About The South Pole Race

The South Pole Race (www.thesouthpolerace.com) is a race to the Geographic South Pole in Antarctica, across the world's largest ice cap. It will commence on the 1st January 2009 and will run until 31st January 2009. The team leaves the U.K. on the 15th December and will spend the time prior to the new year doing further training, etc.

The South Pole Race, to the far end of the earth, will be the first race to the South Pole since Scott and Amundsen's historic race nearly 100 years ago (Roald Amundsen arrived in December 1911, Robert Scott on January 17th 1912). Teams of 3 race on cross-country skis, pulling pulks containing all of their equipment, food and fuel over 426 miles.

The race has been described as the most extreme endurance race in the world.

The Race

Journey to the South Pole: Race Start and Race Leg 1

The start of the race will be approximately 426 miles from the South Pole. On arrival at the start line the team will rest after the 80 mile shake down walk-in, before resupplying for Race Leg 1 from the start to Checkpoint 1. After the Race Start, the team will separate from the training staff and travel alone. This is the beginning of the gruelling journey, with the first leg being approximately 213 miles.

Journey to the South Pole: Race Leg 2

On arrival at Checkpoint 1 the team will fully resupply for the final race leg and take an enforced 12 hour stop. From here to the South Pole is approximately 213 miles. The team is likely to travel more slowly on the second leg of the race - although fitter, the altitude, cold and deeper snow on the plateau is likely to slow the team down.

The likely time to travel the complete distance is approximately 30 days, including the two enforced rest stops.

Race organiser

Tony Martin: Operations Director

A Former Royal Engineer, Army Commando and bomb disposal expert, Tony is an experienced Arctic survival trainer. He has 12 years of commercial experience organising events and logistics for some of the World’s largest companies. Tony is no stranger to extreme conditions, having taken part in expeditions in the Sahara, Outer Mongolia, lived with pygmies in the Aturi Rain Forests in the Congo Basin and many other expeditions to the World’s remotest locations.