In January 2026, Darren Edwards and his team undertook an ambitious Antarctic expedition - attempting to cover 333 kilometres overland by sit-ski toward the Geographic South Pole.

After two years of preparation, the team landed on the polar plateau. Here they faced extreme cold (between -30C to -40C), fierce winds, and some of the most hostile terrain on Earth. Propelling a sit-ski across abrasive snow and ice, the expedition tested both the team's physical endurance and resilience under sustained pressure.

Although the team was ultimately forced to end their journey due to the combined physical and logistical demands of the environment, the expedition succeeded in pushing the boundaries of adaptive polar exploration. Darren's journey to date has raised awareness, and continues to raise funds for Wings for Life - a charity dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injury. This expedition reinforced Darren’s mission to challenge perceptions of what is possible after a life-changing injury.

To the South Pole

Darren and his team set out on an Antarctic expedition to attempt a new World Record: sit-skiing 333 kilometres to the South Pole. This goal was ambitious - more than doubling the previous distance achieved. After 2 years of tireless preparation, they landed on the polar plateau, where extreme cold, relentless sastrugi, and severe friction underfoot drastically slowed progress. Despite the team's sustained effort, they were forced to end the expedition early due to the physical toll and logistical constraints. While the original objective was not completed as planned, they succeeded in pushing the boundaries of adaptive polar exploration, and demonstrated to so many others that your impact is defined not only by reaching a goal - but by the people who are inspired along the way.

Training Expedition in Finse, Norway

Darren and his team have returned from their final training expedition on the Hardangervidda plataeu in Norway. The Hardangervidda has been used as a training ground for Antarctica by the likes of Shackleton, Scott, and Amundsen. Just like those three polar icons, Darren is attempting to prove what is possible for a polar explorer with a disability. His team spent a week crossing frozen lakes and wild tundra of Norway’s largest plataeu, a truly stunning frozen landscape. With conditions ranging from blizzards to bluebird skies, the expedition was a perfect opportunity to further test the Vallon gear the team will be taking with them to Antarctica in December.