Blue Peter Sport Relief Challenge

05 March 2012 at 13:04

Helen's Blue Peter Sport Relief Challenge Facilitated by Extreme World Races

Extreme World Races have proven yet again that they are able to provide world-class logistics support.

Blue Peter have just aired the 6th installment out of 9 of the BBC Sport Relief Polar Challenge Special.

The last episode on Monday saw Helen land in Antarctica, complete the acclimatisation and start the South Pole Race. Battling with blisters Helen pushes forwards to get the South Pole.

Catch Helen's incredible journey for such a worthwhile cause on BBC One every Monday at 4.30pm.

Or to catch up visit the BBC iPlayer.

You can still complete the Blue Peter Sport Relief Mile and /or donate on the Official BBC Sport Relief page.

Tags: Helen Skelton | Sport Relief |

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Press Releases | No Comments

EWR Exciting News!

23 February 2012 at 15:34

EWR Open Day Announced and Race Applications Now Being TAKEN!

Extreme World Races today have confirmed the date for their next Race Information Open Day.

It will be held at the Cotswold Four Pillars Hotel, GL7 5FP on Saturday 14th April 2012.

Our Open Days are a perfect way to get to know Extreme World Races, the staff and experts who work together to make such incredible events. You will learn more about what we do and how you can get involved in our races as we will be on hand to advise you and help any way we can with your own dream to Achieve the Extraordinary.

Provided will be a light lunch with tea and coffee all day.

Diary of the Day:

10.30 Arrival

11.00 - 11.45 Adventure Academy

12.00 - 13.00 Siberian Black Ice Race

13.00 - 13.30 Lunch

13.30 - 14.15 Polar Challenge

14.30 - 15.15 South Pole Race

15.15 onwards - Q&A

We look forward to seeing you there!

Plus...

Due to the overwhelming enquiries, EWR are now accepting applications for our 2013 Polar Challenge (North Pole) Race, 2013 Adventure Academy, 2013 Siberian Black Ice Race and the 2013/14 South Pole Race. 

Contact any member of the friendly team on +44 (0) 1285 860440 for more information or email info@extremeworldraces.com.

Posted in South Pole | Extreme Races | Press Releases | Adventure Academy | 2013 Polar Challenge | 2013 Siberian Black Ice Race | No Comments

Day 75, End of An Era...

06 February 2012 at 13:27

Hello it is day 76 and my final blog from Antarctica. I must firstly apologise as I have slept for almost a day so did not do the blog yesterday.

The team is now safe in Novo and we are preparing all the equipment for a long winter. We have successfully traversed the continent twice and in the middle of the trip driven out top the Pole of Inaccessibility! This has been the longest expedition in the history of Polar exploration as well as a first in 4 x 4 and 6 x 6 vehicles. We were the first adventurers to arrive at the South Pole and the last to leave this season.

It has been a huge success and privilege to commemorate Sir Robert Falcon Scott and his team this year with such an array of activities. I am proud of each and every individual involved and want to thank everyone. From the team in the UK to our Russian partners we have achieved so much in one season my head is still spinning. It simply demonstrates that if you are passionate about what you do and have the right attitude you can accomplish anything, and I mean anything.

EWR will continue to push the boundaries of human achievement in every area from politics to adventure from all corners of the Earth to space…yes space! We will seek to inspire millions of people to do something to help our civilisation and our planet. Mother Nature is simply affording us the time to change our ways and attitude. If we do not then I feel She will do something herself which she has demonstrated so graphically in the past few years.

This is the first of many blogs that I will be writing about Extreme World Races adventures. The next adventure and inaugural race will take place during this coming March in the wastelands of Siberia at Lake Baikal, the Black Ice Race...

Inspire someone today!!

Tony Martin

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | 1 Comments »

A Warm (well...) Welcome Home to the Racers

05 February 2012 at 09:32

Yesterday morning at 06.15 the Centenary Race to the South Pole Racers touched down at Heathrow after their long flights back from Antarctica

Thankfully bad weather and snow did not draw a halt to the racers' arrival back in the UK yesterday - we were nervously discussing the irony of the plane in the UK not being able to land after coming from Antarctica!

Extreme World Races took over the Arrivals lounge yesterday as the EWR staff and excited friends and family gathered to welcome back some of the racers after their incredible journeys.

After collecting their baggage they were greeted with huge cheers from all those waiting and were thrilled to see loved ones waiting for them. It was so lovely to see. A special mention goes to Michelle Morris and her son who waited as a surprise for Team Mercury only to receive a text saying they had left Heathrow and must have missed us.

EWR would like to thank all the racers, friends and family and all those associated with us for making this such an incredible season and to say a huge congratulations to all participants.

This is something you will remember for the rest of your lives...

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | 1 Comments »

Day 74, Tony's Update

04 February 2012 at 11:28

Hello

It is day 74 the 3rd of February and we are down from the highest part of the plateau. We are now putting up our last camp for the season and we have 112 km left to drive. We entered the mountain range 2 hours ago and were hit with colour, definition, contrasts and perspective on the size of Antarctica. For the first time the sun has set behind us and has given us deep colours to set our eyes on. We passed one of our 3 weather stations EWR has put out this year. Please look at our website under Foundation projects to read more at http://www.extremeworldraces.com/foundation/antarctica/

For the first time for a very long time we have driven over the blue ice of the Glacier - a good sign that we are almost back to the start. A few crevasse fields to navigate in the morning and we should be back at the coastline where we started around mid afternoon.

Tomorrow we will make history again and I am proud of my team that has made this happen, the team here in Antarctica and more importantly the team back in the UK.

Take care and inspire someone this year ....

Tony Martin

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Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | No Comments

Day 73, Tony's Update

03 February 2012 at 09:34

Tony’s Update:

Hello

It is day 73 the 2nd of January and we are now at S73,37 - E 010,56 - just a coincidence.  We have achieved our objective today and crossed the high peninsula of over 3400 metres and a place we call Mia. If you get stuck up there it is below -45 still air and strong winds. As you can see from the pictures the sun gas started to set behind us. The location we are at is the coldest yet at -62 with the wind; basically put your hand in the air and it will have frostbite in 3 minutes and will not recover.

So we put the camp up very quickly indeed!

We have sausage and mashed potatoes tonight cooked by Jim the chef and now also co driver. The other picture shows you that our windows are now freezing all the time. The good news is we do not have to work with fuel - at these temperatures the 6x6 vehicles I commissioned (which you have seen pictures of before) can drive from the pole to Novo topping up only once, which we did yesterday. The last picture is of my Chief Mechanic who informs me if we do not descend by tomorrow evening things will simply start to snap off. Literally…

So our plan is to eat and sleep a little and get off this place as quick as possible. Thankfully we are exactly on schedule after many years of planning and we get to see some of the most amazing sunsets in the World. The main indication that does not fail to support the fact that it is cold is that our vodka has now also frozen!

Take care all

Tony Martin

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | No Comments

Day 72, Tony and Final Racer's Update

02 February 2012 at 09:26

Tony’s Update:

Hello it is day 72 of the trip the first of February. We are on day 2 of the return trip and we have covered 330 km so far in 6 hours. We are averaging about 50km an hour and we will continue to do to 78 degrees so will rest around 2 am. Sitting in my mobile office I can co-ordinate the Company and all other communication around the World in comfort.

Looking from left to right on the picture I have: my ipod for music, gps for navigation, dictaphone for the book I am writing, camera batteries for the pictures and videos and then there is Happy Feet outside guiding the way, the sat phone uplink that we used for the live links for Blue Peter and the website, a backup hand held sat phone, 2 locator beacons transmitting our location to the team at home, another voice sat phone, a cup of Green tea, the laptop I am writing on and of course my tooth brush as looking after your personal hygiene is of the greatest importance…phew!

The BBC film crew from Blue Peter and Sport Relief along with all the 100th Anniversary racers have now departed Novo and are safe in Cape Town.

That now leaves my safety team out on the ice with one job at hand: get off the plateau before the sun starts to set for the black winter. Temperatures are falling as fast as we are driving. However, we have Mother Nature on our side and all is well for now at just - 51 degrees.

Take care

Tony Martin

Final Racer’s Update:

At last the day has finally come to commence the return trip home with the IL76 flight to Cape Town and everyone was not disappointed to wake up to a splendid morning with clear blue skies, only -1c and with no wind.

Equipment returns was the first call of the day with individual teams returning all equipment on loan before dropping tents and preparing personal bags for loading on the plane. With all personnel in good spirits and taking advantage of the glorious weather conditions a quick photo call was staged for all competitors and staff.

With news of an early departure and the boarding cards issued, there was no hanging around and with haste all passengers headed for the plane to secure seats. With farewells all done and the plane loaded the IL76 took off into an amazing blue sky for the 6hr flight to Cape Town.

The Race Organisers and all members of the Support Team wish to thank all competitors, sponsors, friends and family for making the 2011-2012 centenary race to the South Pole a truly memorable occasion and wish everyone every success for future endeavors undertaken.

Congratulations again to the Norwegian Team for an outstanding performance and we look forward to seeing all competitors and staff at the Awards Party in June.

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | No Comments

Day 71, Tony's Update

01 February 2012 at 09:17

Tony’s Update:

Hello it’s day 72 the 31st of January. We are well on our way and almost at the fuel depot at 83 degrees. We will rest there tonight and push on to 78 degrees tomorrow. We are all well and doing double driving shifts of approximately 4 hours on 4 hours sleep… 

Tony Martin

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | No Comments

Day 70, Tony and Racer's Update

31 January 2012 at 08:30

Tony’s Update:

Hello

It is day 70 the 30th of January and we have started our drive back to Novo. We briefly stopped at our fuel dump only to find out it was buried…more digging! Another annoying factor that happens on our trips is the air filter in the engine gets clogged up with snow on occasion. This then stops the engine performing at its best and we lose about 25% of the power. We just clean the snow out, replace it and carry on driving. Approximately 2,400 km to go over 5 days and rotating drivers. I will keep you informed of our journey and whatever happens as the temperature continues to drop fast along with the sun.

Tony Martin

Racer’s Update:

Saturday 28^th January

The last morning of the race greeted us with crystal clear skies, a bright sun and -35 degrees Celsius. It began around 2am driving out towards the Pole searching for the last of the competitors: Team Centrepoint and Team Mission Possible. We spotted them approximately 7km away from their goal all sitting down together sharing a spot of whiskey and taking in their surroundings. Their long journey was soon about to end and they were savouring the moment.

They skied forward and finally arrived at the Pole at 04:59:38, just barely an hour before the cut-off time. It was a touching moment for these teams, not only had they bonded over a mutual goal but developed friendships that hopefully will not be forgotten. After enjoying their moment at the Pole they were whisked away to a tour at the Pole Station and then transferred back to Camp 100 to join the rest of the teams.

At 14:45 the Basler transfer flight left our base with all remaining competitors on it. They are due to arrive back at Novo late in evening where they’ll spend the last couple of days before flying out to Capetown. It’s been a tremendous race full of trials and tribulations. We’ve seen it all this year: laughter, tears, aches & pains but most of all the sheer determination and strength of the human spirit. The personal journeys that the competitors and the staff have taken during their time out in the beautiful isolation of Antarctica will forever be in the memories and in their hearts.

We’d like to thank all friends and families for such tremendous support before during and after the race. And wish a safe journey home to our competitors, we look forward to catching up with them at the Oscars of Adventure on the 16th June this year. Make sure you get your tickets!

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | 1 Comments »

Day 69, Tony's Update

30 January 2012 at 09:39

Tony’s Update:

Hello

It’s day 69 the 28th of January and we have spent all day breaking down the camp in preparation for the drive back. Where there were tents there is now a space - Bar 100 is officially closed until next season. If you would like to visit please call the office. The water hole has demonstrated that we have used 15 tons of compressed ice to melt and produce water for all our visitors. The sauna is packed away and the vehicles are loaded. Jim the Chef just produced one of the best sweet and sour pork dishes I have ever had… and I grew up in Hong Kong!

Now all we need to do is drive back…

Tony Martin

Posted in South Pole | 2011. Race to the Pole. Scott v Amundsen Centenary | Extreme Races | Press Releases | No Comments