Adverse weather conditions culminating in high winds and low visibility have delayed the start of the South Pole Race, leaving the six teams tent bound in freezing Antarctic conditions for four days.
They had to wait for a window of clear weather so their supply plane could make two round trips from the base in Novo to collect the teams at the location where they had finished the training phase and carry them to the race’s starting point.
Mark Pollock who is racing with Team South Pole Flag spoke to The Epoch Time via satellite phone and explained that they had finished the training phase 180km from Novo up in the mountains at about 3,000 meters on a plateau. Unfortunately they had to wait there for weather to clear before they could get started.
The training phase of the race was to enable the athletes to acclimatise and also pass their crevasse training. Mark said that the training was a bit of a shock mentally but he got his head around it pretty quickly. Overall “it was tough in places but really enjoyable in others” and he and his other team mates Simon O’Donnell and Inge Solheim were all raring to go.
Mark noted that they were cooped up in their tent for a few days but weren’t experiencing any cabin fever yet unfortunately he did discover one funny side effect from lying around for too long, the rush of blood to the head when one finally decided to get up a move around.
One of the things the guys have noticed is that it is quite difficult to eat the amount of food that they are require to consume in order to keep them going all day. Porridge, muesli and chocolate for breakfast, nuts dried fruit during the day a bit of a meal in the evening. Mark admitted that the food was “surprisingly not bad.”
The competitors will camp out in tents and pull 70 kg sledges behind them 750km across the baron ice lands of Antarctica for the next month. Hazards such as frostbite are a reality when temperatures can reach as low as minus 50 centigrade.
Six teams set off for the 750km track to the Geographic South Pole.
After the first days racing a posting to the race organisers website stated “Team South Pole Flag have stopped for an early night after feeling low in energy, and are looking forward to a getting back on their skis tomorrow after a good rest.”
Friends and family of the team were shocked and not sure what to make of this news. Fortunately for all John O’Regan who competed in the Everest Marathon with Mark was at hand to give his insight into the news of their early stop.
John was of the opinion that, “Feeling low in energy is no big deal and based on our experience during the Everest Marathon I can confidently say that the team will get stronger as the race progresses.” He explained that this feeling of low energy could be due to the team still acclimatising. “Setting up camp before you get too tired is more energy efficient so as far as I’m concerned this is a good strategy.”
John was right, the following day Team South Pole Flag moved up to third position.
They had to wait for a window of clear weather so their supply plane could make two round trips from the base in Novo to collect the teams at the location where they had finished the training phase and carry them to the race’s starting point.
Mark Pollock who is racing with Team South Pole Flag spoke to The Epoch Time via satellite phone and explained that they had finished the training phase 180km from Novo up in the mountains at about 3,000 meters on a plateau. Unfortunately they had to wait there for weather to clear before they could get started.
The training phase of the race was to enable the athletes to acclimatise and also pass their crevasse training. Mark said that the training was a bit of a shock mentally but he got his head around it pretty quickly. Overall “it was tough in places but really enjoyable in others” and he and his other team mates Simon O’Donnell and Inge Solheim were all raring to go.
Mark noted that they were cooped up in their tent for a few days but weren’t experiencing any cabin fever yet unfortunately he did discover one funny side effect from lying around for too long, the rush of blood to the head when one finally decided to get up a move around.
One of the things the guys have noticed is that it is quite difficult to eat the amount of food that they are require to consume in order to keep them going all day. Porridge, muesli and chocolate for breakfast, nuts dried fruit during the day a bit of a meal in the evening. Mark admitted that the food was “surprisingly not bad.”
The competitors will camp out in tents and pull 70 kg sledges behind them 750km across the baron ice lands of Antarctica for the next month. Hazards such as frostbite are a reality when temperatures can reach as low as minus 50 centigrade.
Race progress
The teams were flown in to the start the night before, one last night of comfort then the race began. At 10a.m. on January 4th 2009 The Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race commenced.Six teams set off for the 750km track to the Geographic South Pole.
After the first days racing a posting to the race organisers website stated “Team South Pole Flag have stopped for an early night after feeling low in energy, and are looking forward to a getting back on their skis tomorrow after a good rest.”
Friends and family of the team were shocked and not sure what to make of this news. Fortunately for all John O’Regan who competed in the Everest Marathon with Mark was at hand to give his insight into the news of their early stop.
John was of the opinion that, “Feeling low in energy is no big deal and based on our experience during the Everest Marathon I can confidently say that the team will get stronger as the race progresses.” He explained that this feeling of low energy could be due to the team still acclimatising. “Setting up camp before you get too tired is more energy efficient so as far as I’m concerned this is a good strategy.”
John was right, the following day Team South Pole Flag moved up to third position.
