The Race

The Polar Race is a 650+ kilometer race over sea ice and arctic islands. It starts at Resolute Bay (Nunavut, Canada), one of the northernmost inhabited settlements and finishes four checkpoints later at the Magnetic North pole.

Some frequently asked questions about the race:

How long will it take Ryan to complete the race?

The race will take Ryan anywhere from 15-22 days to complete. However, he will be gone the entire month.

How many dogs are there?

NO dogs here, Unless you consider Ryan to be a dog. He will be hauling a 150lb “sledge” holding all the gear he needs for the race.

How much does the race cost?

The race costs approximately $50,000, but Ryan wants to raise $100,000 so that he can help Canadian children keep active. He is going to need your help to do this though, so please donate now.

What is the terrain like?

It varies from totally flat sea ice, to huge boulders which have to be scrambled over.

How cold will it be during the race?

Temperatures can easily reach -40°C. Your household deep freeze reaches about -15°C.

Will any animals be encountered?

Yes; Muskox look like old American bison, seals, wolves, the odd bird and, of course, polar bears.

Are Polar bears scared by anything?

No … Ryan is intruding into their environment so he must be careful – Ryan is simply a food source to them.

Will Ryan be doing the race alone?

No … Traveling to the North Pole can be dangerous and Ryan and the rest of the racers will all have partners. Ryan’s partner is Rob Young, they will be the ONLY all Canadian team!

How many racers are there?

There will be anywhere from 15-20 racers. All will be in teams of 2 or 3.

How does Ryan go to the toilet?

Quickly!

Do cell phones work at the Magnetic North Pole?

Nope … but Iridium satellite mobile phones do. This system is the only one that works all over the world and will help Ryan check in daily. It consists of 66 low orbit satellites.

Will the batteries survive in the extreme cold?

Batteries only work when they are kept warm and thus Ryan will have to carry them inside his clothing. Lithium Ion batteries are the best for cold conditions.

Will GPS be used for navigation?

Yes … GPS (Global Positioning System) will be used by the teams to confirm their position.