‘Extreme World Races’ (EWR) today launches historic Amundsen/Scott 100th Anniversary Race to the South Pole. Norway declares all women team ‘Girl Power’ to beat Brits. December 14th 2011…100 years to the day since Norwegian explorer Amundsen beat Scott in their epic duel to the South Pole and announced today; the very moment ‘Extreme World Races ‘EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole’ will begin. Commemorating the 100th Anniversary, the ‘EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole’ is inspired by the original Antarctic challenge between Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen. , Britain, Norway and competitors from around the world are to have the chance to trek to the Pole as they battle to win the winners trophy and the latest epic incarnation of the toughest endurance race on the planet. GIRL POWER! One of the first teams to declare and stake their claim to victory, Norwegian all woman trio ‘Girl Power’ is determined to beat the British for what would be an historical third occasion. Taking place for only the third time ever, the second race in 2009, famously filmed for the BBC’s “On Thin Ice” documentary series, saw history repeat itself as TV celebrity Ben Fogle and Olympian Jamie Cracknell were narrowly defeated by the Norwegians). The Girl Power team of three is made up of; ‘energetic’ project manager Anneli Nesteng, 22 experienced climber Marte Gallis, 27 and outdoor fanatic (and mother of three) Trine Alsgaardand, 35. They see their task as to win the race outright - ‘beating the guys’ is a secondary issue: “We are racing to win and to defend the Norwegian Polar History, but we are also going to have fun with the experience. We aim to share our experiences with as many as possible, through film and our own blog.”
For more information please contact Louise Tel: 0207 225 6420 Email: louise@extremeworldraces.com 37 Ixworth Place, South Kensington, London, SW3 3QX
Women are better at epic challenges than Men - Leading Group Psychologist Reveals Evidence and Theory Spending over a year examining historical epic endurance challenges, EWR Consultant group psychologist Dr Robert Owen’s theory shows that women have historically proved to win out in the tougher, longer games: From the trek of the Boer women that opened up the African Veldt to the long wagon haul across the Americas that paved the way to the Western plains - it was women who proved to be the last standing. And the reasons may be as much physiological as psychological. Findings: • Sports studies have shown that women can sometimes finish ultra-marathons in
times similar to those of men who can beat them in “short” (26.2-mile) marathons.
• When men and women with equivalent marathon times are pitted against each
other in ultras, the women tend to win.
• Women generally also have a higher gradient of temperature from the skin to the
body core (they’re more likely to have cold hands for instance) and so it seems
are more able to maintain a constant body core temperature in cold conditions.
• Another interesting male-female difference is the fact that women appear to burn
more fat and less carbohydrate than men during endurance exercise.
Dr Robert Owen says studies of observed gender differences suggest __ the perceived differences might - reflect social learning rather than inherent gender traits; “Women tend to be more selfless and more empathic than men, moreover, they tend to more readily accept and give support to others than men. These qualities will result in a high degree of group cohesion.” When and what will competitors face? December 2011 to mid February 2012, competitors will negotiate multiple crevasses, cross snow bridges and rise to 3000m on the high polar plateau, as they battle for survival along the 704km route. With winds up to 80mph and temperatures as low as -40C, this is the ultimate extreme endurance race set in the stunning landscape of one of the coldest, driest and highest deserts on earth. Tony Martin, MD of Extreme World Races and organiser of the 100th Anniversary Centenary Race to the South Pole Race in 2011/2012 says that women are not just equal to their male counterparts in extreme environments, but have the potential to outperform them; “The Norwegian men won the 2008/2009 South Pole Race, and I think Girl Power have every chance to be first to the South Pole in this, the world’s toughest race. I’ve been racing in extreme environments for 20 years, and in general women are better racers than men in these unique conditions. Not only is their team work is usually superior, but they look after themselves better and have a crucial edge when it comes to the mental strength needed for this type of epic undertaking, critical in the conditions they will face in Antarctica. .” Although the first woman stepped on the Antarctic mainland as early as 1935, the first women to actually expedition to the South Pole by land were not until 1989. In 2009 an eight-strong team of women from five continents trekked to the South Pole to mark the Commonwealth’s 60th anniversary. Tracking & Monitoring the ‘EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole’ Fitted with tracking devices, competitors will check in with regular live satellite phone calls and the participating teams progress will be updated hourly on the EWR website. Following the race there will be a documentary with a TV transmission due to be confirmed in early 2011. Visit www.extremeworldraces.com for more information. How to take part in the EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole? Participants from around the world are set to take part making it a truly global race. Find out how you can enter a team at www.xxx Each place costs £xxx to enter. Visit www. xxxx to find out more. A promotion to win a free place on one of the teams will be announced in the near future.
Norwegian ‘Girl Power’ team, Tony Martin from Extreme World Races and Dr Robert Owen are available to interview on request. For further information, a selection of images and to arrange interviews please contact: Dan xxxx danc@extremeworldraces.com tel. xxxxxx (NAME according to area of media) Visit www.extremeworldraces.com or check out vimeo.co/ewr Notes to Editors: About EWR’s Centenary Race to the South Pole • The race to the South Pole is the toughest endurance race on the planet • Starting from the frozen coastline of Novo, up to 60 competitors will race to be
the first to the pole, negotiating multiple crevasses, cross snow bridges and rising
to 3000m on the high polar plateau on the way
• With winds up to 80mph and temperatures as low as -40C, this is the ultimate
extreme endurance race set in the stunning landscape of one of the coldest, driest
and highest deserts on earth
• Race distance: 704k; Race dates: December 2011 – mid February 2012 • Follow all the key action with regular updates at www.xxxxx • The race will be filmed for a documentary series that will be shown on terrestrial
and satellite TV afterwards. Details of a television commission with a major
broadcaster will be announced in the near future
• How you can enter: For full terms and conditions on how to participate in this
once in a lifetime race visit: www.xxxxx
• Details of how you can win a place in the historic race to the South Pole will be
announced in the near future with a national newspaper.
About Extreme World Races & Founder Tony Martin • Founded by ex-soldier, adventurer and entrepreneur, Tony Martin, Extreme World
Races is a ‘boys own’ business success story, increasingly known around the world
for its skills and abilities to mount endeavors in completely new domains
• Race Organiser Tony Martin is a former Royal Engineer, Army Commando,
EOD serviceman who grew up in Hong Kong then spent 12 years in the Military
service. Tony is an experienced Arctic survival trainer and has another 13 years of
commercial experience organizing events and logistics for some of the world’s
largest companies. Tony is no stranger to extreme conditions having taken part in expeditions in the Sahara, Outer Mongolia, lived with pygmies in the Aturi Rain Forests in the Congo Basin and many other expeditions to the world’s remotest locations. • MD to Extreme World Races, Tony has organised races at the extremes of human
performance, in the most extreme environments of sea, air and land on the planet.
These to date have included: - Six races to the magnetic North Pole (Polar Challenge), including the
BBC Top Gear dogs/jeep race to the pole
- The first ever South Pole Race 2008/2009 and the facilitation of the BBC ‘On Thin
Ice’ series
Dr Robert Owen, Educationalist, Group Psychologist and Experienced Psychotherapist A Fellow of the Institute for Learning, and a university and college lecturer, Dr Robert Owen teaches the theories of groups to MA students at Brunel University. He researched therapy groups and other groups for his doctoral thesis. History of the Race to the South Pole • Not widely known but Scott had a secret hankering for cheese Women and Endurance Sport • Gregory J. Crowther, Author of Gender and endurance performance http:/
faculty.washington.edu/crowther/Misc/RBC/gender.shtml
• BAM, J., NOAKES, T. JURITZ, J., DENNIS, S. (1997) Could Women Outrun Men
in Ultramarathon Races? Medicine & Science in Sports and Excercise, February
1997 – Volume 29 – Issue 2 – pp. 244-247
• BARON–COHEN, S (2003) The Essential Difference London: Penguin Books • HAMMERMEISTER, J., BURTON, D. (2004) Gender Differences in coping with
Endurance Sport Stress: Are Men from Mars and Women from Venus? Journal of
Sport Behaviour, Vol.27, 2004.
• KENDLER, .K., MYERS, J., PRESCOTT, C. (2005) Sex Differences in the
Relationship Between Social Support and Risk for Major Depression: A
Longitudinal Study of opposite-Sex Twin Pairs American Journal of Psychiatry
162:250-256, February 2005.
For more information please contact Louise Tel: 0207 225 6420 Email: louise@extremeworldraces.com 37 Ixworth Place, South Kensington, London, SW3 3QX