Vincent Colliard reached the South Pole solo and unsupported in just 22 days, 6 hours and 8 minutes
French polar explorer Vincent Colliard has set a new world record for the fastest solo and unsupported trek to the South Pole from Hercules Inlet. He covered 708 miles (1,140km) in 22 days, six hours, and eight minutes, breaking the previous world record by almost two days.
“My goal was to explore my full potential with this expedition to the South Pole. I wanted to push myself to the edge, physically and mentally, where I’ve never been on my previous polar expeditions. Now felt like the perfect time for this challenge given my experience and endurance, combined with the impending arrival of my newborn soon. Like all my expeditions, I hope to raise awareness of protecting our polar regions and inspire concrete conservation measures.”
– Vincent Colliard
Colliard began his “Pas ce soir, chérie!” expedition on Dec. 20, 2023, and reached the South Pole on Jan. 11, 2024. He remained determined to complete his trek despite the snow and whiteout conditions for the first half of the journey. He was inspired by the previous speed record held by his friend Christian Eide, who skied the route solo and unsupported in 24 days, one hour, and 23 minutes in 2011.
Colliard was raised in the Basque region of southwestern France and resides in Norway with his family. His extensive career ranges from mountaineering in the Himalayas to partially skiing across Patagonia’s southern icecap unsupported. In 2010, he joined his childhood hero, Børge Ousland, in sailing through the Northwest Passage, navigating it in just 25 days. Colliard and Ousland were shocked by the ice retreat during their journey and soon created The Ice Legacy Project, a series of expeditions across the world’s 20 largest ice caps to document, raise awareness, and inspire conservation efforts for the melting glaciers and ice fields. The two are 11 years into their 15-year-long project and continue to advocate for the protection and conservation of the wilderness.
“🇫🇷 ET VOILÀ 🇳🇴! New speed record in Antarctica! Hercules Inlet (Dec 20th 2023 at 0852) to the South Pole (Jan 11th 2023 at 1500) solo & unsupported : 1132km in 22 days, 6 hours and 8 min. Average: 51 km /day. Time & track recorded by @antarcticlogistics. (All previous posts – archives – have been done by Caro. Now I am back online). Thanks to all of you who followed the journey and send some great comments (that I just read)!
I am still confused on how it somehow worked out and where did I find the energy to keep on skiing. Maybe because I rebuilt strength from the last minute canceled North Pole expedition but most importantly because I am surrounded by great and genuine people, married to a polar ninja and soon to become a father. The stars were correctly aligned despite the powder and the white out for the first half of the journey. I always keep in mind what Amundsen said about creating your own luck…
To my friend Christian Eide. In 2011, you established the speed record in 24 days, 1 hour and 13 min. Christian, I didn’t beat your record. You pushed myself to the edge and WE improved the time. Even if I was solo on the ice, it is to me a team effort. Without you and the help of Lars, I don’t think I would have pulled it off. Moreover, when you established the record, you didn’t have no one to beat but yourself. In my case, I knew your daily distances and it helped me pushing further. Always easier to break a record than to establish it (?)…
Will I apply for the Guinness World Records? No. I am not here for the fame and I don’t share the trajectory and the values of this organization (e.g recognizing records for guided expeditions and other categories that do not make sense to me). Also, with the current wars on the planet at the moment, it doesn’t feel right to me to claim that record.
Thanks to my wife @caro.line.cote, my good friend @maria.f.witchell, these legends @polarlars and @borgeousland, also @janstol, @margretha.flatland, @lucas_mao24, @runekrogh_beyondlimits, Greg M,
the team @helsport and the whole family @antarcticlogistics in Union Glacier and at the South Pole camp who had been SO supportive!”– Vincent Colliard social post
Colliard joined the Norrøna roster of ambassadors in 2019 and used the lyngen Gore-Tex Active Jacket, lyngen alpha90 Vest, lyngen Gore-Tex Packlite Overpants and lyngen down850 Knickers during his most recent expedition.
For more information on Colliard, visit his Norrøna ambassador page at www.norrona.com/en-GB/about-norrona/our-ambassadors/vincent-colliard.
