Arctic Kites

Click here to watch the team training and the expedition!

While Chris and Rachel have been dragging tyres through the snow in the woods, Flip has been dragging tyres along Bondi Beach in Sydney! To find out more about Flip’s aspirations click here!

Click here to catch a glimpse of the team training over the past week!

We woke this morning to a winter wonderland and couldn’t resist taking the tyres out to play!

Polar explorer Jim McNeill kindly gave his time today to advise Chris and Rachel on arctic environment medical conditions including hypothermia, frostbite and snow blindness. With over two decades experience of Arctic travel and hundreds of polar bear encounters, his insight and knowledge were found to be invaluable.

As the weeks countdown to ‘Day 1′ and the team strive to save every bit of weight from the list of ‘essential’ equipment, the team are piling on the pounds – some of the team are achieving personal body weight gains of ~1kg a week! Belts are being loosened and trousers are feeling tight and as the training tapers in the last few weeks the rates of weight gain should increase – will any clothes still fit?!

With snow forecast Chris and Rachel headed off with their tyres for another round of the local woods. In the space of two hours there was lightning, thunder, hail, sleet, rain and blue sky!

Click here to watch a short video of ski-sailing in Finse!

After a week of not exercising very much and eating everything in sight Rachel has managed to put on a grand total of minus 0.5kg! This has prompted a friend to offer her the following advice; “If you’re not feeling full you should be eating!” Recent quotes from Rachel include “I need a break from eating just for 5 minutes!” and “Hang on, I’m busy stuffing my face!”.

The international team used the training week in Finse to full advantage, going through the expedition plans, routes and equipment in detail. It was fantastic to all get together and share each other’s excitement in the forthcoming adventure!