“Uhhh... easy on the ice.”
Posted on 12/02/2005 8:06:05 AM PST by Millee
Sporting just a swimsuit, a swimming cap and goggles, Lewis Pugh plots to conquer the icy Antarctic waters.The solicitor braved the Arctic Ocean in August and now plans three long distance swims in the Antarctic, the first to accomplish such a feat in both of the world's coldest seas.
"Its the last boundary of polar exploration," Pugh, 35, told Reuters as he prepared to leap into a small plastic pool as helpers shovel in mounds of fresh ice.
"The classical era of walking to the South Pole is over and now what we are doing is testing the boundaries of human endurance in the water," he said.
Pugh, who put his career on hold to follow his swimming dreams, swam the English Channel at the age of 22 and holds the record for the most northerly swim -- a 1 km (0.6 mile) sprint at 80 degrees north off the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen.
This month a team of scientists will monitor three long distance swims, the last a 1 km attempt near Vernadsky, the Ukrainian scientific base on Antarctica, at 65 degrees south and water expected below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
"These swims will definitely be the most challenging I have ever attempted. I expect the water will be even colder than the Arctic," he said.
Besides the real risk of freezing to death, he must avoid the deadly leopard seal, faster and more at ease in the ice.
FREEZER CYCLING
Fishermen chuckle in amazement as Pugh trains near a fishing company's storerooms in Cape Town harbour, bobbing around chunks of ice in a tiny pool.
Assistants shovel in more ice to bring the water to below 1 degree Celsius (34 F) as scientists eye his heart rate for signs of stress.
On other days he trains on a stationary bicycle in a giant fish freezer in temperatures as low as 35 degrees Celsius below freezing (-31 degrees F).
The record attempt is being sponsored by South Africa's Sports Science Institute and Polar Star Expeditions, a Norwegian-Canadian company that runs cruise trips near both the North and South Poles.
Lara Dugas, an expert in energy expenditure and a member of the expedition team, believes Pugh's body has adapted to endure temperatures that would push others to hypothermia.
"There must be something about him to allow him to stay longer in the water, he seems to be more cold adapted, with less of a cold shock response," she said.
Leading South African sports scientist Tim Noakes says he is amazed at Pugh's ability to raise his core body temperature prior to entering the water.
"I believe it's a Pavlovian response to years of cold water training. It gives Lewis the edge and he is therefore able to swim in water which would disable most humans in seconds."
Pugh's record-breaking swim will make him the first to survive the waters around the two poles, and the most prolific "expedition" swimmer in the world. But there remains one small problem.
"I hate being cold," he says, shivering after another gruelling icy training session.
I WAS IN THE POOL!!! ping..
Um...the first question I have is:
Why??
Is he trying to set a record for Most Shrunken Male Genitalia??
Uh huh,
No....
Never....
I don't even take a bath unless the space heater is cranked up to fry.
This guy just ain't right - period.
Amen to that sister. Whenever I see anything about the "Polar Bear Club" my first thought is, "you guys are idiots!"
He once spent 20 minutes next to Hillary 'the cold witch' Clinton so this task should be no big deal.
“Uhhh... easy on the ice.”
LOLOLOL
Something tells me that gonad size isn't his biggest problem.
Well, the title got the "dip" part right, but they left off the rest.
Right on Najida! I live 7 miles from the Pacific Blue and I wouldn't swim in that Ocean on the hottest day in the summer!
The only nice thing about Florida is the BEACHES the Fl Panhandle Mexico Beach, Panama City, Navarre is proably the most beautiful beaches I have ever been on, now they are a hurricaine statisitic..
Knocked out another clown! HAHAHAHA
One more thing FAX MACHINE: You are almost bordering on Stalking and Harrassment, I don't think the Owner of that site would be to happy with ya if he had to close up shop for being reported for posters possibly involved in Identity Theft and Stalking Charges.
This is your warning Knock it off now! or you will see something very dramatic come your way..not to pleasant..
Fun's over...
Perhaps I don't have enough coffee in me yet (I'm only on my first pot, fercryinoutloud!) but did you post this on the wrong thread???
NO but I will explain in a sec...
Fax Machine, Red Vig-
Say what you want becuase you can be posting lie after lie I can make you all believe whatever I want because I already have.
When you seek out an individual and throw pers/conf on the net that is ILLEGAL, your site will be shut down in a hot second, keep doing it you are on record and notice...
And so will the owners be here shortly.
Don't worry FAX I will know who you TRULY ARE and where you reside very shortly you had put someone's name on that site who is in law enforcement and is not to happy with you sweet cheeks!...
In fact it is my mission to identify you baby!
ID THEFT IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY PRISON AND A HEFTY FINE but you already proably know this!
"I was in the pool!, I was in the pool!" (Shrinkage) :D
I just noticed that your #2 post said "I was in the pool!" LOL
George was the best! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.