Proud Moments When Someone I Trained Heads To Antarctica
When a person steps into the extreme cold-weather environment, the preparation shows. Their systems, habits, and the way they think in the cold all reflect the time they spent training. When I train people, I like to be meticulous, and I aim to train to the highest possible standard, allowing people to understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘how’.
Most of what I try to teach lies in the small details. The way you organise a tent so nothing is lost, or how you manage your hands and face when the temperature drops, or how to stay calm when the weather makes every task feel more complicated. These points seem simple at first, but they become the foundation for long days when skiing. They help people move with confidence rather than fear of mistakes.
I use a technique called “explanation, demonstration, imitation, practice”, which will be well known amongst the ex-military. This technique is a progressive method for learning new skills, meaning that after going through this process, those lessons return when they are needed most. The lessons are based on the experience that the polar environment respects. Good habits reduce stress. and clear routines prevent mistakes. When people start to move naturally in the cold, they feel the difference immediately.
Training for these extreme environments is personal work. You see someone arrive unsure and leave capable and confident. It’s always interesting to watch them learn to trust their judgement when the conditions are demanding. I met Jamie Waller, the co-founder of Pole to Pole, while he was attending one of my polar training courses in Northern Sweden. He is now heading to Antarctica to ski to the South Pole. It’s been rewarding for me to watch him as he enters the final preparations and see him put into practice the simple tips I gave him on the training course. I hold a quiet excitement at the thought of what he is heading towards. The scale of Antarctica, the sheer vastness of the plateau and the feeling of standing somewhere that resets your sense of distance and space. It changes people in ways they only understand once they are out there.
As Pole to Pole grows, I want this standard of preparation to remain at the centre of everything. Real training to allow complete understanding of skills that hold up when the weather turns.
When someone I have trained steps into Antarctica, I feel proud. They made the decision, put in the work, and carried the lessons with them. Being part of that process is something I value deeply.