Record-chaser OKS Tom Hunt (SH 2011-16) has embarked on his latest adventure. In recent years, he has competed in the Arctic Ultra (regarded as the world's toughest, coldest and windiest race), run over 200 marathons and ultra-marathons and taken part in countless solo expeditions and training missions. This time, he is attempting to set a record for the fastest solo and unsupported ski to the South Pole, which will see him try and make the 1,130 km journey from Hercules Inlet to the pole in little over 22 days.

The training has been rigorous, and the challenge has been years in the making. To prep for the amount of equipment he will need to carry on the journey, Tom has been waking up before dawn, heading to Sandringham beach (Australia) and dragging tyres up and down the beach. During the work week, these sessions would typically last 1.5-2 hours, then 4-10 hours on the weekend. Not to mention the countless hours in the gym, running, skierg and elliptical training. 

In an interview with Australian newspaper, The Age, Tom said:

"Everyone hears stories of explorers and adventurers and there are such amazing accounts of their feats. So there’s always been a feeling of, ‘That sounds exciting – what’s stopping me from doing it?’ I have always had a bit of that spirit. 

And the niche I found myself recently is the harder the conditions, the better I seem to do, relative to my peers. So there’s an interest in seeing, how far does that actually go?"

Good luck Tom - we can't wait to hear how you get on! 

To follow Tom's journey, you can check out his Instagram: @thuntsmanspider