Race Coverage

Race Coverage

RACE Coverage

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Who is Participating at The Last Desert (Antarctica) & Antarctica Ultramarathon 2024

 

We are excited to hold the 10th edition of the only multi-stage ultramarathon in Antarctica, The Last Desert, which starts on 26 November when 81 intrepid explorers will board the expedition ship in Ushuaia for the voyage across the Drake Passage to Antarctica where they will take on The Last Desert or the Antarctica Ultramarathon.

There is an impressive and inspiring field of racers coming from all corners of the planet.

Let’s start with the stats:

  • 78 competitors will be on the start line:
  • There are an incredible 37 countries represented.
    • The most represented nation is the United States followed by Australia.
    • There are also nationals of Namibia, Luxembourg, Philippines and Argentina.
  • 47% are female / 53% are male.
  • Youngest – Michal Gawron Jr (Poland) who is not even 20 years old!
  • Oldest – 70-year-old Ivan Schmidt (Denmark) who is joining his fourth race this year as part of the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus.
    • There are a further five 70+ year olds joining the Antarctica Ultramarathon including 75 year old Gunnar Faehn who is already a 4 Deserts Club member, but couldn’t resist returning to Antarctica.
  • In order to be invited to The Last Desert you have to complete at least two other RacingThePlanet or 4 Deserts Ultramarathons.
  • 15 people will join the 4 Deserts Club after The Last Desert.
    • To join the 4 Deserts Club, you need to complete all 4 Deserts Ultramarathons (Atacama Crossing, Namib / Saraha Race and Gobi March), but can do so over any timeframe.
    • Less than 300 people are members of this club.
    • Rob James is the person who started this journey longest ago at the Gobi March 2006 always finishing in the Top 4, but hasn’t raced since 2010 – more than ten years ago.
  • 13 people are set to take on the 4 Deserts Grand Slam (completing all four or five races within 12 months) which will conclude at the Atacama Crossing 2025.
    • Only 18 people have completed the Grand Slam Plus.
    • Only 89 people have completed the Grand Slam.
    • Below is the list of people who are taking on their third or fourth race in this challenge at The Last Desert – 4 are planning to tackle this for the second time!
      • 1. Tania Carmona Prieto (Mexico)
      • 2. Maigua Ojeda Perez (Spain)
      • 3. Salliann Powell (Australia)
      • 4. Inia Raumati* (New Zealand)
      • 5. Jeison Costa* (Brazil)
      • 6. Christian Colque* (Argentina)
      • 7. Vicente Garcia Beneito* (Spain)
      • 8. Simran Singh (India)
      • 9. Rafiq Karovaliya (US)
      • 10. Michal Gawron Jr (Poland)
      • 11. Yasmin Stoderegger (Austria)
      • 12. Ivan Schmidt (Denmark)
      • 13. Sandeep Singla (The Netherlands)

*Already completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam and attempting the challenge 2nd time

  • At The Last Desert each year, a man and woman is crowned the 4 Deserts Champion. This is based on the lowest cumulative ranking of each of the 4 Deserts Ultramarathons
  • The people who have completed the most races are:
    • Russell James who is about to join his 9th RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon
    • Gunnar Faehn who joins his 10th RacingThePlanet event since the Atacama Crossing 2004 and includes The Last Desert in 2010.

The Antarctica Ultramarathon

This is taking place for the first time in 2024 and provides an option to compete in a 5km, 10km, half marathon, marathon and ultramarathon distance.

The Top Contenders

The Last Desert is a challenging race. There are up to six Stages, each in a new location on the Antarctica Peninsula and Mainland.

Each Stage is a circuit and competitors have a set amount of time to complete as much distance as possible.

As well the varied and sometimes very difficult terrain, which includes deep snow, this race has a considerable amount of elevation gain and loss.

What makes it particularly difficult is that everything in Antarctica is weather dependent. Plans can change at short notice depending on ability to get to and from shore in the small Zodiac boats, ice blocking our landing or local wildlife (seals, penguins and more) deciding to settle on the course.

While it is possible to walk the entire course and complete the race, all competitors must keep moving on the course for the entire designated time of each Stage. The leaders will complete 250km. Those further back simply need to keep moving for designated time.

Below are our picks for contenders for the podium. However, with these completely different conditions to the other 4 Deserts Ultramarathons there are likely to be other contenders for the top positions.

Inspiration

As well as the speedsters are there is plenty of inspiration among the competitors including:

  • Making it a family affair:
    • Michal Gawron Junior with his step-mother, Aleksandra Kujawska-Reda.
    • Husband and wife David Nicholson & Dolores Paez
    • At The Last Desert & Antarctica Ultramarathon participants are able to bring a Friends & Family member so there are many couples, parent / child and friends on the ship to support them. The families on the ship are:
      • Patrick Griggs / Carson Griggs (father-son)
      • James Crowe / Stephen Crowe (father-son
      • Oliva Chiu / Catherine Heath (daughter-mother)
      • Reinhold Hugo / Brendi Maria Cobb Hugo (husband-wife)
      • Kristina Huffman / Bob Huffman (husband-wife)
      • Doug Kamp / Robyn Kamp
      • Royce Ower / Carrie Ower (husband-wife)
      • Carole Kops / Annick Welfring (couple)
  • A special mention to the four people who are completing the Grand Slam for second time:
    • Jeison Duarte da Costa, Christian Colque and Vicente Garcia met when they completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam in 2012 – and are now back to re-create the experience 10 years and 7 children between them later.
    • Inia Raumati
  • Michiya Shibata is known as “Eggplant” as he has completed all his races dressed as an eggplant / aubergine.

You can see the full line up on the website:

The adventure starts on 26 November 2024 when all competitors and a highly experienced team of staff board the MV Plancius expedition ship in Ushuaia. They will be at sea for two days as they traverse the Drake Passage. The first stage of the race is expected to start on 29 November after the first sighting of Antarctica.

You can follow the to see results, photos, videos, blog posts, breaking news and more: The Last Desert Live Page