Athlete ready to risk Arctic frostbite in ‘hardest, most epic’ race yet

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Hauling a sled 620 kilometres across the Arctic Circle in temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius sounds like the domain of early explorers rather than competitors, but Aaron Crook would not have it any other way.

The 41-year-old from Adelaide’s south west is gearing up for Canada’s 6633 Arctic Ultra, in which self-sufficient competitors must cart their own supplies while racing in Yukon.

Crook is the only Australian among 11 participating ultra-endurance athletes, and is racing to raise money for The Sebastian Foundation, which supports youth mental health, and Adelaide Crows Foundation, which works to engage young people in sport.

“There are not many times in our life, if we’re not in healthcare or doing something that’s directly helping the community, that we get these opportunities,” Crook told ABC Radio Adelaide’s Mornings with Rory McLaren.

“The second part of it is a bit more of a selfish reason [because], for me, I’m looking for the hardest and most epic adventure I can possibly do and this ticks those boxes.”

Aaron Crook is the only Australian among 11 international competitors. (Supplied: Ellie Lee, Example)

Crook is no stranger to endurance races, having previously competed in the Marathon des Sables, a 250-kilometre race through the Sahara Desert in Morrocco.

Unlike the Arctic Ultra, the Marathon des Sables is a staged race, so competitors are able to switch off and rest at night after running or walking a “marathon and a half each day for five days”.

“I thought it was going to be the hardest thing I could possibly do, and was a little disappointed, so I went looking for what would be the hardest thing,” Crook said.

“The difference between that one and this one, is this is 620km from point A to point B as quickly as you can.”

Athlete runs in a sandy desert

Aaron Crook runs across the Sahara Desert during the Marathon des Sables. (Supplied: Aaron Crook)

He will also be swapping the risk of heat exhaustion for frostbite during the Arctic Ultra.

“Frostbite is probably the most clear and present danger, but they have a terrific safety record,” Crook said.

“There’ve been no deaths, which is quite incredible considering quite a few people have died over the years in the one I did in the Sahara Desert.

“I’ve invested in some of the warmest clothing you could buy and I’m hoping that’s going to be enough to get me through.”

While competitors must be self-sufficient with regard to moving, sleeping, and eating, organisers do provide safety checkpoints with access to hot water, although athletes cannot sleep there.

Two men in the snow

Belgium’s Chris Seynaeve wins the 6633 Arctic Ultra and will compete again this year. (Instagram: 6633arcticultra)

Supporting Open Parachute

Crook said he had been impressed by the Open Parachute program supported by both foundations.

“It has been such a terrific program, delivered in schools around the country, but also in my local community helping kids with their mental health, giving them tools to manage their mental health in what is a really difficult time in their lives,” he said.

“$15 raised puts a child in this program for 12 months.”

He is also being supported by the Epochal Hotels group, which is putting on a fun run fundraiser at its Harbord Hotel in Freshwater, New South Wales, on February 8.

“There’s some terrific stuff going on, and hopefully by the end of February we’ll have a great amount of money raised,” Crook said.

He has also been training at the hotel group’s Q Station venue in Manly where he has been undertaking cold exposure therapy, strength, and endurance conditioning tailored for sub-zero extremes, and pulling a tyre or kettle bell on the beach.

Man pushes weights in a room with Christmas tree in foreground

 Aaron Crook has been training about 12 months for the gruelling race. (Supplied: Aaron Crook)

“I think whenever you go into environments that are extreme, and you’re obviously going to be dealing with next to no sleep over the course of a week and a half, things can be tricky and being able to stay sane is a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’ve proven to be good at,” Crook said.

“Though it is extreme and it should be very dangerous, they do a lot of work to keep it safe, so I’m not anticipating coming home missing any fingers or toes.”

The race starts on February 27 and Crook will be posting updates to social media.

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