British Woman Aiming to Ski to a World Record in Antarctica

18th December 2022

Last modified on January 10th, 2023

Wendy Searle began her record attempt on Monday 5th December. Her goal is to become the fastest woman to ski solo and unsupported from the Antarctic coast to the Geographic South Pole.

Searle, who’s 45 and has four children, discovered polar trekking just eight years ago.

Wendy Searle. Image c/o Shackleton

She’s already completed the 1,150km (715 miles) trek once, in 2019/20.

It took her 42 days.

She’ll have to do it 7% faster to break the world record.

Her aim is to cross the finishing line in 38 days.

In a true feat of endurance, she will have to haul everything she needs with her across one of the harshest environments on the planet.

Wendy Searle. Image c/o Shackleton

As the expedition season in Antarctica is November to January to take advantage of the 24-hour daylight and manageable weather, it means missing Christmas with the family.

But Searle, who’s from Monmouthshire, has gone with the family’s full support.

“There’s usually a bit of eye-rolling whenever I mention Antarctica, my children think it’s a normal thing to do now,” she said before leaving.

“I hope they’re inspired by what they’ve seen. I want to try and go a little bit faster and really put out there that I’m aiming for the record.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge, that’s for sure – ambitious, but I think it’s definitely achievable.”

Wendy Searle. Image c/o Shackleton

The expedition is being called ‘She Who Dares’ and Searle has had the help of sports psychologists, coaches and nutritionists to prepare for it.

Her training at home involved replicating pulk hauling by dragging tyres in the Welsh countryside, hiking with weights in the Brecon Beacons and gym work.

Searle works as Expedition Manager at Shackleton, the luxury clothing and expedition brand that is supporting her exploits.

The job involves leading trips to polar training locations such as Finse in Norway and Langjokull in Iceland – ideal training grounds for the extreme challenge she’s just set out on.

Searle says she is hoping to inspire other women and girls, in particular mothers and those in midlife, to set and go after ambitious goals they perhaps previously thought unattainable and access these larger adventures.

She is raising money for the Youth Adventure Trust and Women in Sport, with whom she is working to bring further understanding to how mothers in adventure are perceived and to bring more women into sport and activity.