News - Ben Fogle & James Cracknell - On Thin Ice!
Now that television viewers have seen what novice skiers Ben Fogle, James Cracknell and Ed Coats endured to take second place in the 481-mile South Pole race they are keen to meet them and learn first hand what it takes to be a hero.
Physical strength, psychological understanding, self-belief, grit and mental toughness were demanded by sponsors QinetiQ which prepared the team for the tough challenges – things this team have in abundance and talk about at events as a group or on their own.
But no-one, not even the intrepid Ben Fogle could have imagined that he would fall victim to a life threatening illness trekking in the depths of South America before the event!
It almost ruined his chances of taking part in the epic which has now become a must see documentary. Viewers relived his struggle for survival and appreciated all the more what it takes to become a famous Writer and Adventurer.
To date achievements of the son of famous actress Julia Foster and broadcast vet Bruce Fogle includes racing 160 miles across the Sahara desert in the notorious Marathon Des Sables, rowing the Atlantic Ocean in 49 days and crossing Antarctica in a foot race to the South Pole.
Team-mate James Cracknell, MBE has been through “hell and high water” since retiring from competitive sport. The tough athlete with two rowing Olympic Gold medals and six World Championships to his name, couldn’t resist rowing across the Atlantic with TV presenter Ben Fogle.
Once again their grit and determination was witnessed by millions who marvelled at their prowess in another documentary called Through Hell and High Water.
Other feats include successfully completing the Cross Continent Challenge in aid of Sport Relief. Over seven days he travelled to Africa from the UK under his own steam - rowing the channel, cycling through France and Spain and finally swimming the Strait of Gibraltar, accompanied by David Walliams and four pilot whales!
Not content with extreme challenges of his own James Cracknell has also found a natural home in front of the camera where he has become a popular sports presenter specialising in extreme challenges – his pet subject on screen and off it.
Dr Ed Coats was plucked out of obscurity and thrust into the limelight, when he was chosen to join the South Pole trek earlier this year. The race was the first of its kind since Captain Scott was beaten 97 years ago by Norwegian Amundsen and Ed had to complete tough challenges prior to the race to win and expedition place.
After racing for 473.6 miles, having faced crevasse fields, battled blister s, frostbite and hallucinations as well as catching pneumonia, the team crossed the finish line in second place, just 20 hours behind their Norwegian rivals and is Ed is justifyably proud of his achievement.
The trio, who had little cross country skiing and no polar experience between them prior to the race, trudged up to 20 miles a day in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius all the while pulling 70kg pulks behind them. Dr Coats has his own tale to tell – which he does expertly.
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