Opération Pole Sud

From 05.12.2007 to 20.01.2008 - Status: abandoned

Charles Hedrich

The Frenchman, Charles Hedrich, is making a completely unassisted solo attempt in the Antarctic next season, as well as trying for a new speed record. He should be leaving from Berkner Island on the edge of the Weddell Sea, aiming for the South Pole.

Charles Hedrich is an inveterate sports adventurer. In 2003, he won sixth place in a Paris-Dakar rally/race on his motorbike; the following year, he sailed solo around the world, non-stop and unaided, in 122 days. On May 17, 2006, he reached the top of Mount Everest (8,848 m) and, last 23 January, he broke the record for rowing across the Atlantic in 36 days and 6 hours.

This time, the marathon runner from Lyon (France) is attacking the Antarctic. True to his winner's mentality, he's also making an attempt to brake the record. The selected route is Nerkner Island - South Pole, a trek of more than 2,000km. He will cover the course unaided and has decided to use traction kites (powerkites) in order to make quicker progress.

A team on dry land will be monitoring his attempt: Christian Dumard, specialist in satellite routing, will help him choose the various paths to follow and Bernard Muller, a French Himalayan mountaineer who has many worldwide firsts and the ascension of six 8000m peaks to his credit, will help him to prepare for his trek.