Geoff Wilson and 5th Element Expeditions embark on Polar Survival Training in the back-country of New Zealand https://youtube/watch?v=t-WaHOhpzg4&feature=youtu.be 5th Element Expeditions headed into the NZ back country for their Polar Training Camp this winter season - developing Polar survival and travel skills for a core of Kiters heading to the South Pole for the largest Kite Expedition ever amassed on the great southern Ice Continent. The Ozone Kites once again excelled in the snow environment. Adventurer Geoff Wilson has only recently completed a 53 days 3428 km crossing of the vast Antarctic continent all done using Ozone Kite Technology. Geoff passed on all his survival savvy over an 8 day period with the team being tested by a severe blizzard on days 3 and 4. The wind speeds topped at 80 knots and threatened to upturn the skidoo and destroy the ice wall upwind of the tents. The team hunkered down within the Hildeberg Tents for a tough 36 hours, checking guy lines, digging tonnes of dumped snow off the tents and learnt how to manage mental stress in a blizzard no less severe than anything they will meet down south. Morale remained high for the entire mini expedition and what was most exciting was that our two novice kiters were doing 50 kilometre traverses with ease by the end of the training period. Amongst the skills learnt the most important involved navigation, frostbite avoidance, Polar Travel by foot, ski and kite and simple house (tent) keeping. The most exciting part of any Polar Training from Geoff’s point of view is the addition of the kites for traction. To cover miles effortlessly hauled by an Ozone Kite is sheer joy when compared to the calorie and morale sapping man hauling with a sled attached to your waist that so often represents the entire sum of a polar journey. 5th Element Expeditions goal is to lead 20 Kiters from the South Pole to the edge of the continent - an 1130 km journey and arguably the greatest Kite Journey on earth. The Expedition will see you in Antarctica for a minimum of 20 days in one of the most pristine but challenging environments our Earth can deliver. No kiter or expeditioner can join this expedition without first training with Geoff and his team. The environment in Antarctica has specific demands on any Polar Traveller that 5th Element Expeditions must assure all team members acquire prior to the expedition. The snow dumped madly over days 6 and 7 of the Polar Training Camp and when returning to our vehicles the team realised that there was significant chance of a walk out leaving the vehicles buried untill spring. The teamwork developed over the training camp came into play and over an eight hour period we dug the vehicles to the main road. Huge thanks to Ozone and Richard Prout for kites, skidoos, vehicles and patience in spades. If interested in joining this once in a lifetime experience contact 5th Element Expeditions now…
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:37:51 +0000
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