But above all, Dansercoer (photo, left) is known for his daring undertakings on both poles, and with the Antarctic ICE expedition, he proves that his ambition is increasing with his age.
Dansercoer, 49, has just set off on an attempt to set a world record for the longest-ever polar expedition without outside support or motorised aid. He and his sidekick, student Sam Deltour, are travelling with a sled over 6,000 kilometres across Antarctica in 100 days.
They left on 5 November and are expected back in February. To make this arduous journey, partly through the uncharted territory of east Antarctica, the pair have the sponsorship of telecom operator Mobistar – and the help of two surprising expedition partners.
Deltour (photo, right) is a 26-year-old medical student at the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), who has only recently made his first trip to the icy continent at the South Pole. Deltour replaces Troy Henkels, a seasoned explorer with whom Dansercoer travelled previously. But Dansercoer isn’t worried about his inexperience.
“Yes, he is young enough to be my son, but I know what he is capable of. Eight years ago, we ran together in Switzerland during a mountain marathon. Since then I have kept track of his career in kite surfing and sled dog racing. When Troy cancelled, I immediately thought of him. One of the reasons, I admit, is that his hunger for adventure reminds me a lot of myself at his age.”
It is, admits Dansercoer, “still a mystery how he will cope with more than three months of extreme cold and isolation from the outside world.” Temperatures in Antarctica average 30 degrees below zero.
“I will also have to temper his unrestrained enthusiasm sometimes, or our equipment will not last long,” Dansercoer laughs. But, on the other hand, Deltour and him make a complementary team. “I can turn on computer devices, but that’s about all. Fortunately, Sam is much more familiar with advanced technology.” Thanks to that, you can follow the pair’s progress via Twitter or on the expedition’s website, where you can also see their route and send them a personal message.
The Flemish explorers will be travelling only on wind power, “our third expedition member” in the words of Dansercoer. Their wind kites should allow them to travel up to 300 kilometres a day, though they need only average 60km a day to break the current world record of Norwegian Rune Gjeldnes, who trekked 4,800 kilometres in 90 days five years ago.
Still, this extra expedition member cannot be trusted unconditionally. “The wind that is strong enough to pull us is only found high up in the air in Antarctica,” explains Dansercoer. “Moreover, we have to be on our guard for brutal gusts of wind that can fling obstacles in our way or throw us off balance in a split second.”
It sounds daunting, but, says Dansercoer: “We will be cautious but not scared, since we are both accomplished kite surfers.”
But the trip is not just an extreme sport event, the duo also has a scientific mission. Because no human has ever set foot on certain parts of eastern Antarctica, first-hand information about this desolate place is of great value to researchers.
The two explorers will measure wind patterns and supply information about the quality of the ice they encounter to universities all over the world. “The poles are the best barometers to determine the effects of global climate change,” says Dansercoer. “You detect there the first consequences of the heating of the atmosphere. On Antarctica, the most worrying is the ever-increasing speed with which the ice in the coastal areas is melting.”
With all his experience, Dansercoer fully realises the difficulty of his scheme. “The wind route we are relying on is only based on computer models up until now. We will constantly have to adapt to the weather conditions of the moment. Therefore, we will be in close contact with weather stations via our satellite telephones.”
To prepare physically, Dansercoer and Deltour have trained in Norway, Iceland and Antarctica, each time for stints of about two weeks. Although the physical requirements for such an extreme challenge are daunting, Dansercoer is more concerned with the mental side of things. “It’s easier to train your body to be ready, especially if you have done it before. And we’ve had plenty of time for that. But to acclimatise your mind to such an unforgiving atmosphere is far less straightforward. It’s very important to visualise the obstacles that lie ahead to prepare yourself.”
Dansercoer has long been practicing yoga. “It invites tranquillity into the soul,” he says. “I practice it before and during expeditions, to help me focus.” To much delight of the Chinese press, Dansercoer also plans to study Mandarin during the few idle moments of his trip. To keep his mind fit, “but also with a practical goal to win the appeal of the huge Chinese public.”
Like many athletes, Dansercoer has superstitious habits to assure the success of his undertaking. “I can only set up my tent in one certain order of actions; no way would I deviate from it. I always carry a particular shawl of Julie’s [Dansercoer’s American wife] with me as a talisman, and I can’t help but pack some small plush animals that belonged to the kids – although we have to be extremely selective in what we take with us. Everything you bring is weight you have to drag along the ice on your sled.”
The purposeful packing especially applies to their food rations. Thanks to an innovative diet, they just have to eat 900 grams of food to get their necessary 5,000 calories – the amount needed per day to keep up their energy. They’ve taken around 100 kilos of food to safely last the preconceived 100 days. The diet is designed by Flemish chef Frank Fol of culinary advice organisation FutureFood, specialised in inventive healthy foods.
Although the seemingly rubber slabs of nutrition don’t look exactly appetising, they are a kind of luxury for Dansercoer. “On former expeditions, I ate the same thing every day. Now we have different meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We even have a sweet lunch made of real Belgian chocolate.”
That’s not the only treat they have allowed themselves. “Normally we only drink water, by melting ice. But for the holidays we have some frozen ice cubes of excellent champagne.”
With the Antarctic ICE expedition, Dansercoer wants to honour Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first man on the South Pole exactly 100 years ago. “Of course I look up to pioneers like him, and with my own efforts I want to continue what they have started.”
One of Dansercoer’s greatest motivations is to preserve the Belgian legacy of polar travels. Four years ago he sailed from his native town Nieuwpoort to Antarctica, re-enacting the route that Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache took in 1897 with his ship De Belgica. “Belgium has an impressive history of polar travels. I don’t want it to disappear.”
A statue of Dansercoer in Nieuwpoort already secures his own place in history. “It is flattering, of course; everybody likes to have their work appreciated. Children want to be praised, but big CEOs also look forward to their bonuses,” he smiles.
But is it not almost time to pass on the baton to eager beavers such as Deltour, now that he nears the age of half a century? “I think I can still keep this up for about a decade,” he grins. “But yes, it’s very pleasing to see that a new generation follows in my footsteps.”
Whether there also is a successor amongst his own four kids, he is not sure. “Maybe the youngest, Robin. She must be one of the only nine-year olds in the world who has been on both the South and North Poles.
www.antarcticice.be
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