Polar Challenge is one of the most extreme challenges on the planet, and in preparation for the punishing Arctic environment, the 2005 teams have just completed a week's training in Austria. Here they learned Arctic survival and skiing skills at -25C in preparation for the -50C Polar Challenge start line! Many of the competitors have no Arctic experience and this was their first taste of the tough conditions they will face racing to the Magnetic North Pole.

Toughest weeks training ever
"It was definitely one of the tougher weeks I've had since my Army training 20 years ago. Some days we were woken at 3 a.m. to be packed and skiing by 5 a.m., in minus 7 degrees, rain, and the pitch dark.

Going up a 400 meter hill in these conditions definitely tested the resolve, but that was the whole idea. Coming down the other side was just as difficult, as we had to toboggan the sled down icy roads while sitting on it, and a combined weight of about 140 Kg gathers a whole lot of momentum. We were cold and wet and bruised black and blue by the end of that little exercise.

Probably the biggest shock to the system was having to jump through the ice on a frozen lake in full kit to practice recovering yourself and your kit as quickly as possible. I have never, ever felt such freezing cold water, and I was staggered at just how quickly the body's core temperature plummets and one starts to go into hypothermia and violent shivering. Ironically, after using the poles to get ourselves out of the water, we had to get all our clothing off and roll in the snow - it absorbs the water!

I have also now realised that Polar Bears are not quite what your toy making companies would have you believe. With 20 000 of them in the area we will be racing, and the fact that they can smell a seal (or human) up to 50 km away suddenly puts us on the Polar Bear hors d'oeuvres menu. Although not inherently aggressive, they get hungry, are way bigger than one thinks, and can run surprisingly fast.

Everybody was starting to get a very clear idea of just how inhospitable a place the Arctic is for humans. Everything is difficult to do; injuries simply don't heal due to lack of blood flow. A finger or ear will die / drop off if you leave your gloves or balaclava off for just 4 minutes! And death from exposure will take just 25 minutes. Melting snow to make water takes up to 4 hours per day - and this is after your 12 + hours of trudging each day."

Hylton James, Team Polaris

Three months to go
The 2005 teams now have 3 months left during which they will attend an additional medical and shotgun training day in the UK, before departing for the Arctic.

There are still places available on Polar Challenge 2005 and a second Austria training week will be held in March, or you can enter the 2006 challenge. Last year's race was packed full of action, from frostbite injuries to run-ins with polar bears, and this year's race promises to be an even bigger and better affair, so keep your eye on this fantastic race. For more information visit their website.