Spectra Group, the specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems has signed up with Team Forces to sponsor project Frozen Dagger which is Sam Cox’s solo Antarctic crossing world record attempt later this year. Team Forces raises funds from sponsorship and donations made by defence sector companies, in order to deliver social impact across the armed forces community through the power of sport, challenge and adventure.
As the 5th largest continent and expanding to over 14 million square miles of ice in Winter, temperatures plummeting to minus 50 degrees centigrade, winds raging up to 200 miles per hour and mountains over 14,000 feet tall, Antartica remains one of the most inhospitable wildernesses on the planet. Frozen Dagger is therefore the most brutal test of physical and mental endurance.
In November 2023, Sam Cox (Ex Royal Marine) will embark on this incredible journey, attempting to walk the 2000 km route across the ice, solo and unsupported, meaning he will be pulling all the food and equipment he requires for the 75-day journey on his pulk. Consuming 7,000 calories per day, and facing the harshest of environments, this record-breaking route is over 500 km further than any previously attempted by an unsupported solo explorer, and only two other individuals have survived crossing Antarctica solo unsupported before. Starting at the coast of Berkner Island and finishing at the base of the Reedy glacier, via the South Pole, this expedition is estimated to exceed 2000 km, and as such, will set a new Guinness World Record for the furthest solo unsupported Antarctic crossing.
Whilst in Antarctica, Sam will be collecting data regarding the toll it takes on his body and mind. This data will add meaningful research to significant scientific studies focused on human performance, sleep, and psychological stress responses whilst in austere environments for a prolonged period of time. Sam will also be working with the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) so this important research can aid in the understanding of individual strategies for emotion regulation in extreme environments, such as space.
Simon Davies, CEO of Spectra Group said: “as an Armed Forces Covenant Gold employer and veteran myself, I am very pleased to give back to Forces sport and adventure training by sponsoring Team Forces. Having heard Sam talk at the Army vs Navy Rugby Match Team Forces event and had insight into the incredible challenge he was committing to, it was only right that we at Spectra Group also committed to sponsoring Frozen Dagger directly. We are very excited to be supporting this project, wish Sam the very best with his training and preparations and, of course, the best of luck with his world record attempt later this year.”
Sam Cox said, “I’m delighted to welcome Spectra Group as a sponsor of the Frozen Dagger project. This amazing Antarctic expedition has been in the planning for over three years, and it is down to the fantastic backing of such sponsors that have made this record-breaking crossing possible. Thank you to Simon and the Spectra Group team for your support.”