Product Description

New Year's Day, 2009. Somewhere on the bottom of the world, six teams of adventurers and explorers have gathered to race one another, on foot, to the South Pole. It is the first time that anyone has undertaken such a race in almost a hundred years; the first time since the great Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, beat Captain Scott to the same goal in 1911.

The stakes are high, as double-Olympic Gold-winning medallist James Cracknell and TV presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle must contend with hidden crevasses, frostbite and the favourites to win: a team of teak-hard former soldiers from Norway, trained in Arctic warfare. Temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius lie in store for the teams as they attempt to ski across 800 kilometres of unforgiving, icy wilderness, pulling behind them sledges laden with equipment, tents and food.

Race to the Pole is a rip-roaring 'boy's own' adventure packed with excitement, humour and even a few tears. But with just a few months to learn to cross-country ski before the start, and with national pride at stake, can Ben and James re-write history and beat the Norwegians?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5083 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
'Adventure comes no more rugged than RACE TO THE POLE, where James Cracknell and Ben Fogle battle the elements to beat a tough Norwegian team and conquer Antarctica, almost a century after Amundsen and Scott' The Times --The Times

Review
'The authors have a diehard bond, and their words play off each other well as they take turn narrating their journey.'

About the Author
Ben Fogle is the author of three books and has presented numerous television programmes, including the BBC's Animal Park, Countryfile and Extreme Dreams. Ben's sporting achievements include completing the gruelling 160-mile 'Marathon Des Sables' through the Sahara, and rowing across the Atlantic with double Olympic Gold Medallist James Cracknell, OBE. Since completing the Atlantic race, James has continued to write a regular column for the Daily Telegraph, and recently completed an epic 1,400-mile triathlon for charity, rowing from Dover to France, cycling from there to Tarifa in Spain and finally swimming the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco.

Customer Reviews

Money well spent
Having read the previous adventures of Fogle and Cracknell rowing the Atlantic (and enjoying it immensly), I was hopeful that this would be just as entertaining. It is! The style of writing is quite personal and as the events unfold you really get a sense of each explorer's characteristics and motivations. The dynamics and relationship between the two are complicated yet eloquantly explored and at times brutally honest. A great holiday read-light hearted and interesting.

Makes me want to jump in the freezer...
Wow!

I've read the previous endurance book from this strange pairing and had enjoyed the row every nautical mile of the way and even cried when they hit the shore but this adventure was even more gripping!

For 3 nights I stayed up far too late to reach the south pole with Ed, James and Ben whilst in the comfort of my own bed and was geniunely amazed in the sportsmanship, team dynamics and sheer bravery of these 3 guys.

A must read for all armchair travellers, wannabe explorers and dreamers alike...!

Race to the Pole
Great easy read, perfect book for your travels.

After reading their previous book, "The Crossing" I was looking forward to Cracknell and Fogle's next crazy endeavour. Once the book arrived it didn't disappoint, I didn't put it down for the next 2 days. Brilliant.

A really good read, and just like their previous book quite inspiring and revealing. If you enjoy sport in any way it's definitely worth a read.