A SOUTH POLE ADVENTURE
A story of the human spirit and what it can overcome, The Push
follows two adaptive athletes in their quest to reach the South Pole.
ABOUT THE PUSH
On January 17, 2012, for the first time in history, two adaptive athletes will push the limits and themselves to the most
inhospitable place on the planet - the South Pole. The chosen date marks the 100th anniversary when Captain Robert Falcon
Scott’s Terra Nova expedition reached the earth’s most remote spot. The expedition includes two adaptive athletes; John
Davis, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, and Grant Korgan, a world-class kayaker and adventurer. Both Davis and Korgan
are athletes with spinal cord injuries. The team is led by Doug Stoup, the world's most traveled explorer to the North and South
Poles, along with seasoned guide Tal Fletcher.
Davis and Korgan will demonstrate through this expedition - as they literally push themselves 100 miles across the frozen
Antarctic landscape - the capacity of the human spirit to overcome life-altering injuries. Perhaps more importantly, the team
hopes to inspire people in all walks of life to help others achieve the seemingly insurmountable, to push their own everyday
limits, and to live up to their ultimate potential.
The harshest, most inhospitable place on the planet.
Strong wind or katabatics (record
clocked at 154 mph) can often
create snow storms which will
change the snow coverage in any
given area, often creating sastrugies,
or hard snow waves, which are often
one to two meters high.
Grant and John will push on sit skis
an approximate 176,000 pole
strokes across this frozen terrain.
The athletes will each burn
approximately 10,000 calories
a day here.
The team will pull their own gear,
weighing in total over 400 pounds.
The most simple of tasks –
boiling water, walking,
breathing – are exponentially
more difficult at the South
Pole.
The typical person at the South
Pole faces life threatening risks
such as frost bite, high altitude
pulmonary disease, and
hypothermia. For these two
adaptive athletes, these risks are
even greater.
For nearly two weeks, this will
be their world, pushing 100
miles over brutal terrain.
THE SOUTH POLE
The Push expedition will face
temperatures as cold as -70° F, with
winds blowing at up to 125 mph and
a vast, icy, barren landscape sitting
9,000 feet above sea level with no
place for refuge except for a tent.
GRANT KORGAN
Grant Korgan is an avid snowmobiler,
skier, world-class kayaker, adventurer,
nanomechanics professional and
husband. On March 5, 2010, while
snowmobiling in the Sierra
backcountry, the Lake Tahoe native
fractured his L1 vertebrae, and
suddenly added the world of spinal
cord injury recovery to his list of
activities.
Without a complex plan for recovery,
Grant knew he needed only one
thing – positive energy. His path of
recovery began with complete loss
of feeling and zero movement below
his belly button. Refusing to take
“no” for an answer, and through the
help of the High Fives Foundation,
Grant and his wife began a non-stop
lifestyle of exercise brimming with
love and support. In one short year,
Grant has graduated from wheelchair
to walking with the help of two arm
crutches.
On January 17, 2012, Grant hopes to
reach the South Pole in a standing
position, leaving his sit ski to trek
the final portion of this incredible
journey. Ultimately, in his words, he
plans to “show the world that
everyone can remember to live the
highest version of themselves, and
that humanity can choose every day
THE ATHLETES
to live their limitless potential.”
At age 19, Santa Cruz, CA native John
Davis, a then competitive mountain biker,
was injured in a car accident leaving him
paralyzed from the waist down. Shortly
after, John pioneered the sport of
downhill wheelchair racing, bringing his
own custom-designed wheelchair to
National Off-Road Bicycle Association
(NORBA) mountain bike races for three
years before other off-road wheelchair
racers began to appear.
Since then, John went on to become a
two-time Paralympic gold medalist in the
Lillehammer and Nagano Winter Games.
He also served as alpine and feature
correspondent on the A&E Network for
the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games in
Salt Lake City, Utah. John credits much
of his success to his understanding of
competition. The word "competition" is
derived from the Latin word “competere,”
meaning “to seek together,” an approach
he says he employs for producing gold
in himself, his competitors, his coaches
and his team.
A pioneer once again, John will rely on his
knowledge of competition, the training
and techniques utilized by early polar
explorer Roald Amundsen, as well as a
specially designed sit ski, to push himself
to the South Pole. Like Amundsen, who
relied on innovation and technology to
overcome the harsh elements, so too will
this team.
JOHN DAVIS
medal outcomes by bringing out the best
Doug Stoup is founder and expedition leader of Ice Axe Expeditions, which leads adventurers, skiers and riders to
Doug Stoup is founder and expedition leader of Ice Axe
Antarctica and Spitsbergen, Norway. Doug boasts many first descents, including the first ski and snowboard descent of
Expeditions, which leads adventurers, skiers and riders to
the highest peak in Antarctica (Vinson Massif, 16,044 ft). Having led 23 expeditions to Antarctica and 11 to the Arctic
Antarctica and Spitsbergen, Norway. Doug boasts many first
Ocean, Doug is today’s most traveled polar explorer.
descents, including the first ski and snowboard descent of the
In addition to hishighest
exploration
accomplishments,
Doug
is 16,044
a cinematographer,
peak in
Antarctica (Vinson
Massif,
ft). Having ledski
mountaineering
guide, humanitarian,
educator,
“seven
20 expeditions
to Antarctica and
10 to thefather
Arcticand
Ocean,
Doug day
is
adventurist.”
As founder
ofpolar
the Ice
Axe Foundation, Doug also aims to
today’s most
traveled
explorer.
educate youth about this amazing planet on which we live. He has
featured
in television and film
and
In been
addition
to hisinternationally
exploration accomplishments,
Doug
is apioneered
streaming media
from remote expeditions.
cinematographer,
ski mountaineering
guide, humanitarian,
educator, father and “seven day adventurist.” As founder of the
Doug intends to continue pushing the edge by successfully
Ice Axe Foundation, Doug also aims to educate youth about this
leading, for the first time, two adaptive athletes to the
amazing planet on which we live. He has been featured
most inhospitable place on the planet, the South Pole.
internationally in television and film and pioneered streaming
media from remote expeditions.
Doug intends to continue pushing the edge by successfully
leading, for the first time, two adaptive athletes to the most
inhospitable place on the planet, the South Pole.
DOUG STOUP
THE GUIDES
TAL FLETCHER
Marin County native Tal Fletcher is an expert in assessing
weather, snow safety, emergency medical care, rescue,
evacuation, winter mountaineering and group dynamics.
Tal regularly serves as a guest guide for Points North
Heli-Adventures, a heli-ski operation based in
Alaska’s Chugach Mountains. Tal is also an FAA
certified pilot and licensed skydiver and
paraglider, and is notorious for his ability to
accomplish “off-the-cusp adventures” such
as an 1,800-mile bike ride from Canada to
Mexico as well as running a marathon in
sandals just to prove he could do it after
he was dared. Not finding a marathon to
run that day, he went to a track where he
ran it in flip-flops.
Tal regularly guides ski tours on the
Antarctic Coast with Doug Stoup.
However, this expedition will mark Tal’s
first trip to the South Pole and will be quite
unique. For him, this adventure is about
using
determination,
strategy
and
teamwork to help his close friends
accomplish amazing goals. And for
Tal, that’s what life is all about.
THE SIT SKI
Custom made especially for the January 2012 South Pole expedition, the KBG Artik Crosscountry Sit Ski
will not only help make history, but also serve as a revolutionary design for future adaptive athletes, taking
their winter sport competition to a whole new dimension.
Two-time paralympic gold-medalist Kevin Bramble is the engineer and manufacturer behind the sit ski.
Operating out of New Jersey, Kevin’s business, Kevin Bramble Goodz (KBG), designs and hand builds sit
skis, and outfitted seven out of the ten previous U.S. Disabled Ski Team athletes with his monoski model.
Now, parathletes are sure to benefit from the technological advances offered by his new Artik design.
Featuring two independently articulating skis rather than the traditional monoski, the Artik enables
athletes to push through their turns rather than dragging a hand in order to turn. This feature also allows
them to traverse undulating terrain and side hills. Weighing in at only 8 pounds, and with the ability to
collapse into a small duffle bag, the Artik is much lighter and more compact, making travel on and off the
snow infinitely easier.
Made from carbon fiber and aluminum, Kevin sources many of the hardware and materials for his designs
from the bicycle, aircraft and racecar industries. What’s not sourced is hand made by Kevin.
The "KBG Artik" Crosscountry Sit Ski, featuring a GoPro camera affixed to the front
WEIGHS ONLY
8 POUNDS
COLLAPSES
INTO A SMALL
DUFFEL
TWO INDEPENDENTLY
ARTICULATING SKIS
ALLOWS SKIERS
TO TRAVERSE
Carbon fiber, 7005 aluminum and 6061
aluminum make the KBG Artik a strong and
light design. When collapsed, the Artik
dimensions are 30"l x 3" w X 12" h. The skis
are Volkl Inuk 177cm. The track of the skis
are adjustable to meet European cross
country and USA courses.
Using sheer upper body strength, Davis and Korgan will break barriers and presumed limitations to reach the South
Pole. The specially crafted sit skis are expected to revolutionize the way parathletes participate in winter sports. The
gear is as important as the athletes’ technique, endurance and determination.
KBG craftsmanship will be put to its toughest test when The Push’s adaptive athletes take the Artik on a two-week
journey through the harshest, most inhospitable place on Earth, the South Pole.
THE FILM CREW
Steven Siig, Director
Tom Day, Cinematographer
Petter Nyquist, Film
Keoki Flagg, Photographer
A director/cinematographer for many years
with an emphasis on mountain adventure, Siig has
filmed for adventure film production companies such
as Warren Miller Entertainment, Standard Films,
Alpine Assassins, Teton Gravity Research and others.
Siig co-starred and contributed footage to Mount St.
Elias, an award winning adventure documentary from
Gerald Salmina released in 2010.
Petter is a well known adventurer in Norway,
documenting his experiences along the way. In
the past eleven years, he has participated in 19
expeditions around the globe, including a Mount
Everest summit and first ascent of two other
Himalayan peaks, Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua and
crossing Greenland. Petter has made four trips to
the North Pole and one to the South Pole.
After traveling the world for years to star in some
of the ski genre’s most acclaimed films, Tom has
migrated to the other side of the lens as a
cinematographer. He has been operating 16mm and
35mm cameras for over 18 years, and more recently
digital video. Starting out shooting winter
adventure, he has diversified his shooting to other
action sports, commercials, and documentaries.
Tom has worked as principal cinematographer for
Warren Miller Entertainment since 2000.
Photographer Keoki Flagg specializes in adventure
travel, extreme sports, and social demographic
portraiture. His work has been featured around the
globe in magazines including Ski, Skiing, National
Geographic Adventure, Audubon, Men’s Journal,
Outside, Men’s Health, Vogue, Geo, Powder, and
Sports Illustrated for Women.
High Fives was founded by Roy Tuscany, an athlete who recovered from a devastating spinal cord
injury that rendered his lower body paralyzed on April 29, 2006 while skiing in Mammoth Mountain,
California. After having high hopes of becoming a world-class professional skier, Roy had to relearn
how to walk.
A truly life-altering experience, he eventually made great progress. With the help of strong
personalities, positive attitudes, and high fives all around him, Roy stepped into skis and loaded the
lift at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort for the first time in March of 2008. The encouragement and uplifting
interactions he received during recovery inspired him to start a foundation to help others with
similar experiences.
To learn more about the High Fives Foundation, a 501c3 registered charitable organization, visit
www.highfivesfoundation.org
ABOUT HIGH FIVES
Tahoe-based non-profit High Fives Foundation is dedicated to raising money and awareness for
athletes who have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action
sports community.
For sponsorship opportunities,
info@southpolepush.com
THE PUSH
A SOUTH POLE ADVENTURE
www.southpolepush.com
Push Expeditions, LLC PO Box 1686 Truckee CA 96160
Photography: ©2011 Keoki Flagg.