November 04 -> January 05 : Kites on Ice. Guided by professionnal polar guide Matty McNair, Conrad (49) and Hillary Dickinson (51) left Hercules Inlet on November 1st 2004.
Their plan was to ski their way into the record books by trekking to the Pole without any back-up support. On December 23rd, they reach Amundsen Scott base and going back to Patriot Hills by kite-skying, they were back at Hercules Inlet on Januray 12th.
The Dickinsons completed the journey in a record 70 days, using kite power for the return journey - a remarkable achievement. By using kites, they completed the second leg in just 17 days at speeds of up to 25 mph.
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CONRAD DICKINSON
Conrad’s love of cross-country spans over 30 years. He learnt to ski whilst serving as an Officer in the British Army, specialising in winter warfare and Arctic survival. Upon leaving the Army, Conrad continued his skiing and joined numerous expeditions to Greenland (4 times), Iceland, Spitzbergan, Yukon (Mount Logan), Sierra Nevada (California), Siberia and Sweden. In addition, for the last 20 years, Conrad and Hilary, (his wife) have made an annual pilgrimage to Norway during winter to enjoy their sport. Conrad leads an expedition to Norway most years.
In 2004/2005, Conrad, and a party of 4 (including his wife) skied unsupported from the edge of the Antarctic Continent to the South Pole in 52 days and then after a change of skis and a re-supply of food and fuel kited back to the edge of the Antarctic Continent in 17 days. This followed on from his crossing of the Greenland Icecap in 2003.
He lives with his wife Hilary a keen triathlete in rural Northumberland, where he enjoys fell running and mountain marathons. Whenever he gets the chance he loves to go telemark skiing in the Alps and also Munro “bagging” in Scotland. Conrad and Hilary have two children Laura and Joel. Conrad is 50 years old.
Source : Northgate
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