Polar Challenge
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The Polar Challenge is a competitive, 350 nautical mile team Polar Race in the Arctic, to the 1996 location of the Magnetic North Pole and beyond. The race runs between mid-April and mid-May each year, taking teams approximately 4 weeks to complete, including the training time.
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[edit] Background
Competitors race in teams of 3, many joining as individuals and forming teams when they meet other individuals during the training that leads up to the race. The competitors are from different walks of life (not necessarily explorers or people with mountaineering experience), sharing a quest for adventure and to achieve something that only a few others have done.
The race takes place in one of the world's most extreme and hostile environments, with temperatures dropping as low as -50C, and where 80% of the world’s population of Polar Bears live. Competitors race on skis, pulling their supplies in 120lb pulks, stopping on route at 3 manned checkpoints to re-supply.
[edit] Race History
In 2003, Tony Martin and Chris McLeod captained the first and second place teams in the first ever Polar Race. On their return to England, they decided to set up and run a larger, better organised and more professional challenge themselves, and formed Polar Challenge Limited. Since then, they have organised and run the Polar Challenge every year. In 2004 the race was filmed for a BBC documentary series called ‘The Challenge’ which aired on worldwide television. Paul “Seamus” Hogan, a sales manager from London, England, with no experience of the outdoors whatsoever, was asked to enter the Challenge for the program. His team, Team Fujitsu led by Chris McLeod went on to win the race.
[edit] Route map
The Polar Challenge route covers 320 nautical miles (see route map). Competitors begin by participating in a 4 day, 65 mile training expedition in which they set off from Resolute Bay in northern Canada to Polaris Mine, the Polar Challenge starting point.
The race itself is from Polaris Mine to Issachen Mine through 3 checkpoints. The first two checkpoints are re-supply points where competitors rest for 12-24 hours and take on new food and fuel supplies, and the third is the 1996 position of the Magnetic North Pole. The finish line is a further 25 miles beyond the third checkpoint, near a disused airstrip where planes are able to land.
- Preliminary Stage: From Resolute Bay to Polaris Mine area, just North of Cornwallis Island – Distance: 65 nautical miles
- Stage 1: From Polaris Mine area to a way point, just North West of Bathurst Island (Checkpoint 1 - 76º37’N 101º50’W) – Distance: 110 nautical miles
- Stage 2: Bathurst Island to a waypoint near King Christian Island (Checkpoint 2 - 77º46’N 101º45’W) – Distance: 95 nautical miles
- Stage 3: King Christian Island to 1996 Magnetic North Pole position (Checkpoint 3 - 78°35.7'N 104°11.9’W) – Distance: 63 nautical miles
- Stage 4: 1996 Magnetic North Pole position to Isachcsen (Finish - 78º47’N 103º30’W) – Distance: 16 nautical miles
[edit] Previous Polar Challenges
- The Fujitsu Polar Challenge – in 2004, was won by Team FUJITSU.
- The Scott Dunn Polar Challenge – in 2005, was won by Team Hardware.
- The Sony Polar Challenge – in 2006, was won by Team ATP.
[edit] Polar Challenge 2007 Teams
The next challenge is scheduled to take place in April 2007 and will see following teams and individuals competing:
- Arctic Virgins: Kirsty Bamber, Laura Jones, Alex Zawadzki. They are also known as the Polar ASBO's
- Bearing 360 North: Christopher Mike, James Cheshire, Jonny Black
- Girls on Top: Rachael Helanor, Tina Outlaw, Sam Long
- Individuals: Thom Fortunato, Mark Bates, Gabrielle Finn, Ian Hunter, Jean Walker
- TEAM SPIRIT: Adam Komrower, Malcolm Rich, Scott Ford
- Team Star: Steve Jones, Nick Bevan, Richard Yorke
- The Pole Dancers: Martin Palethorpe, Miles Welch, Stuart Lotherington
[edit] Polar Challenge 2008
The organisation of the 2008 challenge is already in full motion:
- Team Netherlands: Marc de Kuyper, Jantoon Reigersman, Vincent Kneefel
