Teams are already entering for the EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole beginning in December 2011.

And one of the first teams to state their intention to race and to stake their claim to victory is Norwegian all woman trio Girl Power. They’re determined to see a Norwegian victory over the British in a race to the South Pole for what would be an historic third time.

The EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole is to commemorate the race of 1911, in which Amundsen beat Scott by 33 days. A second defeat for the British came in 2009. The South Pole Race became only the second race ever to the pole and it was filmed for BBC’s “On Thin Ice” documentary series. History repeat itself when TV celebrity Ben Fogle and Olympian Jamie Cracknell were narrowly beaten by the Norwegians.

Three Women Aiming For Three In A Row

The members of the Girl Power team of three are:

• ‘energetic’ project manager Anneli Nesteng, 31
• experienced climber Marte Gallis, 31
• outdoor fanatic (and mother of three) Trine Alsgaardand, 41.

They believe their task is to win the race outright – ‘beating the guys’ is a only a secondary issue. Anneli Nesteng says:

‘We’re racing to win and to defend Norwegian Polar History but we’re also going to have fun with the experience. We aim to share our experiences with as many as possible, through film and our own blog’

Extreme World Races MD and race organiser Tony Martin says:

‘The Norwegian men won the 2008/2009 South Pole Race and I think the Girl Power team has every chance to be first to the South Pole in this. It may be the world’s toughest race but women in general – and these women in particular – are well up to the task’

On December 14th 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole. He had beaten the British team led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott by 33 days.

One hundred years later – to the day – the EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole will begin.

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of that epic Antarctic race between Scott and Amundsen, the EWR Centenary Race to the South Pole is organised by Extreme World Races and will see teams from Britain and Norway joined by competitors from around the world. Competitors will have the chance to battle to the Pole and lay claim to the winners’ trophy in the latest incarnation of the toughest endurance race on the planet.

Antarctic Conditions To Test The Toughest Competitor

Between December 2011 and mid February 2012, the competitors will negotiate multiple crevasses, cross snow bridges, and climb to 3000m on the high polar plateau. To make it just a little more arduous, they’ll do all this as they face winds up to 80mph and temperatures as low as -40C in their battle for survival along the 704km route. This is the ultimate extreme endurance race and it’s set in the stunning landscape of one of the coldest, driest, and highest deserts on the planet.

Follow From The Safety Of Your Own Base Hut

Obviously, the next best thing to being there yourself is following closely the competitors who are tackling the challenge first hand.

Each competitor is fitted with a tracking device and they will check in via regular live satellite phone calls. The progress of all participating teams will be updated hourly on the EWR website.

After the race is run (and won), a documentary will be aired on TV. (The  actual transmission date is yet to be confirmed, so keep checking back. We hope to announce dates for transmission in early 2011.)