Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra On The Box Tonight
Discovery Channel follows James Cracknell in the epic Montane-sponsored event where temperatures can fall to -50˚C
Posted: 7 April 2011
by Jon
A quick heads up on bit of telly tonight, Thursday 7 April – Discovery Channel is showing The Coldest Race on Earth, a documentary about James Cracknell's involvement in the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra, which took place just over a month ago.
Open to runners, cyclists and cross-country skiiers, the race covers up to 430 miles across the snow and ice of the Canadian Yukon in temperatures that can sink as low as -50˚C.
The race follows the Yukon Quest trail, with distances of 100, 300 and 430 miles and ran from 6 February to 19 February and as if the distance and temperatures weren't bad enough, heavy snow flurries and high winds erased the marked course, making progress even more difficult.
Despite the tough conditions, more records were apparently broken than ever before, but the race is no respecter of reputations, with the 2009 430-mile race winner, Enrico Ghidoni, suffering frostbite during the first 100 miles of this year's event.
Tonight's television programme focusses on James Cracknell who biked the 430-mile distance. We won't spoil things by telling you how he got on, but it sounds like it should be epic viewing.
The Coldest Race on Earth with Jamers Cracknell is on at 9pm this evening on the Discovery Channel.
More information about the Montane-sponsored race itself at www.arcticultra.de/en.php and at www.montane.co.uk. Discovery Channel details at www.discoveryuk.com
Discuss this story
That'd be slightly tricky because you've got a combination of much colder temperatures than the UK and slightly crazy minimalists. Hence stuff like PHDs Yukon smock (designed for this), which is gorgeous but not something you'd see doing especially brilliantly in shops as a little too 'dedicated'. Actually Montanes extreme stuff could be very suitable for use when active during the race. Unless its still too warm for it 
Posted: 08/04/2011 at 10:18
Martin,
Noted, James was wearing some of Montane's kit (DT waterproof pants I think) as well as a relative smorgasbord of ME kit. I also clocked some PHD mits as well. A friend of mine did the 100 mile foot race a few years back and really enjoyed it. Like the idea of biking it though, sounds like a challenge for Jon ;-)
Posted: 11/04/2011 at 13:10
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