The New Zealand Thermal Heart Antarctic Expedition of Jamie Fitzgerald (26) and Kevin Biggar (36) achieved their goal today of trekking unsupported to the South Pole. They are the first all-Kiwi expedition to reach the South Pole for 50 years.
Fellow Kiwi adventurer, Graeme Dingle, was very impressed with the Thermal Heart Kiwi's performance, commenting: "We're all bloody proud of them. They've made incredibly good progress. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone who has hauled as far as they have and carrying their load at an average of about 27km a day up hill is bloody good going in any circumstances. It's great stuff."
"Our planning for this expedition started over two years ago and for the past 12-months we have totally devoted ourselves to ensuring that we would be equal to this task" said Fitzgerald, speaking from the bottom of the world on his Bearcom satellite phone.
"To operate successfully in such an extreme environment as Antarctica requires a combination of meticulous preparation, mental and physical fitness and a measure of good fortune with weather and surface conditions" added Biggar.
"We set ourselves a number of goals for this expedition and the one that was up there in lights for us was to walk unsupported to the geographic South Pole. One goal I didn't set was to lose 23kg. I'm very skinny."
"To finally get there is a feeling I have difficulty in describing. To say the least we are exhausted but exhilarated with our arrival at the Pole."
Fitzgerald added, "I'm overwhelmed, and I know it's a cliche but words can't explain the feeling, I reckon we have earned every bit of our success."
There have been three other international expeditions also aiming to make the Pole. They include four-man teams from the Royal Navy Marines and the Royal Air Force (who had to abort their missions due to frost bite 101-nautical miles short of their objective), and a husband and wife team from the United States.
The Kiwis were the only team to start their 600-nautical-mile (1,111 km) journey from the coast at sea level. The other teams started at the top of the first climb in Patriot Hills and are being resupplied, therefore carry less weight than Kevin and Jamie.
It took Kevin and Jamie six days to reach the other teams start point. When taking into account the different starting positions the Thermal Heart Kiwis were the fastest team whilst carrying more weight.
Two other factors make this even more impressive. Firstly, the unseasonably poor ice conditions, forcing Kevin and Jamie to haul their 160kg sleds through soft snow.
Secondly, an injury to Fitzgerald who has walked the last 600km with torn hamstrings, the equivalent distance of Auckland to Masterton.
The biggest challenge however has been the 'sastrugi' or ice waves that have formed on the route during the Antarctic winter. The expedition encountered sastrugi variously described as "big as a small house" or the "size of cars".
More commonly they were one to two metres in height and haphazardly scattered across the terrain causing the trekkers to try to pick their way through the waves while maintaining their own balance and that of their heavily-laden sleds.
The conditions were made that much more difficult on those days where the weather caused a complete whiteout.
"It's been a bloody hard slog" said Jamie, "and on some days everything in our favour seemed to be against us. I don't know how many times I have stumbled over sastrugi in the whiteout conditions that dogged us; or even on the good weather days doubled back to put the sled back on its runners when it fell off the side of a sastrugi ridge.
"On top of that we have soaked up a few medical issues that have not helped us but that is all part of operating at the edge of your physical limits in extreme environments."
"We have crossed the Atlantic under our own steam" said Kevin, referring to the pair's success in winning of the 2003 Atlantic Rowing Race from the Canary Islands to Barbados in record time, "and now to walk to the South Pole is another achievement to celebrate with all our supporters and New Zealand.".
Biggar and Fitzgerald who are supporting the Foundation for Youth Development, hoped their achievements will show all Kiwi kids that they can set challenging goals in their lives and achieve them through hard work and some grit and determination.
It had been the intention of the Kiwis to return overland to the coast base camp using kites to speed up the return journey. However, the hamstring injury to Fitzgerald three weeks ago - 600km from the pole - meant the team will not be able to be re-trace their tracks.
After receiving medical advice on the injury the only option available to the Kiwi expedition is to use one of the scheduled flights out from the South Pole to the Patriot Hills base camp.
"While it is very disappointing not to be able to make the return journey under our own steam," said Fitzgerald, "It is hugely satisfying to have achieved our prime goal of walking unsupported to the South Pole in challenging conditions, something we are very proud of."
"Our sponsors Thermal Heart; North Face; Waikato University; TV3; Regency Duty Free and many others have been fantastic.
"We hope they are proud of our achievements. It is something very special to Kevin and I to be the first all Kiwi expedition to make the pole in 50 years. This marks the achievements of our patron Ed Hillary, the establishment of Scott Base 50 years ago and honours all Kiwis who have gone before us."
The naming sponsor company Architectural Profiles GM, Craig Vincent said it is an outstanding achievement for them to reach the Pole under such difficult conditions.
"We are just thankful they are in relatively good health even though I know they are disappointed to have had the opportunity to continue taken away from them," he said.
All supporters can leave messages to the team at [email protected] or by contacting Rob Hamill.