Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland – Montane has been named as the title sponsor of the Montana Iceman Polar race, one of the few races in the world to be held in the Arctic and in one of the most remote locations on earth.
Located in northeast Greenland in the world’s largest national park, this landmark ski mountaineering race will skirt the world’s largest frozen fjord and travel through an Arctic mountain range riven with icecaps and glaciers. Competitors hauling pulks will ski through an incredible and remote region of the Arctic through the Liverpool Land Mountains enduring sub-zero temperatures over big distances.
The race will be held April 13-25, 2014. Competitors can choose from three races: the 150km Ultra, 100km Extreme or 100km Adventure, all of which pass through remote alpine checkpoints and finishes in the Inuit village of Ittoqqortoormiit.
Organization and logistics will be provided by Tangent Expeditions – a company that has over 20 years of experience in the area. Race headquarters will be stationed at Constable Point airport, a small gravel runway built to provide logistics for mineral exploration in 1985. The Snow Dragon team snowmobiles will be operated by experienced staff to provide support throughout the entire course, should it be needed.
“This race has been in the planning for some time now and is an event I’ve wanted to bring to Greenland for many years,” explains Paul Walker of Tangent Expeditions. “I’ve been operating in this incredible arctic region for over 20 years and it is the perfect arena for a world-class wilderness ultra race.”
Ittoqqortoormiit village (which means “place of big houses”) was established in 1925 and is one of the most remote and least populated in the whole of Greenland. The village is on the tip of an incredible alpine range and is home to over 700 huskies. After the race opportunities for dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing will be available in this amazing area.
Registration is open now and for more information visit www.IcemanPolar.com or the Iceman Arctic Greenland Ultra Ski Race Facebook page.
“This race will be tough and will raise the bar for ultra distance endurance competitions,” acknowledges Paul Cosgrove of Montane. “The individual will not only be tested physically but will also require the skill of being able to operate in an exceptional Arctic mountain wilderness environment.”