s a part of the deal, pronouncing that he simplest had a trouble with the digicam crew when they wanted to file him nude when he took a tub. He simply ignored his privacy, as he felt that he couldn’t have an honest communication with himself, and the truth that he loved his own organisation on the road.
Alex Debogorski With the camera rolling, it would capture every verbal exchange that he had, even those he didn’t need absolutely everyone to pay attention approximately.
Things he couldn’t do with out whilst on the street Each driving force had his very own options but Alex wouldn’t go out on the snowy roads with out checking his important listing. His fundamental requirement while delivering goods become that his truck need to have room for him to move round after he’s bulked up in his iciness equipment.
He’s 6ft 3ins tall, and he wanted a truck tall sufficient for him to get up inside, but did now not care approximately the brand of the vehicle. The list additionally protected sturdy headlights, a dependable heater, diff locks for added traction, and belly tarps for the system. Alex might also never leave home with out an emergency package that had a propane torch, and critical tools such as chains.
His pass-to food on the road Ice avenue truckers would start their engines at quit of January, and could flip them off at the quit of March. People frequently questioned how a good deal food they took on the road – Alex’s fundamental cross-to food became three rolls of garlic sausage, and masses of water.
Winter-proofing Alex It’s no longer only the truck that must be winter-proof, but also the motive force, and Alex knew from revel in how dangerously cold it could be. He stated that generation have been a notable help in supplying them with lighter yet defensive apparel; even undies garments have been made the usage of wind-blockading substances, which easily offered more comfort to the wearer.
He used balaclavas whenever the temperature hit minus 50 levels, with the wind blowing hard on the face. Bringing masses of clothing options during a experience turned into a ought to, mainly carrying the proper socks.
Close calls and accidents Taking a large truck with a heavy load and riding it on a frozen frame of water without the proper competencies might absolutely lead to disaster. During his 40 years of ice road truck using, he had never long past thru the ice, but it didn’t imply that he didn’t have any close calls.
He had one collision whilst he gently tapped another car, as because of the intense climate situations, even if he hit the brakes, the truck wouldn’t stop as quickly as he desired, so the other automobile went directly right into a snowbank.
The correct element changed into that there was no actual damage to both vehicle, or the drivers. In the second season of his show, he become pulled out not due to the fact he had an coincidence but due to the fact he had a pulmonary embolism. It became all caught on TV whilst Alex had to be medically evacuated, as his coronary heart fee rose to one hundred thirty five and he started coughing up blood.
It became later recognized that he become taking the incorrect dosage of his hypothyroid tablet. Alex changed into hospitalized for 10 days, but it took him another months to get his body back to regular.
The real motive at the back of his one-episode look inside the IRT derivative collection Due to the overpowering achievement in their show, History Channel produced the spin-off series referred to as “Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads” in 2010.
He become supposed to be included inside the normal forged, however matters went south while someone bumped into his truck intentionally and the TV group performed it out as if Alex didn’t need to be there within the Himalayas. After that episode, he was allowed to depart and attend a formerly scheduled occasion in England known as Peterborough Truck Fest.
However, while he flew again to India wherein the group was filming, the nearby authorities wouldn’t let him in because of the form of visa he possessed. That changed into the most effective motive why he in no way seemed once more inside the spin-off collection.
The actual cause he said ‘no’ to the spinoff series, “IRT: Deadliest Roads in South America” Not enough money. Alex stated the cash provided at the desk wasn’t sufficient to make him take the dangers, particularly since the place wasn’t his turf. He knew the hazard of their line of work, and felt that he deserved something extra. The spin-off series best lasted for 2 seasons, and Alex confidently stated that it turned into because he wasn’t there.
Was the display scripted or no longer? Alex said that the dangers and risk of going out on the road have been actual. However, truth be told, if using the truck turned into the handiest issue proven on TV, no person could watch it.
The drama between drivers and people situational conflicts have been deliberately brought. Some of the matters they confirmed within the collection have been informational, but maximum of them have been for amusement.
It turned into every now and then negative for the drivers, who came out now not as their real personas since the production group simply confirmed who they wanted them to be. Alex candidly shared that nobody may want to inform if someone of them might come out as appropriate, awful, or extraordinarily annoying after the photos became edited.
The show was inspired by way of John Denison The docu-fact style series changed into inspired via the book called “Denison’s Ice Road” written by way of Edith Iglauer.
It changed into approximately John Denison’s exploits on how he constructed and perfected ice roads to make truck freighting extra manageable, and which benefited the mining camps at that point. He wasn’t the only who pioneered truck freighting in the Northwest Territories, but without his ingenuity, ice truckers these days could have a much harder time moving at some stage in the winter months.
He’s close with Lisa Kelly Not all of the male truckers have been suitable to Lisa Kelly, who become the only female driver within the show.
Whether their infection delivered by means of her inclusion turned into actual or contrived to create greater drama, Alex couldn’t forget the time while the alternative drivers have been downright imply to her. She provided assist in attaching chains to their vans as she changed into already carried out with hers, however the different drivers simply sneered at her and a few even got mad.
When Lisa asked him if he wished another hand, he immediately stated yes. Up to these days, they might call on each different to trap up, and would on occasion do occasions together. Alex stated he favored her, however wouldn’t want to get caught in an elevator together with her.
Have a great Thursday everyone pic.twitter.com/KyHYc4wMFs
— Alex Debogorski (@IceRoadAlex) March 25, 2021
His existence after the display ended – What passed off to Alex Debogorski? When the display ended in 2017, fans often questioned what passed off to Alex, who become the best truck motive force in the display to appear in the complete eleven seasons. Due to his popularity, he was a staple guest on most truck occasions, including exchange shows in numerous elements of the arena.
He additionally had a enterprise supervisor who treated all of it, such as his time table, endorsement deals, settlement signing, or even fan meetings. However, due to the travel regulations delivered on by using the pandemic, most scheduled activities have been canceled.
While anyone’s busy seeking to beat Covid-19, Alex nevertheless drives the truck obtainable on the ice street, handing over components for the duration of the winter months of February and March. In 2021, his ice road journey ended on 3 April, which was a little later than traditional.
He posted on his Facebook account that ‘I did 28 trips, 27 incredible bees to Diavik and one van to Ekati. We started out late according to their plan.’ He additionally shared that that they had efficiently long past thru 10 days of stormy climate, however had been able to supply all the materials.
He have become the ambassador for championing protection troubles inside the trucking network, and he used his larger-than-existence superstar fame in spreading positivity round. Alex might always remind all and sundry of the importance of the trucking industry to the arena. Without it, some people wouldn’t have the simple necessities, in addition to the tons-needed clinical gear and portions of equipment in a few elements of the world.
His son, Andrew Debogorski, who have been identified with superior ALS in 2017, died in January 2019 at the age of 32 in a residence hearth. Andrew’s spouse, Myriam was capable of get their youngsters to protection but didn’t get lower back to her husband, who turned into not able to walk due to his condition. Alex become devastated while he heard the information, but as a devout Christian, he familiar it as God’s will.