Polar Race
Encyclopedia
The Polar Race is a biennial race from Resolute
, Nunavut
in northern Canada
to the Magnetic North Pole. Teams of two, three or four walk/ski
350 miles pulling their food and equipment on sled
s. Although not unsupported, there are strict rules on the carrying of equipment, with only food, fuel and camera batteries permitted to be replenished at the three checkpoints along the route. This event should not be confused with the Polar Challenge
, which is a different event taking a different route, and run by a different organisation.
and David Hempleman-Adams
organised The Ultimate Challenge, in which they chose 10 arctic
novices from over 500 applicants and successfully led them to the Magnetic North Pole. On the same trip, they made the first scientific measurements by magnetometer
and theodolite
for many years to determine the exact location of the Magnetic North Pole: 78°35.7′N 104°11.9′W. This is the most recent certified position, although it has certainly moved since.
Following the success of the 1996 expedition, which proved that novices could be trained and equipped for a Polar expedition, the two men established The Polar Race. As of May 2007, three races have been run with 40 out of 41 competitors successfully reaching the Pole.
(which later healed fully). The overall results were:
Resolute, Nunavut
Resolute or Resolute Bay is a small Inuit hamlet on Cornwallis Island in Nunavut, Canada. It is situated at the northern end of Resolute Bay and the Northwest Passage and is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region....
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
in northern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to the Magnetic North Pole. Teams of two, three or four walk/ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
350 miles pulling their food and equipment on sled
Sled
A sled, sledge, or sleigh is a land vehicle with a smooth underside or possessing a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners that travels by sliding across a surface. Most sleds are used on surfaces with low friction, such as snow or ice. In some cases,...
s. Although not unsupported, there are strict rules on the carrying of equipment, with only food, fuel and camera batteries permitted to be replenished at the three checkpoints along the route. This event should not be confused with the Polar Challenge
Polar Challenge
The Polar Challenge is a competitive, 350 nautical mile team race taking place in the Arctic, to the 1996 location of the Magnetic North Pole. The race runs between mid-April and mid-May each year, taking teams approximately 4 weeks to complete, including the training time...
, which is a different event taking a different route, and run by a different organisation.
Background
In 1996, polar adventurers Jock WishartJock Wishart
Jock Wishart is a maritime and polar adventurer, sportsman and explorer. Until his successful 2011 Old Pulteney Row To The Pole, he was been best known for his circumnavigation of the globe in a powered vessel, setting a new world record in the Cable & Wireless Adventurer a and for organising and...
and David Hempleman-Adams
David Hempleman-Adams
David Kim Hempleman-Adams, LVO, OBE, CStJ, DL is a British adventurer.He is the first person in history to reach the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles as well as climb the highest peaks in all seven continents; the Adventurers' Grand Slam...
organised The Ultimate Challenge, in which they chose 10 arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
novices from over 500 applicants and successfully led them to the Magnetic North Pole. On the same trip, they made the first scientific measurements by magnetometer
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of a magnetic field either produced in the laboratory or existing in nature...
and theodolite
Theodolite
A theodolite is a precision instrument for measuring angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. Theodolites are mainly used for surveying applications, and have been adapted for specialized purposes in fields like metrology and rocket launch technology...
for many years to determine the exact location of the Magnetic North Pole: 78°35.7′N 104°11.9′W. This is the most recent certified position, although it has certainly moved since.
Following the success of the 1996 expedition, which proved that novices could be trained and equipped for a Polar expedition, the two men established The Polar Race. As of May 2007, three races have been run with 40 out of 41 competitors successfully reaching the Pole.
Polar Race 2003
The first ever Polar Race was held in 2003, with four teams taking part. All four teams successfully reached the pole. The overall results were:- 1st Place: Initial Style Explorers with a total time of 10 days 9 hrs 45 mins
- 2nd Place: Polar Team with a total time of 11 days 18 hrs 4 mins
- 3rd Place: Extreme Steps with a total time of 16 days 0 hrs 55 mins
- 4th Place: ViP3 with a total time of 19 days 8 hrs 32 mins
Polar Race 2005
The second Polar Race was held in 2005, with six teams taking part. All six teams successfully reached the pole, but with one competitor retiring early due to minor frostbiteFrostbite
Frostbite is the medical condition where localized damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and those with large exposed areas...
(which later healed fully). The overall results were:
- 1st Place: Neways Polar Team with a total time of 13 days, 17 hours, 2 mins
- 2nd Place: Gentlemen Adventurers with a total time of 13 days, 22 hours, 38 mins
- 3rd Place: Cable & Wireless Polar Team with a total time of 14 days, 22 hours, 7 mins
- 4th Place: Northern Stars with a total time of 15 days, 14 hours, 49 mins
- 5th Place: Pole Position with a total time of 17 days, 9 hours, 5 mins
- 6th Place: Ikey Icemen with a total time of 20 days, 6 hours, 1 min
Polar Race 2007
The third Polar Race started on 9 April 2007. All six teams successfully reached the pole. The overall results were:- 1st Place: Team Refuge (Jake Morland, James Turner) with a total time of 14 days, 19 hrs, 36 mins, 53secs
- 2nd Place: Polar Horizon (Alex Henney, Emlyn Evans, John Barker) with a total time of 15 days, 4 hrs, 2 mins, 24 secs
- 3rd Place: The Blue Tits (Charlotte Eddington, Sarah Lucas) with a total time of 17 days, 4 hrs, 35 mins, 54secs
- 4th Place: II Magnetic (Raymond Aaron, Roddy Claxton-Spencer) with a total time of 17 days, 20 hrs, 43 mins, 51 secs
- 5th Place: The Brass Monkeys (Charlie Cooper, Danny Munden, Chris Wilkinson) with a total time of 18 days, 2 hrs, 9 mins, 56secs
- 6th Place: Carpe Diem (Janice MeekJanice MeekJanice Meek FRGS is a Guinness World Record holding adventurer, ocean rower, international motivational speaker and polar adventurer...
, Daniel BylesDaniel BylesDaniel Alan Byles FRGS MP is an English mountaineer, sailor, ocean rower, polar adventurer and Conservative Party politician...
, Richard ProfitRichard ProfitRichard Profit is an English mountaineer, sailor, a former British Army officer and polar adventurer. In 2007 he took part in the Polar Race with the mother and son pair Janice Meek and Daniel Byles, successfully walking and skiing 350 miles from Resolute, Nunavut to the Magnetic North Pole in ...
) with a total time of 20 days, 4 hrs, 57secs
Polar Race 2009
The fourth Polar Race started on 9 April 2007. All five teams successfully reached the pole. The overall results were:- 1st Place: Pole In One (John MacPherson, Iain Whiteley, David Stanton) with a total time of 15 days, 7 hrs, 42 mins, 30 secs
- 2nd Place: Northern Lights (Ed Crowe, Julian Evans, Adrian Wells) with a total time of 17 days, 8 hrs, 20 mins, 30 secs
- 3rd Place: Team Oman (Nabil Al-Busaidi, Claire Shouksmith, J-P Downes) with a total time of 19 days, 5 hrs, 6 mins, 30 secs
- 4th Place: Magnetic Attraction (Lucas Bateman, Julie Jones, Arabella Slinger) with a total time of 19 days, 20 hrs, 5 mins, 30 secs
- 5th Place: Team Standard Life (James Trotman, Roger Davies) with a total time of 19 days, 21 hrs, 8 mins, 30 sec