(1 December 2007) – In what could only be described as violent weather conditions, American Joe Holland captured first place in The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2007. The final stage began in frigid weather conditions with high winds on the shoreline of Deception Island in Antarctica , in the middle of an active, but dormant, volcano. As the stage progressed the temperatures dropped further and the winds increased to blizzard conditions. Competitors ran in a line to draft one another from the fierce headwinds. Despite the trying weather conditions, all competitors completed the stage.
The Last Desert ( Antarctica) 2007 was interrupted part way through the expedition when the ship on which competitors, staff and volunteers were travelling, the Antarctic Dream, received a distress call from the M/V Explorer, a ship that was sinking just off the coast of King George Island, Antarctica . The captain quickly changed course to go towards the sinking ship. Fortunately, two other ships in the area were also called and arrived before the Antarctic Dream rescuing all 154 passengers on board. Despite this interruption, competitors in The Last Desert were able to complete all stages, albeit some shorter than originally planned.
Mary K. Gadams, the Founder and C.E.O . of RacingThePlanet Limited, the organization that staged The Last Desert remarked: "This year's event truly placed The Last Desert in a category of its own in worldwide endurance competitions, unlike anything on Earth. Competitors experienced the coldest and windiest place on Earth alongside unparalleled wildlife without leaving a footprint on the environment. The terrain was difficult with the event taking place entirely on snow and/or ice. Congratulations to all twelve who completed the event, and a special congratulations to Joe Holland who won The Last Desert ( Antarctica) 2007 and Francesco Galanzino who won the overall 4 Deserts (2007) series."
Twelve individuals completed The Last Desert (Antarctica ) 2007 and now join fifteen others in the world to have completed the 4 Deserts series. These individuals include: Byeung Sik Ahn, 33, Korea; Alexander B. Bellingham, 37, United Kingdom; Francesco Galanzino, 45, Italy; Joseph J. Holland, 41, United States; Sung Kwan Kim, 60, Korea; Yoshiaki Ishihara, 61, Japan; Kazuo Isomura, 67, Japan; Dong Uk Lee, 49; Moo Woong Lee, 63, Korea; Jacob C. Nielsen, 36, Denmark; Thomas Roende, 31, Denmark; and Ji Sung Yoo, 35, Korea.
The Last Desert (Antarctica ) 2007 took place on five different locations in Antarctica including: Aitcho Island, Cuverville Island, Paradise Bay , Neko Harbour and Deception Island. The terrain consisted of snow and/or ice. The temperatures ranged from -10 Celsius to freezing with snow and high winds during all stages.
In order to qualify for a place in The Last Desert, competitors must have completed the Gobi March, a 250-kilometer footrace across the Gobi Desert in China, the Atacama Crossing, a 250-kilometer footrace across the Atacama Desert in Chile and the Sahara Race, a 250-kilometer footrace across the Sahara Desert in Egypt. Competitors had to be self-supported throughout the events with only a ration of water and a place in a tent provided each day.
Columbia Sportswear Company provided the official jackets for all competitors, volunteers and staff in The Last Desert ( Antarctica) 2007. NBC Television, Jeep World of Adventure Sports, filmed the event for a show to be broadcast in the United States on 12 January 2008. Renowned sports medicine expert, Brian J. Krabak, M.D., of the University of Washington, conducted medical research at the event.
A website was produced with full details at www.4deserts.com/thelastdesert. This includes breaking news, photographs, daily stage updates, blogs and results.
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